Home > Energy Exchange > Exhibits Energy Exchange, located in Communicore East, was a companion exhibit area for the Universe of Energy. Here guests could discover more about the topics presented in the Universe of Energy--from detailed information on energy sources and energy production to energy conservation. Hands-on exhibits, films, video, text displays, models and more were used to make energy concepts both understandable and fun for guests. At Energy Exchange's main entrance (there were also two smaller side entrances) was a large kinetic sculpture. A gentlly sloping ramp partially encircled the unique sculpture which represented "energy in motion", with its revolving gears and wheels, lights, and other elements. Exhibits dealing with specific energy resources were divided into four separate areas, each centered around its own eye-catching centerpiece. These areas included: Wind & Solar Power The Wind & Solar exhibit area revolved around central display of solar cells. Spotlights mounted over the solar cells provided power, and allowed guests to visibly see the reaction when they placed their hands over the solar cells, blocking the lights. Nearby, situated perpendicular to one of the side entrances, was a display where guests could learn about the photovoltaic cells on the roof of the Universe of Energy pavilion next door. The display explained how the solar array partially powered the ride within. Two meters on the display showed the electrical wattage produced by the cells, as well as the percentage of sunlight exposure the cells were receiving. A giant revolving windmill featured information on how windmills could play an integral role in the future of energy production. Nuclear Energy One of the most intriguing of all of the exhibits at Energy Exchange was located in the heart of the nuclear exhibit area. It was here that guests could try their hand at operating the "Nuclear Reactor." A model of a nuclear reactor's control and fuel rod assembly stood in the center of the circular display. By manipulating a lever on a console, guests could raise and lower the control rods. A monitor on the console showed the effect of moving the control rods, with a "thermal display." The perimeter of the circular display offered more information on how nuclear reactors work and generate electrical power. Nearby, another display showed guests that even common items-such as a smoke detector, antique glass, and a photographer's anti-static brush produce radiation. For comparison, the display also featured a small piece of Uranium. Guests could rotate a turntable containing these various items past a Geiger counter, to see how radioactive they each were. Fossil Fuels At the heart of the Fossil Fuels exhibit area was an impressive and intricately detailed scale model of an offshore drilling platform. Surrounding the model were several display cases that featured drill bits as well as other pieces of equipment used on actual drilling platforms. Another extraordinary feature of the fossil fuels exhibit area was an actual dragline bucket that was used in coal strip mining operations. The bucket was so large, that guests could actually walk inside of it and discover more about coal and coal mining in a mini "theater" located within. Another display featured a number of test test-tubes filled with various types of crude oil. By pressing a button, the tubes would shift from one side to another so guests could observe the viscosity of the different oil types. Synthetic Fuels Dominating the Synthetic Fuels exhibit area was a giant piece of oil shale (...the rock that burns). This exhibit area featured displays with information on different synthetic and biomass fuels, as well as a number of display cabinets containing various examples of biofuels. The "biomass" display at the back of the exhibit area featured a short video on the nature and use of biofuels. It even showed the pilot program developed by Walt Disney World and other researchers, for turning pesky, river-clogging Water Hyacinths into a biomass fuel source. Other Exhibits Lining the walls at each end of the display area were "Energy Access Terminals." These touch-screen terminals offered in-depth information on current and future energy sources, conservation, and more. Guests could take a self-paced, "guided tour" through the topics of their choice, by making selections on the touch-screens. The topics played out as videos supplied by laser discs in the nearby EPCOT Computer Central. "Mini-theaters" in the display area featured short video films on various energy topics, with seating for around 8 to 10 guests. For information on energy consumption on the home front, the "Neon House" exhibit, which was located beneath the frame of a "house" made out of neon light tubes, featured video monitors that gave guests information on how they could conserve energy at home. Another popular exhibit was "Video Bicycle." There, guests pedaled a stationary bicycle to generate electricity. A video monitor displayed how much power the guest was generating through their pedaling (hint: it takes a lot of pedaling to produce a small amount of electricity!). Guests could also test their energy generating capabilities at the "Hand Generators" exhibit, where they could crank a handle to try and generate enough power to illuminate a light bulb. One of the most popular exhibits at Energy Exchange was "Taxi Game" in which guests would "drive" a virtual automobile through a computerized cityscape. The game challenged guests to find the shortest route to their destination, and showed them how their driving habits affect fuel economy. A display above the game screens offered additional tips on how to save fuel. Epitaph Sadly, Energy Exchange closed permanently in late January of 1994, when Communicore was transformed into Innoventions. With it, and its counterparts in Communicore (FutureCom, Backstage Magic, et al), went part of the original mission of EPCOT: to inform, educate, and inspire while entertaining.