Va. Living Museum opens green house

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - On June 20, the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News opens its Living Green House environmental education center and Conservation Garden.

The 600-square-foot exhibit house includes these features:

• Recycled building materials, including salvaged lumber and wood-like siding made from recycled paper.
• Alternatives to PVC piping and to treated lumber for decking.
• Roofs covered with living plants, which both insulate and reduce water runoff, that can be installed on homes, garages, sheds, porches or businesses.
• Solar photovoltaic panels, a solar water heater, passive solar heating and radiant floor heating, daylighting and natural ventilation.
• Alternative wall systems and alternative insulation systems.
• Collection of storm water in rain barrels and cisterns.
• Geothermal heat pump and cooling unit.
• A computer kiosk where visitors can calculate their own carbon footprint.

The house is being named the Goodson House in honor of the contributions made to the museum by long-time supporter George Goodson, his family and their company, Warwick Plumbing and Heating Corp.

Architect was Watershed of Richmond. Builder was Calvin S. Collins Contractor, Inc., Newport News.

The 3,000-square-foot Conservation Garden features earth-friendly gardening techniques: the use of native plants, mulching and composting to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It shows how proper landscaping methods can reduce storm water runoff that pollutes local waterways, while proving food, water and shelter for wildlife.

The $315,000 project is partially funded by a $150,000 matching grant from the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network. The garden portion of the project is also being supported through a donation from the local Huntington Garden Club.

The museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, I64, exit 258A.

Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children (ages 3-12). Ages 2 and under are free.

Call 757-595-1900 or visit www.thevlm.org .