Museums Reassess Climate Control Strategies Amid Rising Costs

The art world’s fixation on stringent climate control is a hangover from outdated research rooted in the 1970s. For decades, museums adopted temperature and humidity ranges—plus or minus 2°C and 5% humidity—predominantly based on standards established in London. This one-size-fits-all approach has been applied to institutions in drastically different environments, leading to heightened energy consumption and unnecessary costs. However, a shift is finally underway as professionals begin to challenge these rigid frameworks in favor of more adaptable strategies.

Institutions face significant pressure to reconsider their climate control practices, especially as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a staggering 60%-70% of energy use in museum buildings. With rising energy bills weighing heavily on budgets, professionals are advocating for a reevaluation that aligns guidelines more closely with the unique needs of each collection and environment.

Progress in Guidelines and Practices

Initial steps to readdress climate control started over ten years ago, highlighted by the Bizot Group’s introduction of the Bizot Green Protocol in 2015. This was a landmark move towards broader temperature and humidity tolerances. The protocol received updates in 2023, promoting a more flexible and research-backed approach, rather than prescriptive limits.

Caitlin Southwick, a conservator and sustainability advocate, emphasizes the necessity of context in creating environmental guidelines. Despite the updated recommendations, many institutions still cling to outdated data. “People love numbers—they help us make decisions,” she noted. The Bizot protocol emphasizes tailored strategies rather than fixed numerical parameters, noting the importance of considering the uniqueness of specific objects, buildings, and the surrounding environment.

Collaborative Efforts in Los Angeles

In March 2023, a collective effort emerged from five major Los Angeles museums—including the Getty and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art—to adopt the Bizot Green Protocol. This initiative grew from the Getty’s Art & Science Collide initiative, which featured the development of a Climate Impact Program led by artist Debra Scacco and climate consultant Laura Lupton. Lupton pointed out the critical climate concerns facing Southern California, which is particularly vulnerable due to the prevalence of wildfires, droughts, and earthquakes.

This consortium aims to push the industry toward a consensus, allowing individual institutions to embrace a shared responsibility for climate adaptation, thus paving the way for a more unified approach to sustainable climate control across museums.

Expanding the Conversation Beyond California

Notably, Southwick’s initiative, Getting Climate Control Under Control, further illustrates the paradigm shift occurring throughout North America. Institutions like the Portland Museum of Art and the Royal Ontario Museum have already begun implementing the flexible Bizot ranges. For instance, the Portland Museum reported an impressive energy savings of around 9.5% during the trial period of updated climate guidelines.

The Art Bridges Foundation, which supports museums with art loans to enhance access, also restructured its loan agreements based on updated standards. Gretchen Dietrich, director of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, shared that allowing for larger fluctuations in temperature and humidity resulted in more practical and achievable standards, especially in the western U.S., where strict humidity control has been particularly challenging.

New Tools and Data-Driven Strategies

This evolving dialogue is bolstered by fresh tools that help museums assess the impact of potential changes. The Min/Max tool, released by the non-profit Environment and Culture Partners (ECP) this summer, empowers institutions to explore how modifications to their climate parameters could reduce energy expenditures and carbon emissions. The ability to input HVAC system details and building specifics into the tool enables decision-makers to make informed choices, which are essential for garnering support across museum leadership.

Data is key in advocating for change, especially to finance-oriented leaders who may initially be disengaged from climate discussions. Sutton explains, “If we can prove that you are going to save money, that might help get the entire museum on board.”

The Urgency of Action

As climate change progresses and extreme weather events proliferate, the urgency for museums to adapt becomes increasingly pronounced. Southwick warns that HVAC systems are often inadequate during heatwaves, causing not just operational strain but also existential threats to the collections. The devastating fire at the National Museum of Brazil in 2018 serves as a poignant reminder of the risks associated with neglected climate control systems.

This summer, many museums worldwide faced operational changes amid extreme heat, sometimes reducing hours to protect both visitors and collections. The operational challenges are clear—relying on outdated climate control measures can jeopardize the very preservation efforts museums are dedicated to.

What will it take for the sector to fully embrace these emerging standards? Southwick suggests an ongoing commitment to education and shared knowledge. She states that consensus and information sharing are essential, as the answer often varies based on specific conditions and institution needs.

As the Getty prepares for its upcoming program aimed at reducing environmental impact across Southern California, it’s clear the shifts prompted by evolving climate realities are critical. The movement away from rigid standards toward a nuanced understanding of climate control not only presents a pathway of sustainability for cultural institutions but also a necessary evolution for the future of collections across the globe.