People's History Museum
The People’s History Museum is the national centre for the collection, conservation, interpretation and study of material relating to the history of working people in Britain. It is located in a Grade II listed, former hydraulic pumping station on the corner of the Bridge Street and Water Street, and reopened in February 2010 after significant redevelopment which included a new four-storey extension.
People’s History Museum delivers an environmental policy to all staff at induction. A green champion is in place and a green committee has been convened.
An extensive recycling programme for paper and card, glass, plastics, print cartridges and even mobile phones is in place, and through the Manchester Cultural Leaders Environmental Forum a rechargeable battery system has been procured for use in portable appliances in the office and museum.
The museum also has a policy for sustainable exhibition production, sourcing all materials locally and recycling as much material, especially wood, as is practical.
A rigorously planned maintenance regime is in place to try and maintain the efficiency of all plant and equipment.
The museum is currently in the course of producing a full carbon footprint and energy assessment with the help of a carbon and energy specialist to improve resource efficiency and process control, with the aim of being able to produce an ongoing assessment of how energy and utility costs can be reduced over the short, medium and long term.
Substantial improvements have already been incorporated into BMS meter monitoring software systems, and extensive hot pipe lagging improvements have also been made to plant systems within the building.
The main challenge has and will continue to be the management of heat loss between the old Edwardian building and a modern extension, with a large glass atrium connecting the two buildings.
As part of an exploration initiated by the green champion the museum has also looked into renewable energy sources, specifically solar and wind. Providers have undertaken full surveys and produced proposals and cost breakdowns. The challenge will be to find a cost effective solution to the barriers presented by the location and nature of the museum’s buildings.
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People's History Museum is a member of the Manchester Cultural Leaders’ Environmental Forum (MCLEF), a partnership facilitaed by Julie's Bicycle.
MCLEF grew out of a desire to promote and share good environmental practice, and the recognition that good practice can be significantly enabled by working collaboratively. Read more >
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Uploaded 14/08/2012
