New SEO Grant will take Museum's Prairie Ridge "off the grid"
February 14 , 2007
For immediate release
Science, technology, education editors.
Contact: Emelia C. Cowans, 919-733-7450, ext. 305
Images available upon request.
RALEIGH — Prairie Ridge, the field station of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, has received a $69,760 grant from the State Energy Office of the N.C. Department of Administration to help in the development of sun- and wind-powered projects that will eliminate the use of fossil fuel-based energy at the site.
The SEO funding will help purchase and install solar photovoltaic panels that will provide power to the existing outdoor classroom and a planned residential center. The grant also will fund the construction of a wind generator, which potentially will power an environmental monitoring station and communications system.
"We are excited about this project because it takes Prairie Ridge ‘off the grid’ and allows us to generate our own power," said Mary Ann Brittain, director of Prairie Ridge. "It also allows the public to experience the benefits of the highly visible photovoltaics, which we hope will generate more interest in how this technology works and how it can work in the lives of everyone."
Prairie Ridge showcases an array of sustainable design strategies and conservation features as a part of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ commitment to “green” building and technology. It is located on 38 acres in west Raleigh off Wade Avenue and consists of an outdoor classroom, amphitheater and walking trails with access to a variety of habitats, including prairie, pond and lowland forest.
Prairie Ridge offers educational programs to both school groups and the general public during the day, but with the construction of the new Environmental Education Residential Center, Prairie Ridge staff will be able to offer these groups a venue with overnight accommodations in a natural setting.
The new carbon-neutral wind- and sun-powered projects will join other environmentally-friendly efforts already underway at Prairie Ridge, including a cistern that collects rainwater from the roof for flushing toilets; tables made from 100 percent recycled materials; and a South-facing overhang of the outdoor classroom that was designed to maximize sun exposure in the winter and shade in the summer.
The projected completion date for the SEO-funded project is late spring 2007. For more information, contact Mary Ann Brittain at 919.733.7450, ext. 675.
The SEO serves as the state's lead agency for energy programs, services and information for consumers, businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools and policy makers. The office promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fuels for North Carolina, striving for a sustainable energy future.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 am to 5 pm, and Sun., noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.
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