Make the Switch at Phipps! Green Power Drive
Support clean energy, impact climate change and receive a free Phipps membership — all in a day’s visit.
Nearly nine out of 10 Phipps guests consider climate change a threat now or in the future, and it's up to every one of us to do our part to address this critical issue. Climate change is a topic that can feel so daunting that you might think you can’t have an impact. But making a difference right now is easier than you may imagine, and you can start with your next visit to Phipps.
On weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to close, and all day on weekends, you’ll now find a station in our Tropical Forest Conservatory or Tropical Fruit and Spice Room where you can switch your home electricity generator to 100% green power right on the spot, and if you do, you’ll receive something special: if you’re not yet a Phipps member, you’ll be given a free one-year membership at our family/household level, and if you’re already a member, you’ll receive a six-month extension at your current level. This offer is only available on site at Phipps. Participating guests must be residents of Pennsylvania and New York who have paid admission for the day or are visiting as a current member. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer.
Switching is easy and takes just a few minutes, and representatives will be available to help you choose the right plan. Your bill still comes from your current provider, and rates are competitive and may even be cheaper. Plus, for each year your household uses green power, you remove as much carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as 8.4 acres of forest.
The Difference You're Making
In a new display at Phipps' entrance, 16 oil barrels provide a visual representation of the amount of CO2 you can prevent from being released into the atmosphere annually by switching to renewable energy:
Since January 2017, more than 5,000 Phipps guests have switched their household electricity to fossil-free renewable energy. Powering the average Pennsylvania home emits about 8 tons of CO2 annually; at the end of each year, these guests will have prevented 37,000 tons of CO2 emissions. This is equivalent to annually saving:
- 77,712 barrels of oil from being burned, or
- 444 tanker trucks worth of gasoline from being burned, or
- 83,289,910 miles from being driven in an average passenger car.
As you can see below, 77,712 barrels arranged in a circle would take up most of the Phipps campus!
⬤ 1 Barrel
⬤ 100 Barrels
⬤ 1,000 Barrels
⬤ 5,000 Barrels
⬤ 77,712 Barrels
Phipps is committed to promoting human and environmental well-being through action, research, and making the sustainable choice in everything we do — and we hope to inspire each and every one of our visitors to join with us in this effort. So the next time you visit the Conservatory, you’ll leave knowing that you’ve made an important change in your life to support clean, renewable energy — and increased your family’s access to Phipps’ amazing year-round exhibits and programs.
Sponsored by Green Mountain Energy
* 1 ton of carbon dioxide = 2.1 barrels of oil burned. Additional equivalents can be found on the EPA website.
More Events You’ll Enjoy
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Planets Earth
Now Open
A dynamic exhibit at the Center for Sustainable Landscapes addresses the pressing environmental issues of our time and proposes a new way of thinking about how to solve them. -
Tropical Sundays
Save 50% on Admission Sundays, Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23
Escape to a warm tropical paradise and save! Take 50% off admission every Sunday in February when you wear a tropical-inspired shirt to Phipps. -
Spring Flower Show: Canopy of Color
OPENS SAT., MARCH 21 – FOUR WEEKS ONLY
Look up! Spring is in the air at Phipps' spectacular new Spring Flower Show that brings signature spring displays to new heights.
