1. Sustainability and building green at the California Academy of Sciences Aaron Pope Manager of Sustainability Programs

2. 2 An aquarium, rainforest, Inside the new Academy… A rainforest, an aquarium, a planetarium and a natural history museum, under a living roof

3. Why is sustainability important at the Academy? Protecting the environment is a central part of the Academy’s mission: “To explore, explain and protect the natural world”

4. 4 Official Sustainability Statement

5. An overview – the building Hundreds of design features combine together to make the building more efficient LEED Platinum certified 3 main areas Energy efficiency Water conservation Recycled materials

6. Energy efficiency Photovoltaic Cells Sixty thousand photovoltaic cells provide 5% to 10% of the building’s electricity from solar energy (excluding the AQ) An18-20% efficiency

7. Energy efficiency cont. Natural air conditioning Steep roofs draw cool air into the open piazza at the center of the building Automatic skylights open to release warm air as needed Motorized windows automatically open and shut to allow cool air into the building Automatic blinds open and close to block sunlight and keep building cool Staff offices have manual windows to regulate temperature

8. Energy efficiency cont.

9. Radiant heating Floor radiant heating utilizes the natural tendency of heat to rise. Pipes carrying the Academy’s existing water supply run under the floor

10. Energy efficiency cont. Natural light Most occupied spaces have access to daylight Sunlight shines through rooftop skylights onto the rain forest and aquarium Photosensors in the lighting system automatically regulate artificial light

11. Energy efficiency cont. Roof perimeter Extended roof perimeter blocks out hot summer sun and lets in warm winter sun to regulate office spaces.

12. Water conservation We have installed waterless urinals and low flow sinks, showers and toilets Saltwater for the aquariums is piped in from the Pacific Ocean and the nitrate wastes are purified with natural systems so that the water can be recycled Gardening water comes primarily from Golden Gate Park groundwater supply The Academy retains nearly 3.6 million gallons of rainwater per year (98%), preventing storms from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem

13. Recycled materials Pieces of the old Academy 90% of the waste was recycled instead of being sent to landfills Where did it go? 12,000 tons of steel -The steel was recycled by Schnitzer Steel The concrete became base for a new roadway project in Richmond 80,000 tons of sand went to local construction projects

14. Recycled materials Materials The building’s concrete contains recycled materials - 35% slag and 15% fly ash At least 50% of the wood in the new Academy was sustainably harvested

15. Recycled materials Blue Jean Insulation The Academy building is insulated using denim material recycled from used blue jeans Non-toxic Renewable

16. 16 Teaching strategies The Academy uses every opportunity to inform the public about sustainability

17. 17 Transformative efforts Through its sustainability programs the Academy wishes to: Inspire the next generation of environmental scientists Empower visitors to help protect the natural world Establish a long-term dialogue and relationship with visitors Utilize Cutting-edge approaches to maximize our positive impact: (social networking, web, technology, social sciences, community building)

18. 18 Exhibition – Building Green Building Green is the central area where visitors can learn about the sustainable design features of the building.

19. 19 Exhibition – Altered State: Climate Change in California Altered State explores the science of climate change, the effects visitors might expect to see globally and in California, and the steps that can be taken to mitigate these dramatic changes.

20. 20 Green amenities Above the public water fountains, signage encourages visitors to think twice before using bottled water. Water fountains In the public restrooms, signage encourages visitors to conserve water and install low-flow fixtures in their own homes. Restroom signage

21. 21 Green amenities Signage encourages visitors to sort their waste properly: Waste signage

22. 22 Exporting signage Several organizations have expressed an interest in using the Academy’s sustainability signage, including: Government offices Grocery stores Schools & universities Large corporations We have designed a program to accommodate these requests.

23. 23 Teacher Institute on Science & Sustainability Provides teachers with the critical tools and knowledge to inspire the next generation to protect Earth: 3rd - 5th grade teachers The two-year program includes in-depth workshops, offsite visits, 2- week summer session Topics include climate change, energy use, and food and water choices

24. 24 Integrated events The Academy hosts multiple, sustainably focused events throughout the year. Some examples are: Thursday NightLife Earth Day World Ocean Day Earth Hour Academy anniversary Green Holidays

25. 25 Sustainability Card Emphasizes green living practices Offers a range of choices from very simple to complex. 65,000 distributed to date.

26. 26 Conclusion The empirical scientific evidence shows that we are currently on an unsustainable path There are a myriad of ways to engage the public about sustainability It is our responsibility to to walk the walk and communicate effectively