The Green Museum: A Primer on Environmental Practice [Hardcover]

Sarah Brophy (Author), Krista Sprecher (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2008

Global climate conditions demand a response by institutions that are here for the long haul--as museums are--to collect, preserve, and interpret in perpetuity. Environmentally friendly practices are crucial to the mission of our museums, which, as houses of preservation, are uniquely suited to modeling green behavior and sustainability. In The Green Museum, authors Sarah Brophy and Elizabeth Wylie offer a complete handbook to guide museum staff in incorporating green design into new construction and day-to-day operations. Sustainable practices can save on operating costs and even make museums attractive to new fundraising sources, as Brophy and Wylie show in case studies of museums that have already taken steps to become green.

In this easy-to-read book, the authors demystify the process of going green, including detailed explanations of the basics of recycling, options for environmentally friendly exhibit design, and how to conduct energy audits. The Green Museum is full of practical information for museums of any size and a vital resource for every museum that wants to remain relevant in an increasingly green world.

The Green Museum is printed with soy-based ink on recycled stock.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is a great reference for anyone who is considering going green as well as those who have already embarked on this journey.  --Fall 2009, Museum Anthropology Review

....provides a thorough and highly readable guide to greening your museum....gives museum managers the told they need to incorporate sustainable development into the day-to-day management of...operations. --Lisa Morrotti, 3-4/2009, Vol 27 No 2, Muse

This book offers practical advice for getting going in the right direction no matter the size of your museum....It should be considered core reading for anyone involved in green initiatives. --Merritt Price, Spring 2009, Vol 28, No 1, Exhibitionist

An easy to read, informative, and inspiring book that clearly demonstrates why, and how, sustainability should be a part of every museum's mission. Brophy and Wylie show why greening your museum makes sense for your staff, visitors, community, and bottom line. (Richard V. Piacentini )

The work that Brophy and Wylie have done to capture the broad range of challenges and successes will serve the museum industry as both a practical guide and a source of inspiration. From tactical issues relating to operational efficiency to strategic thinking around education and fundraising, the book covers all dimensions of the business. (Damien Francaviglia )

This book offers practical advice for getting going in the right direction no matter the size of your museum.... Through the clearly organized chapters the authors address these concerns with concrete ideas and practically written advice for tackling a wide range of green initiatives.... This book is a useful addition to the reference section of any museum library.... It should be considered core reading for anyone involved in green initiatives. (Merritt Price Exhibitionist )

This work provides a thorough and highly readable guide to greening your museum.... In a lucid and lively style.... The text gives museum managers the tools they need...to incorporate sustainable development into the day-to-day management of their operations. (Lisa Morrotti Muse )

In this book, The Green Museum: A Primer on Environmental Practice, Sarah Brophy and Elizabeth Wylie provoke us to think about sustainability and our institutions. They provide information, examples, and tools to move your institution toward a more sustainable future and in doing so, preserve the world's heritage. . . . This book is a great reference for anyone who is considering going green as well as for those who have already embarked on this journey. Brophy and Wylie provide a wealth of ideas that should inspire all museums to become more sustainable. (Museum Anthropology Review )

The Green Museum serves as a wonderful resource for any museum that is 'going green.' Whether you are just starting out or you have been green for years, Brophy and Wylie provide valuable tips, examples and references that will move museums toward a more sustainable future. (Ellen J. Censky )

This book offers a complete guide to incorporating green design into new construction and day to day operations…. The book tries to demystify the process of going green, and includes detailed explanations of the basics of recycling, options for environmental friendly exhibit design, and how to conduct energy audits. This is a practical source for museums of every size and those that want to remain relevant in an increasingly green world. (Abstracts Of Public Administration, Development, And Environ )

About the Author

Sarah S. Brophy is an independent consultant, helping museums and other cultural institutions become environmentally and financially sustainable. Elizabeth Wylie has spent twenty years in the museum field as a curator and director and now directs business development activities for Finegold Alexander + Associates, a planning and architecture firm specializing in sustainable design.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Altamira Press (August 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759111642
• ISBN-13: 978-0759111646
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,931,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sarah Brophy has been a practicing museum professional since 1983. She's an independent consultant on environmental sustainability, grant proposal planning and writing, and project planning and implementation. She teaches The Green Museum at The George Washington University, and speaks and consults around the country.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Going Green: The Wave of the Future for Museums, December 9, 2008

By 

Melissa Mannon (Bedford, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Green Museum: A Primer on Environmental Practice (Paperback)

Authors Sarah Brophy and Elizabeth Wylie invite us to "embrace the evolutionary process" in this groundbreaking manual for museums. The authors tell us why museums benefit from going green and how to do it, with both common sense ideas and novel approaches. Explaining how "green" can save your institution money, can help influence your patrons, and increases your ties to the community, "The Green Museum" offers us a big picture perspective, while also providing very practical steps for accomplishing goals. Sample policies, a list of terms, case studies, steps on greening your purchases to updating your energy efficiency, and ways to fund projects provide museum professionals with all the information they need to get started on the greening process. The book's premiere strength is the many examples it offers of museums that have already set down the green path. Both Brophy and Wylie have deep roots in the field are well-respected professionals, with many connections in the museum community across the country. This book is a must for museums looking to make themselves viable into the 21st century.