The Climate Action Museum in Chicago’s West Loop presents an opportunity to learn about climate mitigation solutions available to consumers that will help decrease the carbon emitted from our built environment and everyday activities.
The Climate Action Museum, co-founded by sustainable design architect, Doug Farr, opened to the public in June 2023. The museum seeks to instigate a “climate awareness awakening” and “activate a tipping point on climate mitigation in the Chicago region through education, stimulating critical thought, and inspiring and facilitating action.” Through interactive exhibits, films, and programs, the museum addresses the science of climate change and its impact on communities. It explores simple to sophisticated solutions that are readily available to consumers. It also spotlights newer products and methods of climate mitigation that currently are not widely used because of their high cost.
The museum’s exhibits promote reflection on community and individual behavior. They underscore how the planning of our built environment and the materials and machines we use every day contribute to or reduce carbon emissions, which are considered the primary cause of climate change. One exhibit shows the environmental, social, health benefits, and consequences of our choices to live in walkable, transit-oriented cities or communities where access to residential, business, educational, and recreational activities is dependent on motor vehicles. Another section of the museum compares the heat energy loss of buildings due to design and construction materials through infrared scans and sectional models of different types of exterior building walls. The Climate Action Museum also explores practical and attainable ideas to make homes more energy efficient and displays energy saving appliances like heat pump systems and induction stove tops.
The museum is located in the lobby of 300 S. Riverside Plaza, a LEED Gold Certified, Class A office tower. Admission is free and the museum is open to the public Monday to Saturday. Docent guided tours are available on request.
