Museum Folkwang becomes greener

The Museum Folkwang in Essen is introducing a voluntary climate ticket on its way to becoming a green museum from July 1, 2024. The museum is inviting visitors to take an active part in climate protection with its innovative offer. And they can do so simply by visiting the Museum Folkwang.

Climate protection concerns everyone and everyone can make a contribution, including the cultural sector. The goal of many museums is the “green museum”, i.e. a building that is climate-neutral, if not climate-positive. Museums consume a lot of resources, including air conditioning systems, but also visitors who arrive by car. The Folkwang Museum in Essen has set itself the goal of becoming greener and working more sustainably. Since 2019, climate assessments have been carried out at regular intervals, which have already led to numerous measures to reduce_{CO2 emissions}. For example, all technical systems are gradually being converted to renewable energy. Since 2022, the museum has had its own in-house photovoltaic system to support the conversion. Measures to promote biodiversity have also been introduced, including bird protection measures and the replanting of the outdoor areas with insect-friendly perennials. The replanting was carried out in 2022 in collaboration with the city’s Grün und Gruga department. Important aspects were durability, closeness to nature and insect protection. The decision was made to plant bulbous plants such as daffodils and grape hyacinths as well as flowering plants such as yarrow, goldenrod and grove sage. Non-flowering plants and grasses have also been planted to ensure that the planting is permanent. In this way, the museum operators also want to promote biodiversity and the experience of nature close to home. An integrated digital irrigation system provides the plants with sufficient water. The museum is also currently planning to green its roof.

The energy supply of the Museum Folkwang in Essen is the largest source of_{CO2 emissions}, followed by visitor mobility. The museum’s air conditioning technology was and still is partly powered by natural gas. In 2020, the refrigeration technology was switched to the latest type of system powered by green electricity. The systems now have a free cooling function and significantly lower process losses. The air conditioning system naturally accounts for a large proportion of_{CO2 emissions} in most museums, as the rooms are cooled to a constant 21 degrees to protect the works of art. The Museum Folkwang has set itself the goal of creating a completely climate-neutral energy supply for the building. In addition to the heat pumps powered by green electricity, the museum also relies on a photovoltaic system. Further measures to reduce energy requirements include adjustments to the lighting technology, the systems used to shade the rooms and the temporary or permanent shutdown of non-essential building technology.

In addition to the energy supply, visitor mobility also causes a lot of_{CO2 emissions}. A scientific study carried out in 2023 found that an average journey of around 148 kilometers to and from the museum generates 15.5 kilograms_{of CO2} per visit. The museum therefore offers its visitors incentives to travel in a climate-friendly way, such as covered bicycle parking spaces and ticket partnerships with local public transport to selected special exhibitions. The museum’s climate ticket now expands the offer. It enables visitors to improve their own_{CO2 footprint}. The climate ticket, which visitors can purchase voluntarily for 1 euro, works in a similar way to a_{CO2 offset} that you can pay for air travel, for example.
The proceeds from the ticket are donated to the non-profit Bonnekamp Foundation, which uses the money to fund a pilot project in Essen. The foundation places a special focus on inclusion and social participation. The Museum Folkwang in Essen has made a conscious decision to cooperate with a local sustainability project instead of purchasing international emissions certificates. In the Katernberg district of Essen, the Bonnekamp Foundation is renaturing the land on a three-hectare brownfield site according to permaculture guidelines, practising organic farming and offering integrative educational programs. The aim is to promote biodiversity and the development of ecological systems. At the same time, living social habitats are being created there. The Katernberg district, located between two freeways, was shaped by the mining industry, as the Zollverein mine with its colliery and coking plant has been the economic hub of Katernberg since around 1850. The Zollverein mine, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name “Zeche Zollverein”, is located in the directly adjacent district of Stoppenberg. The closure of the colliery in 1986 and the coking plant in 1993 was accompanied, as in many parts of the Ruhr region, by a massive loss of jobs, which caused and continues to cause considerable social problems. With the help of donations generated by the Folkwang Museum’s climate ticket, the district is now to be upgraded. Bonnekamphöhe invites visitors to its natural garden free of charge. Fruit and vegetables from the garden are on sale. From July to September, free workshops for children aged 6 and over and families are also held on Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. The workshops focus on the topics of art and sustainability. The artistic and art education programs are developed in collaboration with the Museum Folkwang’s Education and Outreach Department.