For the first time, the Western Development Museum of Moose Jaw (WDM) is offering a public open house for the ‘Smarter Science, Better Buildings’ exhibit, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, March 2. 

In partnership with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, the exhibit has been offered annually at the WDM to Grade 7 students in and around Moose Jaw. However, the information is relevant and interesting to just about everyone, so the WDM has decided to open the exhibit to the public for a day. 

Visiting the open house is free and will give visitors a chance to see trends in greener building technology, explained Alexis Jones, the program and volunteer co-ordinator at WDM Moose Jaw. 

“The program starts today (Feb. 27), so we’ll have our first Grade 7 class in today, but the public open house for Smart Science, Better Buildings is a chance for everyone to see what they’re learning about,” Jones said. 

“They compare buildings made today and from the past on their energy efficiency and learn about recent trends and new innovations, and there are six different stations.” 

Jones noted that visiting the rest of the museum on March 2 will still require the regular museum admission fee. 

The trend in greener buildings is not only interesting to those looking to reduce their environmental impact: The technologies make homes much more insulated, efficient, and comfortable. Increasing energy efficiency means it costs less to heat and cool the home and can also reduce problems associated with the Prairie climate’s often drastic temperature fluctuations. 

Examples include replacing older lights with LED bulbs, using more efficient insulating materials, upgrading older water heaters, and (for new builds) orienting the structure to take advantage of the direction of prevailing sunlight. 

“I think this is a good opportunity for people who are interested in renovating their houses,” Jones said, “so they can have a look at different insulations, compare types of lighting solutions you might use, and how much energy it all really takes. 

“Come and check us out, and if you do, we also have a survey you can do, and you’ll be entered into a draw to win a door prize.” 

Moose Jaw’s branch of the Western Development Museum focuses on the history of transportation in the province. It is an enormous building filled with hundreds of planes, trains, and automobiles, along with early, experimental snowmobiles, a model train exhibit, an exclusive Snowbirds exhibit, and more. 

Volunteers are a vital part of how the museum functions, and almost all of the vehicles at the WDM have been worked on by local enthusiasts at some point or another. There are even several planes built from scratch by a local club, bolstered with mechanics who in many cases had distinguished careers with the Canadian Air Force. 

Learn more about the WDM Moose Jaw, including a full listing of exhibits and events, regular hours and admission fees, how to volunteer, or how to become a member at wdm.ca/moose-jaw.