Local Action
Our planet offers many valuable and sustainable ways to collect energy to power our day-to-day activities. The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s goal is to collect 100 percent of our energy needs using solar and wind power at our admissions area rather than using traditional energy from the grid. This switch will reduce energy costs and limit our environmental impact.
Take a look around the parking lot on your next visit and see the power of the planet’s renewable energy at work here at the Zoo:
Luminescent solar poles
- Use light-emitting diode, or LED, bulbs. These bulbs are up to 70% more efficient than traditional lampposts.
- Collects energy from the sun throughout the day and uses it to power the light at night, making them one of the greenest lighting options.
- Require less maintenance than other lighting options, reducing the amount of materials required for their continued operation.
Solar Panels
- Solar panels collect energy from the sun and convert it to DC electricity. An inverter converts the DC electricity to AC electricity, making it suitable for the grid. The AC electricity produced is used to power the system, then the rest is pushed out onto the grid. The electricity is used to power the admissions area. The renewable energy that our solar panel system creates goes out to the power grid.
What You Can Do: Try Solar Products
- By using solar panels at home, you can create clean, green energy and cut your electricity bills in the long run. You can also purchase solar products such as solar cell phone chargers, outdoor solar lighting, and wristwatches that all utilize solar panels to charge their batteries.
Your Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane occur naturally in the atmosphere. They trap heat and insulate our planet like a blanket. This is what makes our planet habitable. However, when excessive greenhouse gases accumulate to unnatural levels as a result of human activities (such as the burning of carbon-based fuels), the blanket becomes too thick, there is a loss of ice, and the planet overheats.
What You Can Do: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
- Turn down your heat at home by a few degrees in the winter and set your air conditioning a few degrees higher in the summer.
- Purchase energy efficient appliances and equipment. Not only will they save you money on utility bills, but you will also help save animals around the world.
- Utilize public transportation when you can and keep your car properly tuned with tires inflated to maximize gasoline efficiency.