Green Mountain customers attend special museum preview to “flip the switch” on renewable energy
Dallas, TX – Sustainability, vision and education intersect with a solar hot water system and renewable energy education exhibit at the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science, thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™. The Sun Club is a unique program enabling Green Mountain residential customers to provide solar power and educational information to non-profit organizations like the Perot Museum.
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.
Pictures from the event and of the solar installation will be added to Green Mountain Energy’s Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenmtnenergy/
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. To learn more about the Perot Museum, please visit perotmuseum.org.
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM
Green Mountain EnergyTM Sun ClubTM is a program where Green Mountain residential customers in New York and Texas have the opportunity to give back to deserving non-profit organizations through the promotion of solar power. Direct monthly contributions from customers go toward the funding of solar installations. Since the program’s founding in 2002, Sun Club members have helped install more than 500 kilowatts of solar power, preventing over 787,300 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year. That’s like not driving 878,500 miles or 390 households turning off their lights for a year. . For more information, visit www.gmsunclub.com.
Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain is the nation’s longest serving renewable energy retailer and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. Founded in 1997, the company is a green power pioneer and celebrates 15 years delivering on the mission to “change the way power is made”. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity, as well as carbon offsets and sustainable solutions for businesses. One of Green Mountain’s largest customers is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 19.4 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Visit us online at www.GreenMountain.com and learn more about our campaign for good at www.greenmountain.com/forgood.
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