Powerhouse has become the first museum in Australia and latest signatory of the World Green Building Council (WGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment.
Through its renewal the museum is taking radical action to embed low carbon solutions into its infrastructure projects and operations across all Powerhouse sites, leading the way to net zero emissions by 2025.
This aligns with the Powerhouse Climate Action Plan that is the pathway for the museum to achieve net zero carbon emissions in operations by 2025.
A key distinguishing feature of the plan is the centrality of the museum’s ‘Caring for Country Principles’, developed in consultation with First Nations communities on which Powerhouse sites are located.
The commitment Powerhouse has made to World Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment:
- Reduce existing buildings’ energy consumption, eliminate emissions from energy and refrigerants, remove fossil fuel use drastically, and compensate for residual emissions.
- Verify by measuring and optimising building performance across all operations sites using Green Star.
- The Powerhouse Climate Action Plan outlines commitments to influence products and services used along our value chain for better outcomes for museum exhibitions and programs and positively contribute to innovation across the museum sector.
To reflect on impact and positive changes, Powerhouse will track progress of the targets and objectives and share the results with supporting data, including energy consumption and carbon emission through annual reporting.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said: ‘The foundation of our response to climate change is drawn from the knowledge, understanding of First Nations peoples to care for Country in ways that are inherently sustainable.
“By 2030 Powerhouse will be operating climate positive across all sites.
“Our leadership and pledge to positive climate action will establish and embed new sustainable practices across the cultural sector.”
WGBC Director of Advancing Net Zero Victoria Kate Burrows welcomed Powerhouse to take up the leadership position in the cultural sector.
Burrows said: “By becoming a signatory to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment, they have shown their commitment to decarbonising their museum exhibition and public spaces, as well as infusing #AdvancingNetZero into promotion of excellence and innovation in applied arts and sciences.”