Sustainability and building green at

the California Academy of Sciences

Aaron Pope
Manager of Sustainability Programs
Inside the Academy…

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A rainforest, an aquarium, a planetarium and a
An aquarium, rainforest,
natural history museum
Official Sustainability Statement

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Why is sustainability important at the Academy?

Protecting the environment is a

central part of the Academy’s
mission:

“To explore, explain and

protect the natural world”
 An overview – the building

• Hundreds of design features

combine together to make the
building more efficient
• LEED Platinum certified for
construction
• Currently pursuing LEED O&M
certification

• Energy efficiency
• Water conservation
• Recycled materials
Energy efficiency

Photovoltaic Cells
• Sixty thousand photovoltaic cells
• 18-20% efficiency
Energy efficiency cont.

• Natural air conditioning

• Steep roofs draw cool air into
the open piazza at the center
of the building
• Automatic skylights open to
release warm air as needed
• Motorized windows
automatically open and shut to
allow cool air into the building
• Automatic blinds open and
close to block sunlight and
keep building cool
• Staff offices have manual
windows to regulate
temperature
Energy efficiency cont.
Energy efficiency cont.

Radiant heating
• Floor radiant heating utilizes
the natural tendency of heat to
rise.
• Pipes carrying the Academy’s
existing water supply run under
the floor
Energy efficiency cont.

• Natural light
• Most occupied spaces have
access to daylight
• Sunlight shines through rooftop
skylights onto the rain forest
and aquarium
• Photosensors in the lighting
system automatically regulate
artificial light
Energy efficiency cont.

• Roof perimeter
• Extended roof perimeter
blocks out hot summer sun
and lets in warm winter sun
to regulate office spaces.
Water conservation

• We have installed waterless urinals and low flow sinks, showers and
toilets
• Saltwater for the aquariums is piped in from the Pacific Ocean and
the nitrate wastes are purified with natural systems so that the water
can be recycled
• Gardening water comes primarily from Golden Gate Park
groundwater supply
• The Academy retains nearly 3.6 million gallons of rainwater per year
(98%), preventing storms from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem
Recycled materials

Pieces of the old Academy

90% of the waste was
recycled instead of being sent
to landfills
Where did it go?
• 12,000 tons of steel -The steel
was recycled by Schnitzer
Steel
• The concrete became base
for a new roadway project in
Richmond
• 80,000 tons of sand went to
local construction projects
Recycled materials

• The
building’s
concrete
contains
recycled
materials -
35% slag
and 15% fly
ash
• At least
50% of the
wood in the
new
Academy
was
sustainably
harvested
Recycled materials

Blue Jean Insulation

• The Academy building is
insulated using denim material
recycled from used blue jeans
• Non-toxic
• Renewable
• Equivalent to fiberglass
insulation
Exhibits and programs
The Academy tries to:
• Inspire the next generation of environmental scientists
• Empower visitors to help protect the natural world
• Utilize cutting-edge technology to maximize our positive
impact: (social networking, web, mobile devices)
• Frame the conversation deliberately to have maximum
impact and drive social change

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Exhibition – Building Green

Building Green is the central area where visitors can learn about
the sustainable design features of the building.

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Exhibition –Climate Change
Climate Change explores the science of climate change and the
steps that can be taken to mitigate and adapt to these dramatic
changes.
Currently undergoing reconstruction based on evaluation and new
developments in scientific and public domain

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Teacher Institute on Science & Sustainability

Provides teachers with the critical tools and knowledge to inspire the
next generation to protect Earth:
• 3rd - 5th grade teachers
• The two-year program includes in-depth workshops, offsite visits, 2-
week summer session
• Topics include climate change, energy use, and food and water
choices

• Currently working with 2nd cadre of teachers

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Integrated events

The Academy hosts multiple, sustainably focused events

throughout the year
.

Some examples are:

• Thursday NightLife
• Earth Day
• World Ocean Day
• Earth Hour
• Academy anniversary
• Green Holidays

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Walking the walk - why?

It’s not just about lowering our own environmental impact!

Many people are interested in the example we set here.

How do we know?

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 Since opening…

NASA

Worldchanging.com Compost Modern

Academy staff have given hundreds of “green” tours!

AAAS James Hansen

Michael Pollan NOAA

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Outside speaking engagements

Exporting Sustainability Expertise:

There is a huge demand:
CONFERENCES: CORPORATIONS:
• UN Climate Change conference, • Google
Copenhagen
• Intel
• Western Museums Association
• Life Technologies
• California Association of Museums
OTHER INSTITUTIONS:
• Association of Science and
Technology Centers • Cultural Connections
• Marine Underwriters Convention • Hayward State University
• American Chemical Society • SF Department of the Environment
• Annual Park Rangers summit

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Exporting sustainability signage

• Government offices • Schools & universities

• Other museums & • Corporations
aquariums

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What we do here matters outside these walls

• Operations, programs and external leadership are all

integral to a better vision of the future
• Our programs reach millions of people every year
• Multiplier effect - We provide leadership to other
organizations about effective sustainable communication
and practices
• None of this would be possible if the Academy did not
“walk the walk”

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Conclusion

• The empirical scientific evidence shows that we are currently on an

unsustainable path.
• Sustainability is a journey which we have all embarked on. No
organization is perfect. We continually learn and improve.
• It is our responsibility to walk the walk and communicate effectively.

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