Yardstick for Measuring Progress
The purpose of this yardstick is to help institutions evaluate their climate readiness using consistent metrics. These measures are intentionally flexible so that museums, libraries, universities, civic organizations, and non profits across the EcoDistrict can use the same structure to understand their starting point and plan for improvements.
Each lens includes three components.
- What should be measured
- What progress looks like
- What repeatable actions allow other institutions to follow the same approach
1. Building Envelope
Envelope performance determines indoor stability, energy use, and resilience during extreme weather events.
| Category | Measure | Progress Indicators | Repeatable Actions for District Institutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal performance | Temperature and humidity stability in representative spaces | Fewer hot and cold zones; reduced seasonal fluctuation | Conduct thermal scan, map problem areas, repeat annually |
| Air infiltration | Verified leakage paths and entry points | Reduced air leakage; fewer drafts; stable RH | Use weather stripping, seal joints, track results yearly |
| Water management | Roof drainage, wall moisture mapping, foundation seepage | Fewer leaks; improved roof and downspout performance | Annual roof inspection, monthly moisture checks |
| Window and glazing performance | Condition, air seals, UV control | Reduced condensation; improved occupant comfort | Consistent window condition log; UV film audits |
| Insulation and thermal bridging | Documentation of existing R values and bridging points | Prioritized upgrade plan; reduced load on HVAC | Envelope model once every three to five years |
2. Landscape and Ecology
Landscape conditions influence water use, resilience, heat exposure, stormwater, and ecological value.
| Category | Measure | Progress Indicators | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stormwater performance | Runoff volume, infiltration success, detention behavior | Fewer flooding events; reduced runoff | Annual infiltration tests; seasonal site walk after storms |
| Native and adaptive planting | Percentage of planting area converted | Lower irrigation demand; higher habitat value | Create planting zone map; update each planting season |
| Irrigation efficiency | Water use per square foot of irrigated area | Lower summer water demand; fewer system failures | Irrigation audit each year; replace high water species |
| Soil health | Soil compaction, organic matter, aeration | Improved infiltration; healthier vegetation | Bi annual soil testing; aerate paths and planting beds |
| Microclimate comfort | Shade distribution, wind exposure | More shaded seating; cooler hardscape temps | Heat map walk in July; document shade gains or losses |
3. Waste Stream
Waste impacts cost, operations, and environmental performance. A standardized yardstick brings clarity.
| Category | Measure | Progress Indicators | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste composition | Percent landfill, recycling, compost, and specialty | Increased diversion; reduced contamination | Conduct annual waste audit with consistent method |
| Upstream purchasing | Portion of products chosen for re use or recyclability | Less waste generated; lower purchasing cost | Yearly review of purchasing standards |
| Event waste | Diversion at programs, lectures, rentals | Higher event diversion; consistent signage | Use event waste plan template for all events |
| Vendor partnerships | Capacity for recycling, compost, specialty materials | Expanded diversion; lower hauling cost | Annual vendor review with district partners |
| Staff and visitor education | Training frequency and signage consistency | Higher compliance; lower contamination | Quarterly training and coordinated district signage |
4. Health and Wellbeing
This lens measures indoor environmental quality, accessibility, comfort, and belonging.
| Category | Measure | Progress Indicators | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor air quality | PM2.5, CO2, VOC levels, filter performance | More consistent IAQ; reduced spikes during occupancy | Seasonal IAQ snapshots or continuous monitoring |
| Thermal comfort | Temperature and RH variability across zones | Fewer complaints; stable conditions during extremes | Thermal comfort map each season |
| Lighting and glare | Illumination levels, daylight balance | Reduced glare; more even lighting | Annual lighting audit |
| Acoustic comfort | Noise levels in key spaces | Better visitor experience; improved staff comfort | Sound mapping during peak use periods |
| Accessibility | ADA barrier removal progress | More accessible entries, routes, and restrooms | Update ADA log each year |
| Psychological comfort and belonging | Visitor and staff surveys | Higher sense of welcome and ease | Annual survey aligned across institutions |
5. Emergency Planning
Emergency preparedness focuses on protecting people, operations, and collections.
| Category | Measure | Progress Indicators | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk identification | Number of climate and utility hazards with defined scenarios | All major hazards addressed | Update hazard list each year |
| Playbooks and procedures | Proactive, reactive, and recovery plans completed | Clear responses for staff; reduced confusion during events | Use template for each hazard and revise annually |
| Roles and responsibilities | Accuracy and clarity of staff assignments | Faster response; fewer communication gaps | Maintain updated org chart and call tree |
| Priority collections | Existence and accuracy of lists, safe zones, relocation triggers | Faster movement and safer collection handling | Review and update lists each year |
| Coordination with responders | Established connection with fire, police, and utilities | Better support during events; quicker recovery | Annual meeting with local responders |
| Training and drills | Frequency of exercises | Faster, safer response and recovery | Plan one annual tabletop or scenario drill |
6. EcoDistrict Activation
This seventh lens (your pie chart used “district activation”) tracks collaborative capacity across organizations.
| Category | Measure | Progress Indicators | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared data | Extent to which institutions share utility, waste, and climate metrics | District scale baselines available | Quarterly data exchange |
| Shared procurement | Participation in bulk purchasing or shared contracts | Lower costs; consistent sustainability performance | One to two district wide RFPs per year |
| Joint training | Multi institution workshops or drills | Shared knowledge; reduced duplication | Bi annual training sessions |
| Aligned targets | Agreement on district scale goals | Progress toward common carbon, waste, or resilience goals | Annual EcoDistrict report |
| Community interface | Clarity of visitor experience across borders | Consistent signage, safety, and comfort | District wide wayfinding and shade mapping |
How institutions should use this yardstick
Each institution is encouraged to:
- Select the categories that are most relevant to their operations
- Record a baseline using the measures listed
- Use progress indicators to define short, medium, and long term targets
- Update results annually and revise improvement plans accordingly
- Share outcomes with district partners to strengthen collective learning
The yardstick is designed to be used without requiring capital projects. Even if budgets are limited, these metrics allow organizations to understand where they are, where risks lie, and what opportunities exist for collaboration.
How this becomes a roadmap for the district
When multiple institutions measure progress using the same categories:
- shared priorities emerge
- joint procurement becomes viable
- expertise can be exchanged
- district scale climate resilience becomes measurable
- the EcoDistrict can publish an annual progress report
This also creates a framework for onboarding new institutions, students, volunteers, and leadership so that climate readiness becomes a shared, durable practice rather than a one time initiative.
Refined Yardstick for Museums and Libraries
Measurable actions tailored to cultural institution types
Each table includes two columns of refinement:
- How museums should measure progress
- How libraries should measure progress
This makes the yardstick directly applicable to both NAMA and LHL, while still remaining useful as a district level template.
1. Building Envelope
Museums have strict environmental tolerances for preservation and conservation; envelope failures immediately affect collections. Libraries have more flexibility but rely on stable environments for paper-based materials, reading comfort, and long-term preservation.
| Category | Museum Measures | Library Measures | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal stability | Track temperature and RH drift around galleries, storage vaults, conservation labs | Track stability in stacks, archives, and reading rooms | Seasonal thermal scan and drift mapping |
| Air infiltration | Identify leaks affecting galleries and storage zones that trigger HVAC overcorrection | Identify leaks affecting seat comfort and stack conditions | Door sweep and seal checks twice per year |
| Water management | Document roof and drainage impacts near art storage, loading docks, and lower level galleries | Document seepage in basements, mechanical rooms, and archive areas | Annual roof inspection and moisture walk |
| Glazing | Evaluate UV protection and condensation near sensitive exhibit spaces | Evaluate glare, comfort, and view quality in reading rooms | Annual glazing condition checklist |
| Envelope improvements | Prioritize upgrades based on preservation risk | Prioritize based on occupant comfort and energy savings | Envelope model updated every three to five years |
2. Landscape and Ecology
Museums integrate sculpture parks and high visitor outdoor circulation. Landscape affects both visitor experience and outdoor art.
Libraries often include quieter campus grounds that emphasize stormwater behavior and accessibility.
| Category | Museum Measures | Library Measures | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stormwater | Track runoff that threatens galleries and basements; monitor grading near outdoor art | Track runoff affecting entries, ADA routes, and archives | Stormwater walk after major storms |
| Native planting | Measure percentage of sculpture park and campus using adaptive species | Measure native adoption in research gardens or open lawns | Planting zone mapping each spring |
| Irrigation | Monitor irrigation impact on outdoor sculpture risk | Monitor irrigation efficiency for lawn and garden areas | Annual irrigation audit |
| Soil health | Check compaction near high foot traffic outdoor art areas | Check compaction in open lawn and tree root zones | Bi annual soil test |
| Microclimate | Map heat and cold zones affecting queuing or event spaces | Map shaded routes for reading and exterior seating | Summer heat walk and mapping |
3. Waste Stream
Museums generate unique waste streams including exhibition build materials, crates, packing foam, art shipping materials, and visitor food service waste.
Libraries generate more predictable office and event waste, plus occasional special collection disposal.
| Category | Museum Measures | Library Measures | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste composition | Include exhibition demolition, crates, foam, art packing materials | Include paper waste, recycling, and event waste | Annual waste audit using consistent categories |
| Upstream purchasing | Track materials for exhibition builds and art handling supplies | Track purchasing for office supplies, custodial goods, and event materials | Purchasing review with sustainability criteria |
| Event waste | Measure waste from festivals, openings, rentals, and cafe partners | Measure waste from lectures, receptions, and programs | Use event waste plan template |
| Vendor pathways | Track recycling for metals, glass, foam, crates | Track recycling for paper, cardboard, bottles, catering disposables | Coordinate vendor review with district partners |
| Education | Train docents, visitor services, and exhibition teams | Train librarians, event teams, and student workers | Quarterly training and signage update |
4. Health and Wellbeing
Museums must balance preservation conditions with visitor thermal needs, and consider acoustics, accessibility, crowding, and glare during exhibitions.
Libraries emphasize quiet environments, visual comfort for reading, ADA compliance, and staff workspace health.
| Category | Museum Measures | Library Measures | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor air quality | Monitor gallery and vault IAQ for preservation and visitors | Track stack and archive IAQ for long-term paper health | Seasonal IAQ testing |
| Thermal comfort | Track visitor comfort, queue conditions, and staff space drift | Track reading room comfort and staff area consistency | Thermal mapping by season |
| Lighting and glare | Evaluate daylighting in exhibitions and sculpture park circulation | Measure glare levels in reading rooms and workstations | Lighting audit annually |
| Acoustics | Track acoustics in galleries, lobbies, and event halls | Track noise levels around study areas and public zones | Sound mapping during peak times |
| Accessibility | Improve circulation in galleries, entrances, and sculpture grounds | Improve access in stacks, restrooms, vertical circulation | Annual ADA barrier log update |
| Belonging and psychological comfort | Survey visitor ease navigating exhibitions and grounds | Survey reader and researcher comfort | Annual combined staff visitor survey |
5. Emergency Planning
Museums face rapid risk escalation because collections degrade during temperature and humidity instability. Artwork relocation requires trained handlers.
Libraries face slower rates of environmental deterioration but have unique risks for books, manuscripts, and archives.
| Category | Museum Measures | Library Measures | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazard identification | Include extreme cold, heat, outages, water intrusion near galleries | Include outages, flooding near stacks, air quality events | Update hazard register annually |
| Playbooks | Detailed triggers for art movement and environmental thresholds | Triggers for moving rare materials, closing reading rooms | Scenario templates for each hazard |
| Roles | Clear roles for art handlers, registrars, conservation | Roles for circulation, archives, IT, facilities | Updated call tree each year |
| Priority collections | Maintain relocation list for vaults, galleries, labs | Maintain list for rare books, archives, special rooms | Annual refinement |
| External coordination | Coordinate with police, fire, art insurers, art transporters | Coordinate with local fire, city emergency office, utilities | Annual responder meeting |
| Drills | Tabletop drills for water, HVAC failure, art relocation | Tabletop drills for outage, flood, relocation of rare materials | One drill per year minimum |
6. EcoDistrict Collaboration
Museums act as anchors that drive visitor traffic, outdoor circulation, and district wide signage.
Libraries act as hubs of quiet learning and archival research that strengthen institutional collaboration.
| Category | Museum Measures | Library Measures | Repeatable Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared data | Share IAQ, energy drift, foot traffic comfort, event waste | Share stack conditions, ADA progress, event waste | Quarterly district data exchange |
| Shared procurement | Materials for exhibitions, outdoor seating, signage | Office, custodial, accessibility upgrades | District purchasing alignment |
| Joint training | Emergency drills, visitor safety, accessibility | Custodial, waste handling, ADA access | Bi annual district sessions |
| Aligned targets | Exhibition waste, shade and comfort in sculpture park | Reading room comfort, access improvements | Annual EcoDistrict targets |
| Community interface | Shared outdoor routes, sculpture grounds, shade | Shared study paths, quiet zones, campus walking | District wayfinding projects |