A Home for All Seasons Events
You are invited to join us for four special Smart Home events, one each season, geared to provide tips for more sustainable living. Experts will share information and lead demonstrations. Programs are free with general Museum admission and each event will offer free “green” giveaways. Activities are located throughout the Museum and are subject to change.
- Fall Event - Saturday, October 25th
- Our fall Smart Home event: sustainability with a Halloween twist.
- Winter Event - Saturday, December 13
- Our winter Smart Home event: how to have greener holidays.
Previous Events
Spring—Saturday, May 10; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Talk with Michelle Kauffman, architect of the Smart Home, and discuss her inspiration behind the home’s design as well as learn how they can incorporate eco-friendly living in their own homes. Volunteers from the University of Illinois Extension will also host activities focusing on the Smart Home landscaping and will teach you how to create your own sustainable garden. The Chicago Department of the Environment will hand out compact fluorescent light bulbs to the first 1,000 families and Dominick’s will offer tasty samples of their O Organics food line. Don’t forget to stop by the ComEd booth and learn about energy-saving programs to conserve energy, save money and help the environment.
Summer—Saturday, July 19; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Visit the summer session and learn about energy conservation through activities provided by the Museum’s education staff. Check out the do-it-yourself roof garden presentation, the solar-powered oven cooking demonstration and the solar car team from Northwestern University. You’ll also be able to preview more products from several of the companies featured within the Smart Home. Dominick’s will offer food samples from their O Organics line and ComEd will be on hand to showcase its compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) recycling program. The Chicago Public Library will also be on hand with the “Bookmobile” to provide activities for younger children.
- Museum Hours
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- November Extended Hours
- Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Open every day except Christmas Day
- Museum Location
- Getting Here
New Online Activities
- Online Activity
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Smart Home Time Lapse
Watch the Smart Home come together in less than 90 seconds.
Learn More
- Find out more about the mkSolaire and the architect who created the home.
Read Michelle's blog - See the Smart Home on NBC Nightly News.
- Check out the story
Smart Home Podcast
- Meet the architect of "Chicago's greenest home" in our interview with Michelle Kaufmann.
Download the Smart Home Podcast
Exhibit Resource Guide
- Download our guide to the Smart Home and its eco-friendly products, along with more "green" tips and a fun family activity!
- Exhibit Resource Guide (PDF)