Experience has shown how difficult it is to control relative humidity in a museum building, an historic site, or an enclosed display space. Among the many solutions proposed, the one showing most promise in terms of efficiency and expense is the concept of a micro-environment, a relatively air-tight volume containing a moisture-sensitive material which adsorbs and desorbs water in order to buffer changes in external relative humidity. Either in conjunction with or in place of expensive mechanical climate control systems, such a case buffering system may prove to be the most practical solution for the control of relative humidity. A silica gel buffering micro-climate has not been used more widely because 1) there are limitations in the ability of the silica gel presently in use to act as an efficient buffer, and 2) there are difficulties with any silica gel system in terms of system maintenance, adequate distribution and rapid response. However, there is a new silica gel that overcomes some major limitations inherent in regular silica gel; the methods of application that reduce some of the difficulties encountered when using any type of silica gel system are discussed. -- AATA