For Friday's #MuseumWeek 2019 theme, #ExploreMW, @huguenotstreet is sharing one of the many innovative projects it has accomplished to keep the museum at the forefront of research and preservation practices. With funds from a @nehgov Sustaining Cultural Heritage Grant, HHS explored practical ways to improve environmental climate for the historic houses and collections while reducing reliance on non-renewable energy.
Staff learned how important it is to control moisture at the its source, as building materials absorb water and vapor. This causes higher humidity which impacts collections, building masonry, and interior finishes. When you don’t control the moisture at the source, a large amount of energy is used on dehumidifiers and fans to lower the humidity.
As part of the pilot project, HHS installed new gutters onto the Bevier-Elting House, added a new dehumidifier to the east room on the main floor with a humidistat to ensure accurate humidity controls, NS installed WiFi for a Sense Home Energy Unit for the house, which basically communicates all electrical use to staff's phones to accurately track how energy and costs decrease.
