Greening Initiative

The Thomas Cole National Historic Site is taking action to become a more environmentally sustainable organization in keeping with Thomas Cole’s early environmentalist values.

I cannot but express my sorrow that the beauty of such landscapes are quickly passing away–the ravages of the axe are daily increasing – the most noble scenes are made desolate, and oftentimes with a wantonness and barbarism scarcely credible in a civilized nation. The wayside is becoming shadeless, and another generation will behold spots, now rife with beauty, desecrated by what is called improvement. […] Nature has spread for us a rich and delightful banquet – shall we turn from it? We are still in Eden; the wall that shuts us out of the garden is our own ignorance and folly.

Thomas Cole, Essay on American Scenery, 1836

ACTIONS COMPLETED

Reduce Waste of Natural Resources

  • Majority of historic buildings and office electricity now obtained through renewable resources.
  • The Fellows Housing includes electric heat pumps powered by regional solar electricity. Made possible by a Catalyst Grant award from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative. 
  • Use 100% recycled paper is used for office printing.
  • Continue to decrease the amount of office printing, reusing scrap paper, and printing double sided when able.
  • Membership correspondence and materials is now 80% digital.
  • Donation acknowledgements are 80% digital.
  • Three recent publications are printed on paper made from sustainably harvested forest products using renewable wind/solar energy.
  • Use unbleached, bamboo paper towels and toilet paper in visitor use areas.

Reduce Air Toxins and General Chemical Use

  • Installed a public dual EV charger for local community and visitors. Made possible by a gift from Sara and Tom de Swardt.
  • Mow less frequently to reduce the amount of air toxins.
  • Reduced the amount of areas regularly mowed.
  • Plant growth on visitor walking paths are controlled with environmentally friendly methods.
  • Use environmentally-friendly soaps, paper products, and cleaning products in all visitor and staff restrooms, kitchens, and offices.

Encourage Biodiversity

  • Grass is mowed less frequently and at a height of ~4 inches in order to support healthy soil and provide essential habitats for pollinators.
  • Continue to plant pollinator-friendly plants.
  • Developed and maintain pocket meadows. Read more here.
  • Joined the Pollinator Pathway Northeast.

Reduce use of single-use plastics

  • Use an under-the-sink filtration system for drinking water in office building, rather than plastic water jugs.
  • Office desk areas do not utilize personal waste baskets, in favor of centralized trash cans to cut down on bags.

Increased Use of Compostable Materials

  • Use only compostable waste bags in visitor and staff areas.
  • Use cleaning products concentrates with recyclable or compostable packaging.
  • A composting system is utilized at the Cole Fellows’ residence, and compost is used in Site’s gardens.

Reduce waste materials 

  • Exhibition cases are regularly re-used, rather than build new cases each year.
  • Printer toner cartridges and all possible recyclable waste are properly recycled.
  • Switched from non-recyclable coffee pods to refillable pod/filters and pour-over methods with compostable filters.

Photo by Margaret DiStefano | Drone photography by Alon Koppel

Sustain Environmental Action

Help support the increased costs to the museum operating budget to sustain these environmental actions.

Support Greening
Jennifer GreimGreening Initiative