RMG takes a whole-building approach to energy management, applying the hierarchy below:

  • Fabric First – improve our building fabric to reduce energy demand and reduce heat loss.
  • Challenge Standards – review internal and external requirements for environmental conditions.
  • Passive Controls – minimise active cooling or heating; utilise natural light where possible.
  • Efficient Systems – improve the efficiency of existing HVAC and lighting systems.
  • On-Site Renewables – install renewable technologies on-site, where possible.
  • Off-Site Renewables – create partnerships for off-site renewable energy supply.

Our energy baseline:

Our energy consumption baseline is 2018/19 – the first full year following completion of the Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre and the Endeavour Galleries.

Short-term goals (12-24 months)

  • Provide ‘Carbon Literacy for Museums’ training and empower the implementation of energy reduction actions.
  • Systematically identify and implement estates improvements focused on efficient controls and demand reduction.

Medium-term goals (1-5 years)

  • Decarbonise heat at Royal Observatory Greenwich.
  • Purchase electricity from verified renewable sources.

Long-term goals (5+ years)

  • Increase on-site renewable electricity generation, where possible.
  • Decarbonise heating at the National Maritime Museum, Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre and Brass Foundry.
  • Achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040, using good quality offsets for any residual emissions.

This document supports our Sustainability Policy Statement, is applicable to all controllable activities across all Royal Museum Greenwich sites and will be reviewed every 2 years.