绿化沙漠 博物馆

In 2018 the Desert 博物馆 took a major step along the path to environmental sustainability. The 博物馆 now receives a significant portion of its energy needs from the Sun – about 13% of its annual demand, and as much as 30% of its power draw on a warm sunny day. Added to other efforts to reduce its consumption of materials and energy, the 博物馆 is continually trying to lower its negative impacts on the environment. 以下是推荐一个买球网站迄今为止的最新进展.

太阳能

The Sun sends more energy to the Earth in one hour than all humans use in one year! Solar power is one of the cleanest and least impactful ways of meeting our energy needs. As technology improves and costs come down, solar facilities are expanding around the world. According to the 太阳能 Industries Association, Arizona currently ranks 3rd in solar energy nationally, 与6.该州9%的能源来自太阳能. There are about 540,000 homes powered by solar in the state. There are 302 solar companies, employing about 8400 people in Arizona. Solar power is expanding in northern Mexico as well.

多亏了技术, financial and construction assistance from Tucson Electric Power, NextEra Energy Resources and Trico Electric Cooperative the Desert 博物馆 is now utilizing power from 667 solar panels at the Trico Community Sun Farm, 位于马拉那, AZ that gene利率 enough electricity to power 3000 homes. Tucson Electric Power has also helped us install 42 solar panels next to the 博物馆’s Olsen Building, 推荐一个买球网站的爬虫学在哪里, 鱼类及无脊椎动物学系. These panels provide 10 Kw of electricity for the building’s energy needs.

其他节约能源的工作

Did you know that there are two “green roofs” or “living roofs” at the Desert 博物馆? Green roofs help to insulate the building to reduce heating and cooling needs, and mitigate the “heat island” effect of built infrastructure. They can also sequester carbon and increase biodiversity by providing wildlife habitat. We have also been replacing light bulbs with the most efficient alternatives, 因为他们需要替换. ASDM staff use electric carts for transport around the site. 许多员工和志愿者拼车上班, as this part of our day is one of the most impactful in 条款 of energy consumption and carbon emissions. The 博物馆 also offers electric vehicle charging stations.

节约用水

It’s probably no secret that water is one of the not-so-secret ingredients of the beauty of the Desert 博物馆’s grounds. (The other ingredients are the incredibly talented artists/scientists in our botany and exhibits departments.) Responsible water use is one of our highest priorities, as a desert conservation organization. Ninety six percent of our irrigation water comes from a wastewater treatment facility on the 博物馆 property. This constructed wetland collects water from our aquatic exhibits and uses the natural properties and functions of plants, soils and microbes to remove a wide variety of pollutants. Waste water passes through three treatment ponds where organic matter, 悬浮物, 营养物质被移除. The effluent from this facility is used to recharge the aquifer directly below the 博物馆’s grounds. 博物馆目前有115个,000 gallons of storage capacity in underground cisterns exclusively for reclaimed water. 这些水流入推荐一个买球网站的灌溉系统.

The 博物馆’s computer-driven Rainbird Maxicom system regulates 95% of the irrigation systems and allows for daily reports and adjustments to watering schedules. The Maxicom system has its own rain measurement device and adjusts schedules in response to rain. It also detects leaks and notifies staff of problems. 推荐一个买球网站90%以上的系统都是滴灌.

Most 博物馆 exhibits feature native and xeriscape plants. Areas within the museum grounds that do not have naturalistic themes are also planted with drought tolerant landscape plants that visitors can locate themselves at their local nursery. 沙漠花园, 仙人掌, and agave gardens are examples of non-naturalistic themes that encourage visitors to employ water-thrifty plantings. Our newer buildings utilize rooftop water harvesting as well; the Warden Oasis Theater and the new classroom building for the Art Institute. The system for the new Art Institute building captures roof rainwater in a 700-gallon cistern as well as in a shallow detention and recharge basin behind the classrooms. When that overflows, the water moves into a series of planters that spill into each other when full. The planters have the potential to collect 1300 gallons annually. It may not sound like a lot of water, but to desert plants this is abundant.

学习 more about our wastewater reclamation system

减少废物

As with many conservation efforts, waste reduction makes a lot of financial sense as well. Desert 博物馆 staff are expert “reducers, re-users and recyclers”. 在网上买球十大正规平台很少能找到新东西, since making a new product requires lots of materials and energy, 从提取原料, 制造业, 运输, and because new items are generally more expensive. 如果你参观推荐一个买球网站的办公室, you will find that our furniture may be a bit mis-matched and our computers may not be the newest models, but they came gently used from businesses in our community.

In 条款 of recycling, you will have noticed the recycling cans all over the 博物馆 grounds. Our Custodial Department continually educates other staff about any changes to recycling protocols and collects recyclables separately. 哺乳动物与鸟类学&O)员工在回收英雄! Many of the animal supplies received by all of our animal departments come in Styrofoam coolers. M&饲养员不愿看到它们被扔进垃圾填埋场, so when the two facilities that were recycling Styrofoam stopped taking it this year, 他们很有创造力. One of our keepers reached out to Sam Levitz Furniture, and they agreed to recycle the 博物馆’s Styrofoam waste. M&O collected and delivered 323 lbs of Styrofoam for recycling in the last year!

Keepers also collect the plastic bags used in their animal and human kitchens as well as veterinary facilities, and deliver them to recycling stations at local grocery stores, 大约2磅塑料袋/周. In the animal kitchen, they use empty grain bags for trash. 因为他们的垃圾必须每天处理, they have avoided using 300+ large plastic bags each year. When cleaning exhibits, keepers also use reusable buckets instead of plastic trash bags.

Many departments no longer use disposable plates, utensils and napkins internally or for most events. Compostable items and “chicken food” are collected in buckets and taken home by various staff members. 穿过博物馆, you’ll also find staff members using the back side of paper for internal documents, 或者把用了一半的纸剪下来做笔记和备忘录. Items consumed by our copiers, fax machines and printers (cartridges, toner bottles, etc.) are sent back to Konica Minolta’s Clean Planet Program for re-use and recycling.

In addition, green waste is kept separate and used to support in-house composting. Excess green waste goes a private composting operation. Bubble wrap, air pillows, and packaging paper is saved and reused. 纸板也可以打包回收.

在电子垃圾方面, the 博物馆 attempts to upgrade computers wherever possible, 但如果不是, 它们被送到电子垃圾回收设施.

食品及饮食业

博物馆的餐饮服务供应商, 工艺烹饪概念, 亦是绿化博物馆的合作伙伴. They have worked diligently over the last few years to greatly reduce the use of plastic. The facts about plastic water bottles are startling! Currently, 1 million bottles are bought around the world each minute! Placed end to end, the bottles sold in a year would stretch half way to the Sun! Less than half of the bottles bought are sent to be recycled, 而不是最终被扔进垃圾填埋场或海洋, where plastic pollution is a major wildlife threat. 适合有水意识的沙漠居民, it also is important to know that it takes more water to produce a plastic water bottle than the water they contain.

Understanding all this, 工艺烹饪概念 will sell water bottles made from recycled plastic. The restaurant and gift shops sell refillable water bottles and cups, and the 博物馆 provides water-bottle filling stations around grounds, 作为一次性瓶子的替代品. The restaurants have also stopped providing plastic straws, lids and condiment cups. All packaging for on-site consumption is now compostable.

Additional conservation actions taken by Craft Culinary were installation of new dishwashers which reduced water consumption by 65+% and local sourcing of craft beers, 精神, 玉米粉蒸肉, tortillas and other products to reduce the carbon footprint from transportation. 工艺烹饪概念 is also a partner with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program, with a 100% commitment to using only sustainably sourced seafood products on their menus.

化学品使用

Chemical pesticides are rarely used at the 博物馆, and must be approved by veterinary staff. Biological and cultural control are our first choice in addressing pest problems. The use of predominantly native plants lessens the need for artificial controls and reduces the overall number of problems. The cleaning/custodial products we use are eco-friendly, 同时保持消毒能力. We reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by using our own compost.

负责任的投资

The Desert 博物馆’s retirement plan for staff includes four environmental, social and governance (ESG) focused investment funds for plan participants to choose from, 等. What began years ago as socially responsible investing, has evolved to a selection of companies focused on doing the right thing for the environment, 为他们的员工和整个社会. A staff Retirement Plan Investment Committee chose investment options in the plan that may better reflect the values and concerns of plan participants.

环保并不总是那么容易。

Many of these sustainability actions are accomplished due to the dedication of staff and 志愿者. Others happen naturally as the result of budget limitations. Still others are accomplished only with help from our community, 比如推荐一个买球网站最近获得的太阳能. Your continuing support helps the 博物馆 continue on this path.