Sustainability at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
At the Museum, sustainability is at the heart of our mission and vision. It shapes how we conduct research, design our spaces, and connect people with the natural world. From reducing our environmental footprint to restoring habitats and supporting biodiversity, our work is grounded in understanding that healthy ecosystems and communities are connected.
A Museum Built for the Planet
Environmental stewardship guided the Museum’s transformation from the earliest stages of design. In 2024, the Museum became the first museum in the United States to receive a LEED v4 BD+C NC Platinum certification, one of the highest honors in sustainable building design.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized rating system for high-performing green buildings. This achievement recognizes a building designed to use resources thoughtfully while supporting the well-being of everyone who experiences it.
Sustainability in Action
Sustainability can be found throughout the Museum’s campus. The building was created to work with natural systems while reducing its environmental footprint.
Rainwater Management
Rainwater is treated as a resource rather than a waste product. When it rains, water moves through a series of features that slow, capture, and naturally filter stormwater before it leaves the site. A gutter directs water from the roof to the alvar stone outcropping below, where rain gardens planted with native species help absorb runoff and reduce erosion. These features demonstrate how design can mimic natural water cycles.
Native Landscaping
Areas that were once parking lots have been transformed into gardens filled with native grasses, shrubs, and trees. These plantings support pollinators and other wildlife while helping reconnect the campus to the ecosystems of northern Ohio. By incorporating native species, the Museum provides habitat, improves biodiversity, and creates opportunities for visitors to observe local ecosystems in action.
Designing for Wildlife
The Museum’s campus was designed with wildlife in mind. Bird-friendly glass helps reduce collisions by making windows more visible to birds, while carefully designed exterior lighting reduces light pollution and minimized disruption to nocturnal wildlife. Together, these features help protect native species while supporting a healthier ecosystem. They also demonstrated how thoughtful building design can play a role in conservation.
Reducing Waste
Beyond the building itself, sustainability is reflected in the choices the Museum and our visitors make every day—including how we manage food waste. Through a partnership with Rust Belt Riders, the Museum diverts food scraps and other compostable materials including compostable plates, cups, utensils, napkins, and paper towels, from landfills and transforms them into nutrient-rich compost. This demonstrates how even small actions can contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
By the Numbers
Additional features throughout the Museum include:
Protecting and Restoring Natural Areas
The Museum’s commitment to the natural world reaches far beyond our building. Through our Natural Areas Program, established in 1956, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio.
These forests, wetlands, marshes, and other habitats safeguard native plants and wildlife while helping people better understand the ecological communities that make northern Ohio unique. Protecting natural areas also means caring for them over time. Museum scientists and naturalists restore habitats and monitor how ecosystems respond and recover.
The restoration of Mentor Marsh illustrates how long-term stewardship can help damaged ecosystems recover. After decades of damage caused by pollution and invasive plants, the Museum began a large-scale restoration effort in 2015. Since then, native plants have returned; rare marsh birds have resumed nesting; and wildlife across the marsh is benefitting from the restored habitat.
By protecting natural areas and supporting long-term ecological research, the Museum helps ensure these landscapes remain healthy for future generations. The work also includes science-based wildlife management practices, such as monitoring white-tailed deer populations to maintain balanced ecosystems and protect native biodiversity.
A Shared Responsibility
Every part of the Museum’s work is rooted in the understanding that people and nature are deeply connected. From the design of our building to the restoration of places like Mentor Marsh, we are working to protect natural systems while inspiring others to care for them. These efforts reflect a belief that caring for the natural world today helps shape the future of our region. Plan your visit today to learn more about the Museum’s efforts in person.
