The Virginia Association of Museums actively seeks to incorporate environmental sustainability and green practices in its operations, programming and activities. With this initiative, we hope to inspire our members to institute similar methods in their own organizations so that together we can make a significant difference in our communities.
How VAM is Going Green
What Museums in Virginia are Going Green?
The Green Game
What You Can Do to Help: Fun Ideas With Quick Results
Green Links of Interest
How VAM is Going Green:
- Printing publications on recycled paper
- Recycling office paper and catalogs
- Backing up computer files and emails to CD and thumb drive, rather than printing copies of documents for backup paper files
- Selecting a state-designated “Virginia Green” hotel for our 2009 conference
- Staff works from home one day a week to save on gas usage and emissions
- Recycling/ reusing badge holders and file folders
- Using recycled lanyards at our 2008 conference
- Distributing reusable water bottles at our 2008 conference
- Distributing reusable grocery sacks at our 2008 conference
What Museums in Virginia are Going Green?
This list represents some of our member institutions who have kept us up to date on their green practices. If you would like to be added to this list, please email Jennifer.
Children’s Museum of Virginia, Portsmouth
The Children’s Museum is undergoing renovation, and will have a green roof as a part of their new building.
National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico
The museum’s new building instituted many green projects, including water saving irrigation methods, a green roof, and more.
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, Virgnia Beach
Virginia Living Museum, Newport News
* Both the Virginia Living Museum and the Virginia Aquarium have been designated as Virginia Green Attractions by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. See how your site can receive this designation!
The Green Game
How green is your museum? Play VAM’s Green Game now, and find out your score!
Possible Scores:
15-21 Points--Congratulations! Your museum qualifies as a "Lean, Green Museum Machine!"
9-14 Points--Thank you for working on making your museum a greener place. Your museum is busy "Growing a Green Thumb!"
1-8 Points--"It Ain’t Easy Being Green," is it? Maybe this survey gave you some good ideas for inexpensive ways your museum can join in going greener.
How does your museum compare to others in Virginia?
The highest score in the Green Game recorded so far is 17, the lowest is 2. The average score is 9 so overall, our museums are “growing a green thumb!”
What You Can Do to Help: Fun Ideas With Quick Results
1. Visit the website Ideal Bite: A Sassier Shade of Green, and sign up for their daily “light green” email tip—fun, easy ways to help save the planet.
2. Find a canvas bag in your favorite color (or with the logo of your favorite museum association!), and take it with you to the grocery store. Each bag you bring to reuse means one less bag in a landfill.
3. Adopt something! Save a dog or cat from an animal shelter, adopt a stretch of road to keep clean, or participate in one of the many adoption programs offered by zoos, museums, gardens and charities.
4. Join (or find out more about) AAM’s new Professional Interest Committee on Green Museums.
5. Add this tagline to your email signature: "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail."
6. Use this Free Software Tool to cut your PC energy use.
Green Links of Interest
Green Museums, from bMuse
A great resource for museums interested in green issues. This website was created by Sarah Brophy, who will be teaching a VAM workshop on green museums in September 2008.
The Greener Good: The Enviro-Active Museum, Museum News, January/ February 2008
It’s Easy Being Green: Museums and the Green Movement, Museum News, Sept/ Oct 2006
Board & Staff: Welcoming the Green Revolution in Your Museum
"Green" Money: The Funding Landscape for Museums Thinking About Going Green
From the U.S. Green Building Council:
Green Building 101: USGBC Introductory PowerPoint Presentation
Green Building by the Numbers
Green Design Wiki from the University of California at Davis