MOOSE JAW — The Western Development Museum (WDM) in Moose Jaw hosted the “Smarter Science, Better Buildings” open house event this past weekend, featuring an interactive showroom designed to educate visitors on energy-efficient living.
“We have six different workstations, and they all talk about different ways to keep your home energy-efficient,” explained Alexis Jones, the WDM’s volunteer and program co-ordinator who led the tours.
With a mix of hands-on learning and historical context, “Smarter Science, Better Buildings” continues to be an engaging way to educate both students and the general public on the importance of sustainability and energy efficiency.
Workstations covered topics such as water conservation, lighting and appliances, heating and cooling, retrofitting, solar energy, and net-zero homes. Visitors had the opportunity to interact with the displays, including testing heat retention through different window types and observing the impact of efficient lighting systems.
One of the unique demonstrations, Jones noted, involved a simple Frisbee.
“If you put a Frisbee out on your yard, you can turn on your water and… once it fills up, your lawn is nice and watered,” she said. “It’s a simple way to avoid overwatering.”
The initiative originally started with a net-zero home project in the parking lot of the WDM in Saskatoon before expanding into a long-term partnership with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. The educational stations have now been running for over a decade.
While the open house welcomed visitors of all ages, the Smarter Science program is primarily designed for Grade 7 students and aligns with their curriculum.
“(Students) come in and spend about eight minutes at each station,” explained Jones. “They have a booklet to complete, and after they finish in here, they go through the museum galleries for about an hour. It’s a great way to compare how energy efficiency has changed over time.”
The Moose Jaw program runs for three weeks each year, with this year’s final student tour set for March 14, before the exhibit moves to the WDM branch in Yorkton.
The workstations receive regular annual upgrades to reflect advances in energy efficiency and sustainability.
“Innovation is always changing when it comes to keeping your home energy efficient,” Jones said. “These stations were upgraded last year to incorporate new information and technologies.”
Visitors were also invited to participate in a survey following the tour, with the chance to win a prize draw. Meanwhile, younger guests enjoyed colouring sheets and word searches.
For more information, visit or reach out to Alexis Jones, the museum's program and volunteer co-ordinator at 306-693-5989 or by email at [email protected].
The Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw is located at 50 Diefenbaker Drive.
