Practices of energy efficient collection management in California

Museums are entrusted to preserve the artistic, scientific, and cultural achievement of humankind in the form of collections. As stewards of collections, museums work to provide optimal environmental conditions for the preservation of objects in their storage facilities, while aiming to create a sustainable future. In this thesis, the environmental sustainability and energy efficiency of museum collections care in California is investigated by focusing on Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in museums. A survey o f 100 museums in California that have a collections storage facility was conducted, resulting in a response rate of 62%. Key themes of energy efficient practices and resources for sustainability used by museums in California are discussed and then a set o f conclusions and recommendations is presented. It is concluded that although there is need for more research regarding energy-efficient storage facility for museum collections, museum in California are making important contributions towards sustainability.