23 Apr 2014
US theme park first as solar energy powers Legoland Florida
BY Jason Holland
Legoland Florida ran completely on renewable solar energy yesterday (22 April) to mark Earth Day – the first theme park in the US to do so.
The park partnered with electric utility company Tampa Electric for the project, which the companies say resulted in environmental savings equal to removing three cars from the road for one year or planting six acres of trees.
As part of the partnership a permanent section of the park, Imagination Zone, will now be powered by renewable energy, with a 30 kilowatt solar panel array installed atop the attraction’s building. Inside, an interactive zone will feature Lego mini model communities running on renewable energy.
A new display featuring an interactive 6ft (1.83m) Lego Earth model will be placed inside the park in June, with the aim of providing information and education about solar technologies. Visitors will be able to use tactile solar panels to affect the rate of the model’s rotation.
The theme park, which opened in 2011, runs a number of conservation initiatives, recycling nearly 60 tons of bottles and cans and 176 tons of cardboard in 2013.
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