The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is donating $53,000 to the Springfield Kidzeum of Health and Science to fund the Green Home Construction Exhibit within its Healthy Community gallery.

“The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is excited to play a role in educating young people about the opportunities homeownership brings,” said IAR President Jim Kinney, ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, Wednesday. “It’s important to raise an awareness early on of how sustainable living and finding the perfect place to live are not mutually exclusive. We look forward to sharing this information with future Illinois homeowners.”

Part of the Kidzeum’s stated mission is to teach visitors how to reduce their carbon footprint and to learn green practices such as recycling, using energy-conserving light bulbs or reducing the time spent in the shower. Families will learn how solar, wind and hydroelectricity reduce dependency of fossil fuels.

According to information from the Kidzeum, organizers have purchased nationally registered historic buildings at 412, 414 and 416 East Adams St, with a mission to teach children of all abilities about health and science through discovery and play. When the facility is complete, it will feature 25,000 square feet of exhibit space over three floors.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder said it best when she said, ‘Home is the nicest word there is,’” said Kidzeum Board President Rachael Thomson. “Because of the generosity of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, Kidzeum will have a Green Home Construction Exhibit that will teach kids how to incorporate energy saving and conservation practices in their own homes to make them even nicer.”

Through October 2013, the Kidzeum has raised $5.4 million of its $6.8 million goal. For more information, visit kidzeum.org or its Facebook page.