As an organization whose mission includes "to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment," the San Diego Natural History Museum is taking active steps, increasing every day, in order to ensure that our natural environment is protected for future generations. These efforts begin with the building itself. The Museum has an aggressive recycling program in which over 50% of the Museum's total waste by weight is recycled, including 100% of our used batteries, bulbs, ballasts, e-waste, plastics, glass, and metal. Construction waste materials are also recycled whenever possible. In addition, is cleaned using green-certified cleaning products. In order to decrease energy consumption and reduce overhead costs, we installed a Smardt Chiller AC unit that serves the whole building at 50% of the energy consumption rate as our older HVAC system. We also painted most exterior dark surfaces to a lighter color to reduce the heat island effect from direct sunlight, and utilize automated motion sensors on lights throughout the building to ensure that lights are on only when needed.

Along with the green building practices in place at the San Diego Natural History Museum, the culture of the Museum has always respected our natural world; employees are encouraged by management—and each other—to recycle and conserve as much as possible. Staff members are urged to use reusable plates, cups and utensils during staff events, meetings and for their lunch. Many employees bike, walk, or take public transportation to work on a regular basis. Some employees even have the option of telecommuting which also saves fossil fuels and gas emissions. While at work, staff members are encouraged to take the stairs rather than the elevator, to unplug or turn off power strips and other electronic equipment when not in use, and to print documents on both sides of the paper, and limits color usage as well. Water filters were installed on all floors of the building to encourage staff to decrease consumption of bottled water.

The Dinosaur Cafe', operated by the Cohn Restaurant Group and located in the Museum, serves food and beverages to staff and visitors alike and uses sustainable paper products made from corn, which are compostable. The Dinosaur Cafe' also serves organic, free trade, shade grown coffee products. The Cafe' does not sell bottled water, and instead our guests are encouraged to use refillable water bottles or drink out of our water fountains.

These efforts reach farther than the Museum's building and staff, however. Conservation and ecology are common themes in the Museum's exhibitions and programming. Creating an informed public is one of the many ways to affect behavioral change. Since 2006, the Museum has hosted a free lecture series for the public which teaches visitors about the issues of climate change on a local, national, and international level. Classes in gardening, making and using natural cleaning/beauty products, and professional training to mitigate loss due to wildfire all help cement the Museum's role as a leader in sustainable education. In fact, one of our newest exhibitions is Water: A California Story, which uses natural history specimens, live animals, photos, and interactive exhibits explore the water issues facing southern California and Baja California. The exhibition teaches visitors why, to have water in the future, we all need to change how we use water now. Another current exhibition is Water: H2O=Life, which was developed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, along with SDNHM and several other institutions worldwide, to amaze and inspire visitors about the wonders of water and ways we can help protect this vital natural resource.

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