Contact: Claudia Bard Veitch
978.264.4200 ext. 24
DREAM GREEN Exhibit
Opens at The Discovery Museums
Kids know that fleece mittens and wool hats keep them warm,
but do they understand why? What if
their house could wear a warm, wooly hat all winter?
Exhibit Opening Friday, January 28
Ribbon Cutting Saturday, January 29 10:00 a.m.
ACTON, MA - The Discovery Museums in Acton, Massachusetts will unveil on Friday, January
28, 2011, a new 400 square foot exhibit, Dream Green, to teach energy concepts, raise
awareness of green design, engineering, and sustainability and be a powerful tool to encourage
families to take action. A public ribbon cutting will be held Saturday, January 29, at 10:00 AM.
The Discovery Museums (TDM) have created this new interactive exhibition to encourage
children and adults to see themselves as architects and designers as they explore the science
of insulation, conduction, and thermal energy transfer. Fun, interactive exhibits and activities will
integrate infrared imaging technology with model building and testing the insulating properties of
clothing fabrics.
The centerpiece of the exhibition will be Reinvent Your House. Families construct scale
models of houses with interlocking walls and roof components. These modular components are
made with materials that conduct energy differently, such as uninsulated and insulated
materials. The house models are attached to a ‘heat blower’ that simulates energy audits to test
the building’s insulation and detect leaks. A Fluke Ti55 thermal imaging camera displays a
thermal image of the house model on a large monitor and encourages the families to ask: Why
do the windows glow red? Does heat escape through the roof or uninsulated walls? This
information prompts families to redesign, and retest as they determine which materials insulate
best.
“We appreciate that Dream Green brings important issues like energy conservation and
sustainability to life for children and their families,” said Marilyn Martino, Executive Director of
The Sudbury Foundation, a funder of the exhibit. "In a fun, hands-on way – typical of every
exhibit at TDM -- Dream Green inspires museum-goers to uncover the exciting connections
between real world issues and scientific solutions."
- more -
Using two Fluke Ti55 Thermal Imagers, families are exploring these concepts with the latest
technology. “It is such fun for kids to see colorful images of the heat emitted by their own body
projected on a monitor,” noted Al Feldman, Regional Manager and Level 2 Thermographer with
Fluke Corporation, which donated two high-power thermal imagers for the exhibit. “They can
also test the insulating properties of different fabrics by trying on ‘leaky jackets’ made of nylon,
cotton, fleece, wool, and down.”
The exhibit also presents families with the design challenge of building the most energy efficient
home. "It is exciting that kids and families will see the kinds of challenges that architects and
engineers deal with all the time," said Ann Fienman, Interim Director of the Boston Foundation
for Architecture. "BFA was an early supporter of this exhibit and we are thrilled with how it
turned out."
Key science concepts about thermal radiation, conduction and insulation will become visible in
multiple ways at Dream Green. Thermograms of the Museums’ buildings showing heat
escaping will be displayed and descriptions of TDM’s retrofits will also be valuable educational
resources. These and other large graphics will relate the exhibit to real world applications and
prompt valuable discussions about conserving energy, and encourage families to take actions at
home --from closing shades on winter nights to installing insulation. Dream Green will be an
engaging hands-on learning experience for all, demonstrating the importance of energy
conservation and sustainability.
Philip Scarbro, Director, Consumer Division for Energy Federation, Inc. noted, "As a provider of
lots of energy saving products, we are delighted that Dream Green shows families the things
they can do in their own homes to save energy and money." Geoff Chapin, Founder and CEO
of Next Step Living added "Through a unique partnership, visitors to the Discovery Museums
are able to sign up in the exhibit for free home energy audits and free and low cost energy
savings investments."
Neil Gordon, CEO of The Discovery Museums concluded, "Dream Green gives families a
chance to have fun, learn something useful, and take meaningful action. We appreciate all the
support we have received to bring this exhibit to our community."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About The Discovery Museums
The Discovery Museums are the children’s and science museums of Metrowest Boston, paired
on a single campus in Acton, MA. The two museums—the Science Discovery Museum and the
Children’s Discovery Museum—serve families and schools from towns throughout the region,
with a commitment to informal education that enhances classroom learning. The hands-on,
playful exhibits, developed by professional educators, inspire curiosity, exploration,
experimentation and imagination. The Discovery Museums combine manageable scale,
convenient location and free parking to provide a fun and engaging experience where children
and adults can discover their world together. More information: www.discoverymuseums.org.
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