Sustainability

Preserving culture, shaping the future

We want to preserve history and cultural knowledge not only for display, but to bring it to life for young and old alike.

A central part of our museum’s mission is to convey what rural life in Thuringia was like in past centuries. We want to make culture accessible to everyone — so that we can learn from it for the present and, above all, for the future!

With this in mind, we are committed to using our resources responsibly. We see this as a holistic approach that starts with small everyday actions.

Just as our exhibitions are regularly adapted to the times and to the latest state of research, we also continuously update our sustainability concept. All members of our team are encouraged to contribute ideas and help put them into practice.

Measures already implemented

  • We focus on quality, regional sourcing, and reusability of products and goods whenever possible.

  • We cultivate our museum gardens according to ecological principles, creating habitats for birds, insects, bats, and small mammals.

  • We share knowledge about sustainable building, gardening, and living, passing on valuable traditional skills from our ancestors.

  • We build sustainably using ecological materials. All of our exhibition buildings are made from traditional building materials and were saved from demolition and destruction.

  • We collaborate with regional partners and use durable products wherever possible.

  • We design our special exhibitions sustainably and reuse frames and display cases for decades.

  • Our administrative and exhibition buildings are managed with energy efficiency in mind, including LED lighting, motion detectors, and consistently avoiding standby mode.

  • The museum administration generates a large part of its energy via its own solar power system.

  • We use recycled paper for our printed materials.

  • We want to introduce even our youngest visitors to sustainability. That is why admission fees for school classes are kept low, ensuring “education for all.”

Measures currently being implemented or planned

  • The new entrance building is a timber-frame construction with a green roof and solar panels, and will be climate-controlled via a heat pump.

  • An e-charging station for e-bikes will be installed in front of the new entrance.

  • Wherever possible, we are switching to ecological cleaning products.

  • We are adapting and improving our events with ecological considerations in mind.

  • We are improving accessibility — including barrier-reduced paths, step-free access to as many buildings as possible, and hands-on exhibits.

  • We are planning to switch to the environmentally friendly “blue receipt” system in the near future.