April 10 2008

Sustainability at the Museum of Art

Recently I was asked to do a presentation on 'Sustainability' as it relates to a Museum of Art. The presentation was geared to the museum facility board and included the definition of sustainability, sustainable decision making, unique considerations special to museums, case studies and a conclusion about sustainable metrics and LEED. My co presenter, Mike Babcock of EMO Energy Solutions, also presented his perspective from his experience as a sustainability consultant. It is interesting to note that for a variety of reasons there are not many examples of successful sustainable museums and that any museum attempting sustainability is trailblazing at this point in time.

Here is some of the useful information we found during our preparation for the talk:

• Sustainability at the Art Museum presentation (PDF)

Articles:

• 1 - The Greener Good: The Enviro-Active Museum (PDF)
• 2 - It's Easy Being Green: Museums and the Green Movement
• 3 - Sustainable Design for Nonprofit Organizations (4 Articles)
  • Why Green is Good for You
  • How Big is Your Footprint
  • 10 Ways to Go Green in Your Office Space
  • The Value of a Collaborative LEED Design Methodology

Resources:

• American Association of Museums (AAM)
• Green Exhibits
• Green Restaurant Association
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• US Green Building Council (USGBC)
• Green-e

Case Studies:

• Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM)
• Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM)
• Art Institute of Chicago

Please contact Greenline if you have any questions or need more information.

April 10th, 2008 at 11:12 AM. Posted in Industry + Practice. Share this post.