The Museum of Natural History of the fossilised forest of Lesvos is being transformed into a "green museum" with almost zero energy consumption. This is an important action aimed at energy upgrading using Renewable Energy Sources. At the same time, the lighting is to be replaced with the installation of new LED lighting luminaires.

The museum hosts and exhibits impressive fossils of the natural history of the Aegean up to 20 million years old.

The aim of the project, according to the director of the museum, Professor Nikos Zouros, is to significantly reduce the annual primary energy consumption of the building with significant annual energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Specifically, the museum is proceeding to:

– implement energy upgrade interventions on the exterior of the building, such as the installation of new technology frames, the installation of shades to protect part of the building from sunlight, the reinforcement and insulation of the skylight of the atrium and both rooms and the restoration of waterproofing of the building's roof.

– carry out energy upgrade interventions of the mechanical cooling-heating equipment.

– install an autonomous photovoltaic system, with energy storage, on the roof of the museum.

– take energy upgrade actions for the museum lighting by replacing lighting fixtures and lamps with new LED technology.

Finally, with the completion of the project, a special programme for informing the visitors about the challenges related to climate change and the actions for its slowdown is being launched. In particular, good practices and methodologies will be presented for the upgrade of buildings, the reduction of greenhouse gases and the utilisation of renewable energy sources.

The project has been included in the Operational Programme "North Aegean 2014-2020" of the Special Service for the Management of Business Programmes of the North Aegean Region.