The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh became the largest Silver LEED certified museum in the country in March 2006. This validates that the Museum’s expansion has been designed and constructed using sustainable practices with particular attention to site development, water conservation, energy management, using recycled materials, waste management, reusing resources, indoor air quality as well as developing new programs for our visitors. For instance, the design for the building required a high level of recycled materials, achieved through the use of recycled steel and other products such as gypsum wall board, fly ash in concrete and so forth. Also, approximately 80% of the wood used is from sustainable forests, over 50% of all materials are locally manufactured and/or harvested, and the contractors recycled 50-75% of materials removed from the buildings through local salvage companies as well as a local building materials resale non-profit organization called Construction Junction.
Other features that make the Museum a green building include:
- Using 100% renewable energy for our electricity
- Dual flush toilets, low flow urinals and aerators at all faucets
- Adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets and composite wood that are certified formaldehyde free and produce near zero-level off gassing
- Proximity to public transportation
- Provisions for bicycles
- No-irrigation landscaping
To offer teaching moments about our cool new green Museum, we’ve left many of the building’s structural and mechanical systems exposed to view and we’ve established a photovoltaic system (solar energy) to power the balloon lights in our Café. Be sure to look for materials and programs we’re developing in collaboration with the Green Building Alliance of Pittsburgh to highlight the Museum’s sustainable features.
To learn more about green exhibits, visit www.greenexhibits.org.
For more information, please contact Chris Siefert, Deputy Director, at (412) 322-5058 ext. 227, csiefert@pittsburghkids.org. |
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