What is the Activity?
Strollers walked the pathway, read the signs (and we hope, learned about various renewable energy sources and technology)! They were asked to write on a recycled piece of paper their idea(s) for alternative energy sources that will be commonplace in five years. The pieces of paper were placed in a time capsule box.
The box was buried at 12:15am Friday, Jan. 1 by the outgoing Mayor Baker, E. Howard Rutherford, board member Lari Johnson and her husband Charlie, aquarium staffers Emily Stehle, Butch Ringelspaugh and Becca Holdwick, Labyrinth volunteers Michelle Duff, Mark Felix, Mike Stehle, Sunil Nair, Carolyn and Bill Wilks, and everyone who shoveled dirt into the hole!
The box will be dug up at First Night 2014.
Results
2,221 people participated and experienced the Renewable Energy Labyrinth. About 662 people picked up a souvenir at the finish table and about 100 people wrote a statement for the time capsule but only those pertaining to renewable energy are listed. Click on the Five Year Predictions banner (left) to read the renewable energy predictions or comments. We'll revisit the predictions periodically during the next five years!
Labyrinth Credits
End of the Labyrinth giveaways were generously provided by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Labyrinth designed by: Emily Stehle, APR, and E. Howard Rutherford
Research conducted by: James Butler, University of South Florida intern
Luminary Bags created by:
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Bay Vista Fundamental Elementary School students
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Campbell Park Marine Science Program students
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Visitors to The Pier Aquarium from Dec. 21-30, 2009
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Staff of The Pier Aquarium
Many thanks to the volunteers who made the labyrinth possible:
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Donna Anderson
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James Butler
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Michelle Duff
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Mark Felix & E. Howard Rutherford
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Cynthia Fox
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Gabriel Hernandez
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Becca Holdwick and Sunil Nair
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The Lee Family of New Jersey (Richard, Gail, Chris, Courtney and Taylor)
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Deborah and Randy Orner
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Cathy Quindiagan
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Joe Reid
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Butch Ringelspaugh
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Annie Schieser
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Emily and Mike Stehle
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Sandy van de Weerd
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Charles M. White
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Carolyn and Bill Wilks
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Patty Zimmermann
ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable Energy: innovative technology that has a positive environmental impact.
1. Renewable energy is a source of energy that can never be exhausted.
2. Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind and tides.
3. Renewable energy helps keep our air clean.
4. Renewable energy provides 7% of the energy used in the United States.
5. Renewable energy programs in the U.S. will create 850,000 jobs.
6. The more we use renewable energy, the more we benefit the environment.
7. Renewable sources of energy do not emit greenhouse gases.
8. Renewable energy provides clean, affordable electricity.
9. Renewable energy systems manage energy costs.
10. Clean, renewable sources (wind, geothermal, biomass and solar) represent only about 3% of Florida’s power generating capacity.
11. Florida gets 37% of its power from coal, 21% from natural gas and 22% from petroleum. – US Department of Energy
12. The rest (18%) comes from nuclear power plants.
13. Several gases contribute to climate change. The single greatest is CO₂.
14. Electricity generation is responsible for 40% of total US CO₂ emissions.
15. EPA Report: electricity generation is responsible for 34% of all US greenhouse emissions. More than: Transport (27%) or Industry (19%).
16. With the concerns about carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and our dependence on foreign oil, the push for renewable energy sources has gained momentum.
17. California Energy Commission Report says the #1 reason people want renewable energy is because it’s environment-friendly.
18. The second reason: to reduce energy costs.
19. The pattern of preferences for using renewable to supply energy has been consistent in the poll data for 20 years.
20. Some have argued that if consumers better understood cost and other trade-offs, their support for renewable would fade away.
21. Recent ground-breaking DELIBERATIVE polling research in Texas shows just how robust public support for renewable truly is.
22. In the first (uninformed) polling, more than 50% favored renewables as the generation resource that should be pursued first.
23. After training, the preference for renewable dropped moderately to a level roughly tied with energy efficiency.
24. In other words, consumers still preferred renewable over fossil fuel plants even when well-informed about the costs.
Click on the icons below to see the posted information from The Pier Aquarium's Renewable Energy Labyrinth.
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labyrinth’s walkway is arranged in such a way that you walk to the center and then follow the path back out another direction. We have added a path allowing a direct exit from the center.
In his last official ribbon cutting, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker accompanied by his children and Pier Aquarium President/CEO E. Howard Rutherford cut the ribbons to the labyrinth entrance at 7pm Thursday, New Year's Eve. They then began the meditative stroll through the Renewable Energy Labyrinth. 
