At the Royal BC Museum we consider ourselves a leader in our sustainability initiatives. But this isn’t new thinking: around here we’ve been practicing good environmental stewardship for decades. As the keeper of BC’s environmental history, it’s our business. We:
- take the stairs as often as we can, to support an elevator modernization project, but also to practice healthy living.
- have implemented a comprehensive recycling and composting program; installed solar-powered trash compactors, low-flush toilets and motion-sensor lighting; and switched to high-efficiency LED and CFL lighting and use partially recycled paper in copiers and printers.
- are a bottled-water-free zone.
- have installed state-of the-art, energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that creates an optimum environment for the artifacts in our care.
- completed a comprehensive water audit and energy management assessment and devised and implemented a carbon management strategy.
- created a sustainability committee to keep us moving forward. Our people are passionate about continued greening of our practices.
- consider, with every undertaking, how our actions will impact (and be judged by) future generations of British Columbians.
- look for ways to get people thinking about living sustainably, and
- as much as possible, turn off our power at night.
- 2012 Carbon Neutral Action Report (see below)has been filed on the BC Government’s (Ministry of Environment) website along with all other ministries and crown corporations (agencies). The report was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 2007 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (Act) and as prescribed by the Climate Action Secretariat.
The Royal BC Museum also participates in the annual Earth Hour challenge, held in over 150 countries around the world. Towards the end of March every year, Earth Hour brings together communities from across the world celebrating a commitment to the planet by switching off lights for one designated hour.
