For museums to act ecologically, good intentions alone are not enough: structures are needed. Deutscher Museumsbund (German Museums Association) is therefore developing a museum-specific sustainability certification tailored to the diverse requirements of the museum landscape. In dialogue with museums, experts, and a political advisory board, a practice-oriented model with measurable standards is being created.

A central goal is to support museums in the targeted implementation of sustainable measures – with clear criteria, concrete consulting services, and a broad communication campaign. In this way, sustainability in museums becomes not only possible, but also measurable and effective.

As part of the certification, the Rathgen-Forschungslabor (Rathgen Research Laboratory) of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (National Museums in Berlin – Prussian Cultural Heritage), together with the Deutscher Museumsbund, is developing a database in which museums can record and analyse their actual temperature and humidity conditions. These new performance indicators provide a solid basis for identifying potential energy savings. At the same time, the database enables museums to make their energy consumption transparent and to place it in an international context.

Project sponsor: Deutscher Museumsbund e.V.
Funding: Commissioner of the Federal Government for Culture and the Media
Project duration: April 2024 to December 2025