Common Sense Green
The Children's Museum of Phoenix's "Common Sense Green" environmental initiative will provide an over-arching roadmap for creating a museum that lives and breathes healthful choices.
While many definitions of "green" or "sustainable design" are used, the most common looks at meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Basically, being ‘green’ means being innovative and thinking ecologically, keeping in mind that everything done is part of the ecosystem.
"Why we are making this effort at this time is an easy question to answer," stated Deborah Gilpin, CEO & President of the Museum. "It is because as a children’s museum we have a tremendous opportunity and an incredible obligation to positively inform and shape the future of our community."
The Children's Museum will support the healthy minds, muscles, and imaginations of visitors by taking many actions that foster environmental stewardship. Some examples:
- Using non-toxic materials throughout the building and exhibits, including office supplies, printing materials, and janitorial supplies, creating a healthy and safe environment in the Museum.
- Using materials that are earth-friendly and sustainable throughout their life cycle as in renewable, sustainable, and recycled building materials like wheatboard, and recycled cardboard.
- Choosing materials and practices that are socially responsible. The Museum will choose, whenever possible, local vendors to cut down on transportation, get to know green industries in the community, and make sure that the materials and services being used are made fair and equitable.
- Offering incentives that support earth-friendly behavior, like carpool and public transportation benefits, bike racks, and easy recycling throughout the museum.
- Spark ideas, innovation, collaboration, and conversation about sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Museum will provide interactive projects that spark hands-on participation with recycled materials, educational programs that promote environmental stewardship at home, and information on-site and online about making green choices.
Scottsdale-based company, a.k.a. Green has been helping the Children’s Museum make green choices in the materials and finishes to be used in the Museum -- from particle-board made of sunflower seed hulls to countertops made from recycled paper. The “eco-friendly building center” has also asked some of their wholesalers to consider donating their products and services to the Museum. A few donations from a.k.a. Green’s suppliers are already in the works and will save the Children’s Museum thousands of dollars. One of those donations is from American Pride Paints who have donated 840 gallons of VOC free paint which will cover over 90,000 square feet of Museum wall space.