ORLANDO, Fla. – A new tiny green home exhibit opens to the public this weekend at the Orlando Science Center, in conjunction with the annual Otronicon expo celebrating advances in STEM and technology.

The 160-square-foot home is an interactive exhibit, providing information on ways you can live more sustainably and affordably. It’s a collaborative project between the science center, the City of Orlando and Orlando Utilities Commission.

OUC’s supervisor of sustainability Dave Mayer said the goal was to educate members of the public on ways they can live more efficiently, regardless of their home size.

“There are behavioral tips … ways to make your home more energy and water efficient, that you can take back to your home to help reduce your utility bills,” Mayer said.

In addition to behavioral tips on sustainability practices like composting and growing your own food, the tiny home includes green features like a hybrid water heater, which warms water using a mix of electricity and heat from the surrounding air. These types of water heaters cost about half as much to operate per year as traditional, fully-electric water heaters, according to the exhibit.

Mayer encouraged members of the public to schedule a free energy or water conservation audit with OUC after visiting the exhibit. OUC employees will come out to your home, check your meters and review consumption levels to determine potential ways you can save on utility bills.

“We’ll actually review your consumption with you and try to identify any areas for savings,” Mayer said.

For more information on scheduling a conservation audit, you can visit OUC’s website. 

Molly Duerig is a Report for America corps member who is covering affordable housing for Spectrum News 13. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.