The Visitor Center is well insulated, increasing the building's efficiency. The roof is made of structural-insulated panels, which sandwich a layer of rigid foam insulation between sheets of oriented strand board. The panels are tighter than standard frame construction insulation systems, keeping heat out during the summer and inside during the winter. The building also has foam insulation in wall cavities and insulated windows.
During the winter, sunlight shines directly onto the center's concrete floor. Concrete is a massive material so it absorbs and stores the sun's heat. The warm floor helps to heat the building, and because the concrete stores the heat, the floor remains warm even after sunset.
The stone walls of the Zion Canyon demonstrate how massive materials store heat. The rock walls remain warm on cool nights after the sun has warmed them on sunny days. During the summer, the walls are cool in the morning after the previous day's heat was released during the night.