Contact: Pamela McCurdy, 651-757-2559
Toll-free, 1-800-657-3864
St. Paul, Minn. — More than 1.5 million people have attended the largest environmental event of its kind in the country, and it is right here in Minnesota. The Eco Experience, a 25,000 square-foot interactive exhibit, returns for its fifth year at the Minnesota State Fair.
With hands-on activities and educational presentations, attendees can learn about water and air pollution, recycling, saving energy, climate change, green jobs, renewable energy, vehicles and transportation and more. The Eco Experience also has a healthy local foods area featuring samples and demonstrations, a Green Street and free activities for the whole family.
What’s new this year at the Eco Experience:
Green building products and design. Green Street is a model green community being built inside the Eco Experience to teach state fair attendees about green design, energy efficiency, interior products, renewable energy systems and environmentally-friendly landscaping.
Practical tips to avoid wasting energy. The ENERGY STAR exhibit house is modeled after an energy-efficient home and demonstrates how important energy-efficient practices and products are as a first step toward saving energy this year. It is the first time the traveling exhibit has been in the Midwest.
Renewable energy demonstrations. Attendees will find more than a dozen renewable energy demonstrations including grid-connected solar and wind electricity, solar hot water and solar hot air on the front lawn of the Eco Experience. Professionals will be available to discuss which renewable energy systems make sense for your home. This is the largest display ever located at the Eco Experience.
Kick Gas! A solar car port will showcase how “power from the sun” can be used to charge full-use electric cars, which will be coming to the market later this year. Solar charging produces no air pollution emissions, eliminates the need to purchase gas and encourages local power generation-energy independence.
Space-age foam. The University of Minnesota is leading the way in sustainable plastic research, and some Minnesota companies have invested in producing bio-based materials. State fair attendees can learn more about this work and ask questions about products using these materials at this year’s Eco Experience.
Each day at the Eco Experience, state fair attendees can see cooking demonstrations, sample local and organic food, ask questions at the Green Jobs booth, learn about Minnesota waterways and much more.
WHAT: Fifth annual Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 26-Monday, Sept. 6
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
WHERE: The Progress Center
The corner of Randall and Cosgrove
Look for the 123' wind turbine blade
LEARN MORE: www.ecoexperience.org
About the Eco Experience:
A partnership between the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and dozens of organizations and businesses across the state, the Eco Experience has become the second most popular exhibit at the fair. The Eco Experience is the largest environmental event of its kind in the country in the last two decades. Since 2006 more than 1.5 million visitors have attended the 25,000 square-foot exhibit to learn more about clean air and water, saving energy, climate change, healthy local food, transportation, green building and remodeling, and other ways to lead more eco-friendly lives.
Look for more information and schedules in July on www.ecoexperience.org.
Green Street, Energy Star House and much more at the Fourth Annual Eco Experience
