Table of Contents
Table of Contents. 3
Preface. 7
My Biases. 10
Acknowledgements. 13
PART I: Defining Sustainability Priorities for your Institution or Practice. 14
Chapter 1. 14
Defining Sustainability for Your Museum Exhibitions. 14
Chapter 2. 21
Design for Human Health. 21
Air Quality in New Buildings and Deep Renovations. 23
Air Quality in Existing Spaces. 24
Avoiding Toxic Chemicals in the Museum Galleries. 26
Six Classes of Chemicals and How to Avoid Them.. 27
1. PFAs. 28
2. Antimicrobials. 29
3. Flame Retardants. 30
4. Bisphenols and Phthalates. 31
5. Some Solvents. 33
6. Certain Metals. 34
The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List36
Health Product Declarations. 37
What to Ask Manufacturers. 39
Chapter 3. 41
Design for Social Health and Equity. 41
Forced and Child Labor in the Materials Supply Chain. 43
What Can Museums and Exhibit Designers Do?. 43
Design for Freedom.. 45
Pollution in the Materials Supply Chain and Its Effects on BIPOC and Vulnerable Communities. 46
Racial and Gender Diversity in Our Design Teams. 47
Seeing the Stories of Women in the Cinema. 49
In Museums, Who Decides Which Stories are Told?. 50
What Can Museums and Exhibit Designers Do?. 51
Universal Design and Going Beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act52
The Seven Principles of Universal Design. 54
7. Equitable Use. 54
2. Simple and Intuitive Use. 55
3. Perceptible Information. 55
4. Tolerance for Error55
5. Low Physical Effort55
6. Size and Space for Approach and Use. 55
Exhibit Design for Mobility Access. 58
Exhibit Design for Blind and Low-vision Access. 59
Exhibit Design for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing. 60
Exhibit Design for Neurodiverse Access. 61
Inviting Community Members to Co-Create Museum Exhibitions. 63
Corporate Donors. 64
Chapter 4. 68
Design for Ecosystem Health. 68
Bio-Based and Biodegradable Materials. 71
Bird-Friendly Windows. 82
Biophilic Design. 84
Consulting with Native American Tribal Communities. 86
Choosing Native or Adaptive Plants to Restore Native Habitat88
Increasing Tree Canopy. 90
Reducing Heat Island Effect90
Design for Dark Skies. 91
Design for Clean Water. 93
Design for Water Conservation. 95
Chapter 5. 97
Design for Climate Health. 97
Museums as Positive Examples of Climate Action. 98
Developing a Plan to Reduce a Museum's Carbon Footprint109
Operational Carbon Reduction of Exhibitions. 109
General Principles of Low Embodied Carbon Materials. 113
More Detailed Assessments of the Embodied Carbon of Materials. 114
Reducing the Carbon Emissions of Shipping and Travel118
The New 2023 Bizot Protocol119
Chapter 6. 123
Design for a Circular Economy. 123
Design for Deconstruction. 123
Salvaged Materials. 127
Material Take Back Programs. 131
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles. 131
Recycled Content135
Creating an End-of-Life Plan When Selecting New Materials. 143
PART II: Practical Ways to Achieve Your Goals. 147
Chapter 7. 147
Managing Sustainability Goals Throughout the Timeline of the Project147
Project Kickoff147
Concept/Schematic Design. 150
Design Development151
Exhibit Fabrication. 153
End of Life Deconstruction. 153
Sustainable Disposal of Electronics. 155
Chapter 8. 158
Working with Manufacturers and Fabrication Partners. 158
Selecting a Fabrication Partner. 159
Kickoff Meeting. 160
Cutting Costs. 162
Chapter 9. 163
Sustainable Options for Graphic Production. 163
Sustainable Offset Printing Inks. 164
Digital Printing. 167
FSC Certified and Recycled Paper. 170
Screws Not Glues. 171
Alternatives to PVC-based graphics. 172
Chapter 10. 178
Sustainable Options for Interior Finish Materials. 178
Low Emitting, High Performance Interior Paints. 178
Interior Stains and Finish Coats. 181
Metal Finishes. 182
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), Plywood, Particleboard, and Cabinetry. 183
Countertops. 185
Low Emitting and Low Life Cycle Impact Modular Carpet187
Resilient Flooring. 188
Polished Concrete Flooring. 189
Wood Flooring. 191
Tile Flooring. 193
Gypsum Wall Board. 194
Textiles. 195
Websites to Research and Locate Sustainable Material197
Conclusion. 200
Appendix 1: Sustainability Standards and Rating Systems. 204