goinggreen

The Zoo is going green, and you can, too!

We're Harvesting the Wind with our NEW Wind Turbine

How it Works:
The sun shines, creating wind as the air warms and rises. Like a helicopter seed blowing in the breeze, the blades of a turbine spin round in the wind, which powers a generator to produce clean energy.

What it Does:
In 11 mph average winds, a 1.2kW wind turbine like the one installed in our Go Green Garden produces enough energy to run your dishwasher and refrigerator for an entire year (2000 kilowatt hours).

Our Windspire wind turbine, along with the solar panels in the Go Green Garden, is meeting approximately a third of all of the power demands for our ticketing and membership building.

How Do I Get a Windspire?
Windspires are being used by homes, schools & businesses. They are sold and installed by a network of certified Windspire dealers. A map of local dealers can be found here.

Watch the Wind Turbine Video

Why Go Green?
How Do I Go Green?
Greening the Zoo
Green Zoo Map

What Does it Mean to Go Green?

green logo

Going green is about making choices in our daily lives that promote a healthy planet, from what you eat to what you wear to how you get from here to there.

Why Go Green?

Going green is crucial to maintaining a healthy planet and its natural resources upon which both people and wildlife depend. It is also good for your health, pocketbook, and quality of life.

How Can I Go Green?

Take a close look at the choices you make in life and identify the opportunities you have to select greener options, following the lead of the Zoo's Go Green initiatives. Start with a couple of quick and simple changes. Once you’re comfortable with those, pick out a few more to pursue, and you’ll be well on your way towards a greener lifestyle.

Recycle Old Cell Phones

Recycling cell phones reduces mining for coltan, an ore used in cell phones, in gorilla habitat and raises money for the Zoo’s Conservation Fund. We are working hard to collect more cell phones that any other Zoo. Learn More >

Visit the Go Green Garden

Next time you're at the Zoo, be sure to visit the Go Green Garden, presented by Duke Energy, to see how the Zoo is going green and learn tangible ways to go green in your own home. (Photos: Shasta Bray)

Bring along a green map of the Zoo to know where to go to see highlights of the Zoo's green efforts. Or, view our interactive green zoo map.

Learn More

Check out these Go Green fact sheets for detailed information on each topic.

Support Local Green Businesses

Here's a map that will help you find green businesses in the Greater Cincinnati area.

The Zoo is doing its part to conserve natural resources that are critical to saving wildlife and wild places by greening its daily operations and reducing its impact on the environment. The Zoo's Go Green initiative addresses:

Move your pointer around the map to get more information on green points of interest! Use the + and - to zoom in and out and click and drag to move the map. Click here to open map in a larger window.

Watch the Go Green video!
solar energy data

Awards and Recognition

Governor Ted Strickland Proclaims the Cincinnati Zoo "Greenest Zoo in America!"

Our 3-day Earth Day celebration included the reading of Ohio Governor Strickland's proclamation. The document recognizes our staff and management for producing the most aggressive green building program of any zoo in the country.

We have won two 2010 Green Business Awards from the Business Courier and U.S. Green Building Council!

There were 59 nominations, and the Zoo won two out of the three awards! The Harold C. Schott Education Center won the People award and the Vine Street Village won the Planet award. We are proud to be recognized for our green achievements.

Full Story (PDF) | Business Courier Article - 3/15 | Business Courier Article - 3/22 | Video

Vine Street Village Recipient of LEED Platinum Certification!

The Zoo's Historic Vine Street Village, which opened in May 2009, received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification - the highest rating award by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Cincinnati Zoo is the first zoo in the nation to complete multiple LEED projects. This new, green entry complex is just one of the many reasons that the Cincinnati Zoo is the greenest zoo in the country. Learn more >

Going Green