Less Energy, More Stability

Museums, like other buildings, use energy. Using the passive building approach to reduce energy use in museums has the potential to increase comfort for museum visitors and staff and benefit collection conservation. The chapter explains the principles of passive building, how they apply to museums, and makes a speculative proposal for how museums could help increase public understanding of building energy use through making visible and explaining the physical features of the built environment that contribute to reduced carbon pollution, better air quality, and increased durability.