The LEED Platinum Robinson Nature Center won the Maryland Office of Tourism’s 2013 Green/Sustainable Tourism Award.
The award recognizes a state tourism business or destination that has successfully implemented green practices and experienced a positive economic impact associated with those practices. The GWWO designed nature center features geothermal heating and cooling, a green roof and solar panels that together help to reduce energy use by 30%. The solar panels have generated enough electricity to save 3,632 gallons of gas, offset more than 165,475 pounds of carbon dioxide, and save over $18,000 in energy cost. Indoor water efficiency features have enabled the center to save 50% more water than other buildings of comparable size. The nature center also recycles more than 50 cubic yards of materials each year.
