The document discusses how museums can become leaders in sustainability by adopting environmentally sound practices, improving building performance, leading in sustainability education and communication, and accepting that success requires realigning factors. It provides examples of benchmarks for moving forward, such as the OMSI Green Exhibit Certification tool, use of LED lighting at The Huntington Library, and the Green Museums Initiative website and Accord pledge. Signing the Green Museums Accord involves commitments like educating stakeholders, considering sustainability in projects, and estimating carbon footprints to reduce emissions over time.

1. Tim McNeil University of California, Davis Muniz/McNeil, Los Angeles Museums As Leaders In Sustainability

2. Golden Gate park, San Francisco

3. The epicenter for green museums

4. Design is the problem

5. Designers are worse than used-car salesmen (at least used cars are reused). Nathan Shedroff Design is the Problem: The Future of Design Must be Sustainable , 2009

6. The worlds smallest bottle of water

7. The worlds most expensive bottle of water

8. The worlds least expensive bottle of water

9. From moments of crisis come moments of acute opportunity

11. “ The best of times and the worst of times.” Joel Makower, Compostmodern 2009 “Historically, when the economy goes down, so does our energy use. That's the best worst news I've heard all day.” Saul Griffith, Compostmodern 2009

12. Museums are NOT leaders in sustainability

13. How can ALL museums become environmental leaders?

14. The Critical Issues

15. The Critical Issues Adopting environmentally sound practices.

16. The Critical Issues Adopting environmentally sound practices. Improving the performance of museum buildings.

17. The Critical Issues Adopting environmentally sound practices. Improving the performance of museum buildings. Leading in sustainability communication, education and training.

18. The Critical Issues Adopting environmentally sound practices. Improving the performance of museum buildings. Leading in sustainability communication, education and training. Accepting that success factors will have to be realigned

19. Leadership

20. Leadership Pick a museum, we are all universally connected to sustainability.

21. Leadership Pick a museum, we are all universally connected to sustainability. Practice and embrace advocacy.

22. Leadership Pick a museum, we are all universally connected to sustainability. Practice and embrace advocacy. Change our mindset and challenge our deepest creature habits.

23. Leadership Pick a museum, we are all universally connected to sustainability. Practice and embrace advocacy. Change our mindset and challenge our deepest creature habits. Alliances with communities and other sectors.

24. Leadership Pick a museum, we are all universally connected to sustainability. Practice and embrace advocacy. Change our mindset and challenge our deepest creature habits. Alliances with communities and other sectors. Move from an environmental degradation audit mode to an action mode.

25. Buildings

26. Buildings Invest in existing museums.

27. Buildings Invest in existing museums. Improve operational/physical infrastructure.

28. Buildings Invest in existing museums. Improve operational/physical infrastructure. Ignore political, government and public pressure at your peril.

29. Education

30. Education Huge potential for sustainability as an organizer/topic for displays and exhibitions.

31. Education Huge potential for sustainability as an organizer/topic for displays and exhibitions. A shifting demographic and audience awareness.

32. Education Huge potential for sustainability as an organizer/topic for displays and exhibitions. A shifting demographic and audience awareness. Museum collections as vital resources for the environmental record.

33. Standards and Ethics

34. Standards and Ethics Changing behavior and organizational attitudes in the museum profession.

35. Standards and Ethics Changing behavior and organizational attitudes in the museum profession. The “g r een ethic” is a natural fit.

36. Standards and Ethics Changing behavior and organizational attitudes in the museum profession. The “g r een ethic” is a natural fit. A robust rubric rather than one size fits all accreditation.

37. Benchmarks for moving forward

38. OMSI Green Exhibit Certification A much needed tool for evaluating the sustainability of exhibitions. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, OR. Courtesy: Jennifer Wilcox, Exhibitions Creative Director

39. Energy Efficient Lighting LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) that meet the operational and aesthetic criteria for an art exhibition environment. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Treasures through Six Generations: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Weng Collection. Courtesy: Muniz/McNeil, Los Angeles, CA

40. GMI Website Green Museums Initiative and the California Association of Museums launches a new website for museum professionals. www.greenmuseums.info

41. Green Museums Accord A commitment to sustainable practices: an institution-wide pledge to begin greening your museum. www.greenmuseums.info

42. Publicly declare participation in greening your institution as part of the Green Museums Accord. Sign-up! Green Museums Accord A commitment to sustainable practices: an institution-wide pledge to begin greening your museum. www.greenmuseums.info

43. Publicly declare participation in greening your institution as part of the Green Museums Accord. Sign-up! Undertake programs to educate your colleagues, board, visitors, vendors, and other stakeholders about sustainability and sustainable museum practices. Green Museums Accord A commitment to sustainable practices: an institution-wide pledge to begin greening your museum. www.greenmuseums.info

44. Publicly declare participation in greening your institution as part of the Green Museums Accord. Sign-up! Undertake programs to educate your colleagues, board, visitors, vendors, and other stakeholders about sustainability and sustainable museum practices. Initiate a dialogue with your colleagues and other project team members about the environmental impact and sustainable alternatives on every major project. Carefully consider any new external contracts, and try to favor environmentally responsible vendors and work processes. Green Museums Accord A commitment to sustainable practices: an institution-wide pledge to begin greening your museum. www.greenmuseums.info

45. Publicly declare participation in greening your institution as part of the Green Museums Accord. Sign-up! Undertake programs to educate your colleagues, board, visitors, vendors, and other stakeholders about sustainability and sustainable museum practices. Initiate a dialogue with your colleagues and other project team members about the environmental impact and sustainable alternatives on every major project. Carefully consider any new external contracts, and try to favor environmentally responsible vendors and work processes. Either measure or estimate the carbon/greenhouse gas footprint of your museum and pledge to reduce your footprint on an ongoing basis. Green Museums Accord A commitment to sustainable practices: an institution-wide pledge to begin greening your museum. www.greenmuseums.info

46. Publicly declare participation in greening your institution as part of the Green Museums Accord. Sign-up! Undertake programs to educate your colleagues, board, visitors, vendors, and other stakeholders about sustainability and sustainable museum practices. Initiate a dialogue with your colleagues and other project team members about the environmental impact and sustainable alternatives on every major project. Carefully consider any new external contracts, and try to favor environmentally responsible vendors and work processes. Either measure or estimate the carbon/greenhouse gas footprint of your museum and pledge to reduce your footprint on an ongoing basis. Advance the understanding of environmental issues from a museum’s perspective by contributing actively to the communal knowledge base in this area. Green Museums Accord A commitment to sustainable practices: an institution-wide pledge to begin greening your museum. www.greenmuseums.info

47. Thank you