Solar panel installation on the Ballarat Tramway Museum depot roof. Photo: Peter Waugh.
Green Museum Project
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Green Museum Project is a sustainability initiative developed by Museums Australia (Victoria) now AMaGA Victoria and made possible by the generous support of Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation with additional support from Creative Victoria. The program ran for two years and finished in February 2018. The project was designed to complement the Museum Accreditation Program, and training was open to all museums and galleries operating in Victoria with priority given to MAP-Accredited and MAP-enrolled organisations.
Project staff delivered practical training in Melbourne and regional hubs to volunteers of Victorian museums and galleries on preventive conservation and environmental sustainability practices. Workshop participants gained knowledge to reduce energy use, save costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve lighting facilities, reduce the risk of collections to light and ultraviolet damage, and position their organisation as a local leader in sustainability.
Accredited organisations that participated the training workshops were eligible to apply for funding to make improvements to their museums and exhibition spaces.
WORKSHOPS
Participants were trained in how to:
Conduct an energy and lighting audit to establish baseline measures
Measure and adjust exhibition and display lighting to meet conservation standards
Ensure long-term preservation of collection material through object rotation schedules
Create and implement an Environmental Sustainability Policy
Design an Action Plan for sustainable operations
The overall project benefits were:
Improved environmental performance and image
Staff trained for continued sustainability improvement activities
Environmental awareness and basic understanding of sustainability issues within the context of the cultural heritage sector
Identification and evaluation of possible solutions and alternate technologies and methodologies to increase organisational sustainability
Assistance with long-term preservation of collection material
GRANT RECIPIENTS
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The Museum undertook a combination of building improvements to address hot and cold air ingresses and the installation of ceiling fans to improve air circulation in three large gallery spaces. It is projected to prevent 8000kwh of electricity use and avoided contributing 9360 kg CO2 to Greenhouse Gas Emissions annually. Lighting throughout the museum was also changed to LED’s reducing energy used on lighting by 2000kwh and cutting 2340 kg CO2 from current Greenhouse Gas Emissions annually.
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The Museum changed over lighting throughout its gallery spaces from halogen to LED, reducing current energy used on lighting by 20%. The Museum is currently working towards grants for window tinting and rooftop solar panel installation.
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The Museum has benefitted from a commissioned report detailing the building’s thermal performance. As a result the museum have undertaken building works to address hot and cold air ingresses improving temperature stability throughout. Museum staff have also modified their use of heating, leading to an expected reduction in the use of gas by 33% annually. Lighting throughout the museum was changed to LED’s reducing energy used on lighting by 10% annually.
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The Museum received a 5000w Photo Voltaic Grid Connected Solar Power System which is expected to cover 75% of their energy use, and cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 5400 kg CO2 per year. See the video for details.
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The Museum changed over to LED’s throughout it operational areas reducing current energy used on lighting by 20%. The society is also undertaking building works to address hot and cold air ingresses improving temperature stability throughout.
Have you ever wondered what goes into solar panel installation?
Installation of Solar PV generation at the Echuca Historical Society, Dickson St, Echuca as part of the AMaGA Victoria Green Museum Project, October 2017.