Cincinnati Zoo - Green in Honor of Earth Day

This week, my garden club had an exciting visit to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden to hear about the Green Roof on top of the giraffe enclosure. Steve Folz, Director of Horticulture at the Zoo, discussed their research into green roofs with their roof and others in the cincinnati area. You saw a picture of the giraffe roof as part of the video on the previous post. It was absolutely impressive to see how they have designed the roof and the benefits it is providing.

As we heard more about the other Green initiatives at the Zoo and toured Green areas, I realized how little I knew about what they were doing. The Zoo is more than a non-profit caring for animals or beautiful gardens, it is now an example for all businesses and individuals of things that can be done to protect the environment.

Business Courier Awards its First "Green Business Awards"

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden received two of the four Green Busines Awards awarded by the Business Courier. they took the "People" award for the Harold C. Scholl Education Center, which houses a 200-seat theater and the Zoo's Academy (high school). It also won the "Planet" award for the Historic Vine Street Village main entrance that is designed to handle storm water runoff and save on heating and cooling.

What Can You Do?

Recycle Your Cell Phone and Benefit African Gorillas at the same time!

Recycling cell phones reduces mining for coltan, an ore used in cell phones. It is mined in gorilla habitats. The cell phones will raise money for the Zoo's Conservation Fund. The Zoo will have hone collection boxes at the main ticketing office and at the Gorilla World exhibit.