This donation benefits visitors and the museum by providing a renewable energy source to heat the water used to prepare food for the museum?s café kitchen, plus an interactive display that explains how solar energy works. The solar hot water system is part of the museum?s unique ?living plinth roof? which showcases native Texas plants and can be seen from the atrium windows as visitors move from floor to floor.
?The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is absolutely thrilled about the donation of solar thermal systems and education displays from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club,? said Nicole G. Small, CEO of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas. ?With this donation, visitors can see solar energy in action and then learn more about it within the exhibit halls. The use of this renewable energy source is also three times more efficient than traditional electric water heating systems, which cuts back our energy expenditures and reduces our carbon footprint.?
The solar installation is made up of three arrays, with a total of 12 solar panels. Each panel measures 30 square feet (4.5 feet long by 6.5 feet wide). The stored solar energy is used to heat two water storage tanks that are both over 9 feet tall. As a backup to the solar-powered system, and to satisfy the hot water needs of the rest of building, the museum has standard electric hot water heaters on site as well.
?Solar energy education is extremely important to the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. These new installations in the Perot Museum of Nature and Science give patrons the opportunity to better educate themselves on the benefits of solar energy, while simultaneously allowing them to experience those benefits first-hand,? said Tony Napolillo, program manager of the Sun Club. ?The goal of these components is to explain the technical and engineering aspects of the solar hot water system, the science behind solar energy, and how solar energy is specifically benefitting the Museum and its visitors.?
The Perot Museum gave Sun Club members a sneak peek at the museum on November 26, as part of an event to dedicate the solar arrays and educational features. The museum opens to the public December 1, 2012.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Accredited by the American Museum Association, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational organization located in Dallas, Texas, with campuses in Victory Park and Fair Park. In support of its mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The $185-million Victory Park museum, designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, will open December 1, 2012. The Perot Museum is named in honor of Margot and Ross Perot, the result of a $50-million gift given by their five adult children.
