Sustainability Programs

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.

Recycling Program

The Royal BC Museum's recycling program, which all our staff and on-site partners participate in, is helping build a healthier environment. In addition to bins for glass bottles, aluminum cans, plastic, metals and cardboard, the recycling program also collects organic and wood waste. Royal BC Museum's estimated landfill diversion from our recycling program for the calendar year 2016 was as follows: from the wood recycling bin: 30 Cubic Yards; cardboard/paper: 916 Cubic Yards (paper collected and processed back into pulp at local BC Pulp Mills); organics: 207 Cubic Yards; soft plastics: 264 Cubic Yards; construction waste: 60 Cubic Yards (sorted and streamed for recycling) and light bulbs 1237 bulbs. Join us—do your part and recycle!

Pulse Energy

We consider ourselves a leader in sustainability initiatives and we have been practicing good environmental stewardship for decades. In conjunction with our long term vision and strategic plan to save energy in our buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this innovative software tool provides feedback on our building performance to visitors.