Bring Solar to the Creative Discovery Museum

Bring solar to Creative Discovery Museum (CDM) and help inspire all children to explore, innovate, create and play. In the heart of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the sixth fastest warming city in the United States, CDM is perfectly positioned to help families and the next generation learn about the potential of a low carbon future.

This project is complete. See pictures here.

$116,980 Needed/ $116,980 Raised

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Creative Discovery Museum Child playing with blocks

Each year, nearly 250,000 people visit CDM. The Museum offers a wide range of exhibits and hands-on learning experiences, including: RiverPlay, Excavation Station, Make It, Arts Alley, the Museum Tower and more.

Currently, CDM has a 10kW solar energy system. This project will bring them an additional 41.9 kW solar energy system which will be visible from the Lookout Tower and an interactive solar exhibit. This project also helped support the development of an educational video targeted at middle school children. Through the VIDI, 600 children will be learning about renewable energy.

The projected savings from the solar array panels will support CDM’s many free and reduced admissions programs that serve over 50,000 people annually. These programs include a free monthly Sensory Night for neurodiverse children and Free Family Night for all families on the second Thursday of every month. The Museum provides free admission to clients of Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Baby University; Children’s Hospital at Erlanger; foster parent programs; and a variety of other social service and youth serving agencies. The Museum also participates in Museums for All, a nationwide discount admission program that provides $2 per person admission for anyone with an EBT (food stamp) card. Over 12,000 visitors will participate in CDM’s Museums for All program in 2019.

The Solar panels will also support CDM’s sustainability initiative and energy related programs. For over 10 years, CDM has partnered with the Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Lab on the development of educational programs related to biofuels and other alternative energy sources.

Sunset over the entrance and tower at the Creative Discovery Museum

THANK YOU to individuals and organizations who made contributions to help bring solar to the Creative Discovery Museum!

Special Thanks to....

^. Adam Marczyk ^.Adam and Kimberly Salem ^. Anonymous ^. David Ellis ^. Martin Griffith ^.

and...

Engie

^. Gumerlock Family Foundation ^.