A Wonder Weekend Success

Dear Readers,

My name is Tom Slattery and I have recently joined the Climate Change Exhibit Team as an intern for the summer. I am currently a Junior at UW-Madison majoring in Environmental Studies and Economics with special interests in environmental conservation and alternative energy. Hopefully my knowledge on climate change will distract you from my newbie blogger status. Enjoy!

In case you missed it, this past weekend at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center we hosted our first ever Wonder Weekend where we offered visitors an in-depth look at what constitutes being “green” and explored how ALNC and Miller Park have more in common than what meets the eye! I think I speak for every fan when I say a Brewer’s game wouldn’t be the same without the new low-flush toilets, recycled beverage cups and additional recycling dumpsters…on second thought, maybe that’s just the “green geek” in me speaking. While it may not directly change all fans' experience of the game, Johnson Controls’ recent efforts to make Milwaukee’s favorite ballpark “greener” is already having a positive impact on the environment. Click here to read about Miller Park’s green features. As stated by our guest speaker Molly McElligott, a variety of behind-the-scenes energy efficient solutions and sustainable ideas allow ALNC and Miller Park to operate with minimal negative effects on the environment.

Supplementing the “Green Building” theme, the Science On a Sphere showcased a feature video on the “Energy Revolution”. Viewers learned how renewable energy technologies, such as Smart Grid electrical transmission and solar cells, can reduce carbon emissions, effectively decreasing the human impact on climate change.

The transparent framework of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) promotes an image of high performance and high efficiency. Upon exploration of ALNC’s digital touchscreens, the efforts to make our own facility “green” quickly become evident. Features such as thermal solar panels, motion-sensor lights, extra wall insulation and hydronic heating not only ensure financial savings in the long run, but more importantly reduce ALNC’s carbon footprint. Click here to find out more about ALNC’s greenbuilding features.

Over all, the event was a tremendous success! We hope you can join us on Father’s Day weekend for our next Wonder Weekend which will focus on the connection between fish and climate change. We’ll post more details about the event soon! Our Fishing Family Fun is also that Sunday, so bring the Father in your life to ALNC for a day full of fun and learning!