Page 5 - PDZA Sustainable Aquarium Brochure

Aquariums play an important role in connecting people to
oceans. By revealing the wonders hidden beneath the ocean’s

surface, aquariums inspire awe and make people want to
protect these magical places and creatures. But aquariums are
also contributing to the problem. Buildings account for 47.6%
of energy consumption, in the United States and globally, and

aquariums are among the most resource intensive building
types. That makes them a perfect facility to showcase how
design and sustainability go hand in hand. As aquariums
increase awareness of the need to protect our oceans, they

can also show how our energy use and emissions are directly
contributing to their decline. They can lead the effort to
protect our oceans by reducing their own carbon footprints.

In this whitepaper, we present a vision for the sustainable
aquarium of the future. Our recent work on the new Pacific Seas
Aquarium at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma,
Washington, demonstrates major increases in efficiency. The

building is designed to be 50% more energy efficient than
comparable projects, and to have a carbon footprint that is 93%
lower than a baseline code-compliant aquarium. These savings
are achieved through innovations in filtration, heating and cooling

systems and lighting. By deploying water conservation and a
rainwater reclamation system, potable water use in the aquarium
is predicted to be 64% lower versus a conventional building.

Through these major reductions in water and energy use,
and countless smaller decisions about materials, equipment
and waste, we can see a path to a sustainable aquarium of
the future. By tackling sustainability on challenging building

types, like aquariums, we can develop strategies and processes
that apply across all building types, driving innovation and a
reduction in resource consumption. Ultimately, we all share the
planet and responsibility for protecting it.

CASE STUDY: THE PACIFIC SEAS AQUARIUM AT POINT DEFIANCE ZOO & AQUARIUM 5