Sun Tubes

When I was growing up in Richmond, my favorite place to go in the summer (aside from the Science Museum to play Oregon Trail of course) was the Children’s Museum. The best area by far was the grocery store.

I could spend hours in there (I’m pretty sure my mother had to drag me away a few times). While other kids were dreaming of one day becoming an astronaut, a firefighter, even a princess, I dreamed of working in fast food so I could play with the cash register. Big aspirations I know.

A lot of things have changed since those days and I’m not just talking about my neon clothes, hair scrunchies and jelly sandals.

The Children’s Museum has definitely evolved over the years with new, exciting, and much more advanced interactive areas. They’re teaching kids about issues that will really impact their lives, and helping create better habits early on.

Recently my old “career” and new career intersected with the new Dominion Solar Energy Exhibit at the museum.

Through a donation from the Dominion Foundation, the Children’s Museum of Richmond developed an interactive exhibit powered by solar panels on the museum’s roof.

Museum visitors insert colored scarves into a maze of clear tubes. The scarves go through the tubing and exit the exhibit floating to the floor. A video describes the process of harvesting the sun’s energy through photovoltaic panels, the conversion of that energy to electricity, and how that power makes air move throughout the exhibit to propel the scarves to the exit above.

The video also touches on the benefits of solar energy. Visitors will also be able to track the Kilowatt per hour and see how things like clouds, or the angle of the sun, can affect the energy generated.

Check out the exhibit at the Central Children’s Museum of Richmond location and let us know what you think!

2626 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA
Open 7 days a week, 9:30 AM – 5 PM