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Rainwater Harvesting System

How does it work?

 A rainwater harvesting system captures, diverts and stores rainwater for later use. 

Rainwater harvesting at the Science Museum

The Museum is installing a rainwater harvesting system to collect water runoff from one of the train canopies located behind the Museum. This water will be diverted to a holding tank where it will be stored and later used to irrigate the Museum’s Green Acre.

Reynolds Aluminaut

Step inside a record-breaking aluminum submarine that has voyaged across the world to the depths of the ocean. Created by Reynold’s Metals Company in 1964, The Aluminaut is the world’s first aluminum-created submarine. It set a record for the deepest dive by a submarine and travelled the globe to aid scientific research and emergency salvage missions.

Tree Box Filters

Tree box filters consist of a container filled with a soil mixture, a mulch layer, an under-drain system and a shrub or tree. Tree box filters collect rainwater runoff which is filtered by the vegetation and soil before going into the catch basin underneath. Water that is collected in tree boxes helps irrigate the tree.

Tree boxes at the Science Museum

Tree box filters can be a very effective means of controlling runoff, especially when distributed around a site. Tree boxes will be installed in the parking lot around the entrance to the museum.

Virginia Tech Solar House

Tour the award-winning solar house designed and built by Virginia Tech students and faculty for the 2005 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.  Explore green science as you learn about eco-friendly materials and energy conservation for housing. 

Solar House tour times vary. Please check our daily schedule upon arrival.

Watt Wall

Track the world’s energy consumption in real-time. Learn about alternative energy sources and new developments in energy that will fuel our future.

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