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The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York describes work across energy use, waste management and exhibition construction. Its account offers museum teams a way to consider these different areas of operational change.
Setting the Stage: The Drive Towards Sustainability
MoMA’s sustainability journey gained momentum during its 2019 renovation and expansion project, which achieved LEED Platinum certification, a benchmark for energy-efficient and sustainable building design.
Building on this success, the museum adopted sustainability as a core principle, driven in part by New York City’s Local Law 97. This regulation imposes strict limits on carbon emissions from large buildings, with heavy fines for non-compliance.
In response, MoMA not only sought to meet these legal requirements but also committed to reducing its waste output by 50% by 2025. This ambitious target was championed by the museum’s leadership and supported by the formation of the Real Estate and Sustainability Department, which coordinates energy reduction projects and waste management strategies across departments.
Tackling Energy Consumption: Behind the Scenes
Museums face unique energy challenges, as they must maintain strict temperature and humidity conditions to preserve their collections. This makes their energy profile similar to that of hospitals or laboratories, with high demands for heating, cooling, and humidification.
At MoMA, these demands are compounded by the architectural complexity of its campus, which consists of eight interconnected buildings, each with unique thermal characteristics. The museum’s central plant, which consolidates HVAC and mechanical systems, became the focus of an extensive assessment to establish a baseline for energy consumption. Related guidance explores how to set a museum carbon-reduction baseline.
Key Energy Reduction Initiatives
MoMA discovered inefficiencies in its steam distribution system, with excess steam being wasted through thermal loss. To address this, the museum installed modulating valves to regulate steam flow and implemented seasonal adjustments for heating water temperatures. Waste condensate from the steam system was repurposed through heat exchange, preheating water for heating systems and reducing energy waste.
The museum also undertook a campus-wide conversion to LED lighting, coupled with occupancy and daylight sensors, significantly reducing electricity consumption. Ventilation systems in spaces such as kitchens were equipped with sensors that activate only when necessary, cutting down on unnecessary energy use.
The results speak volumes: MoMA achieved a 13% reduction in steam use (surpassing its 10% target) and a 15% reduction in electricity consumption. While slightly below the 20% target for electricity, these savings, combined with other initiatives, brought the museum within 1% of its Local Law 97 carbon emissions milestone.
Waste Reduction: A Cultural Shift
MoMA’s waste management strategy focuses on Scope Three emissions, which encompass materials, waste, and day-to-day operations. These emissions represent the largest share of the museum’s carbon footprint and require changes in organisational culture to address effectively.
Individual desk bins were removed, and staff were trained to use centralised waste stations, improving sorting and recycling efforts. MoMA became the first museum in the region to implement a composting programme and introduced a cardboard baler and trash compactor to reduce waste volume. Single-use containers in staff cafeterias were replaced with reusable alternatives.
Usable items, such as furniture and audiovisual equipment, were redistributed to staff, extending their lifecycle and fostering a culture of reuse. By 2023, MoMA had diverted 55.5% of its waste from landfills. While this is a significant achievement, the museum continues to refine its waste streams, conduct audits, and educate staff to improve tracking and reduce contamination. Universcience offers a related example of how to build a circular system for exhibition materials.
Sustainable Exhibition Design: Reducing Construction Waste
Exhibition design poses another sustainability challenge, as museums frequently modify gallery spaces. MoMA has reimagined its approach to exhibition construction, aiming to achieve zero-waste practices. Permanent, reusable walls with modular features allow galleries to be reconfigured without new construction. Steel studs are reused, and plasterboard waste is sent to a closed-loop recycling facility.
Display cases with a consistent visual language are refurbished and reused across different exhibitions, minimising the need for new materials. For bespoke installations, such as large wooden scaffolds, materials are carefully dismantled and donated or reused elsewhere. These practices have reduced exhibition construction waste by 82%, demonstrating that sustainable design can go hand-in-hand with artistic creativity. The Guggenheim case examines a different measure: how to measure an exhibition’s carbon footprint.
Overcoming Challenges: Building a Sustainable Culture
Adopting sustainable practices requires more than technical solutions; it demands a cultural shift among staff. At MoMA, this involved extensive education and engagement efforts. Staff were trained on new waste management procedures and regularly updated on progress through newsletters, meetings, and signage.
Sustainable design principles were integrated into exhibition planning, encouraging stakeholders to think creatively about reuse and modularity. From designing furniture with minimal waste to repurposing frames, MoMA fosters a culture of innovation and sustainability.
Looking Ahead: A Roadmap for Museums
MoMA’s account is useful because it separates several places where change can happen: the central plant, everyday staff routines and the construction of exhibitions. Those areas need different measures. A reduction in steam consumption describes energy use, while landfill diversion describes where waste goes; neither should stand in for the other. For another museum, reviewing these streams separately can help assign responsibility and identify whether the next decision concerns equipment, working habits or the design of reusable components.
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Eliana Glicklich-Cohn, Lana Hum and Jason K. Smith from MoMA spoke at the Green Museums Summit 2024.
