Green Theatre
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Contents 1.Foreword by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London 2 2.Why go green? 4 3.Total carbon footprint for London’s theatre industry 5 4.What can we do to reduce the footprint? 6 4.i Practical actions: leadership 7 4.ii Practical actions: heating, cooling and hot water 10 4. iii Practical actions: lighting 14 4.iv Practical actions: in the office, rehearsal space and general work environments 19 4.v Practical actions: production management 21 4.vi Practical actions: set design and construction 26 5. An expensive messy waste 27 6. Travel behaviour 31 6.i Reducing our own travel emissions 31 6.ii Audience travel 32 Appendix 1: Further information 34 A1.i Top ten list of practical actions for theatres 34 Greater London Authority A1.ii Top tips for green procurement 36 September 2008 A1.Iii Sample letter to suppliers 37 A1.Vi Building management systems explained 38 Published by Greater London Authority Appendix 2: Acknowledgements and methodology 45 City Hall A2.i Scope of theatre footprint analysis 46 The Queen’s Walk A2.ii Methodology principles: theatre venues 47 More London A2.iii Methodology principles: audience travel 49 London SE1 2AA A2.iv Methodology principles: pre-production and production activities 50 www.london.gov.uk A2.v Conversion factors used 51 enquiries 020 7983 4100 Appendix 4: Top tips to go greener 53 minicom 020 7983 4458 ISBN 978-1-84781-191-2 Copies of this report are available from www.london.gov.uk Printed on 100% recycled paper. 1 1.Foreword by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Theatre is of vital importance to London. Our them on half an hour before the performance, artistic talent and reputation for excellence they could collectively save over £100,000 a ‘...Arts Council England is delighted to be a energy management, to a role of inspiration are well known around the world, but theatre year in energy costs. The changes we make do partner in the Green Theatre Programme for and influence much greater than that due to also makes a significant contribution to the not have to be expensive or difficult to London, recognising the importance of this the industry’s size alone. That this leadership economy, and last year was no exception - manage in order to have a huge impact on our work in helping theatres to increase the should emerge from London is of great attendances reached 13.6 million, making it purses as well as the planet. I look forward to efficiency of their business processes thereby encouragement to those artists and the most successful year on record. working with you to make London’s theatres reducing the industry’s carbon footprint audiences that are drawn to this world city the greenest in the world. while saving money and continuing to for its ability to innovate...’ As a global city London has the ability to attract artists and audiences. trailblaze new and exciting initiatives, with the Boris Johnson Moira Sinclair, Executive Director London, potential to inspire and influence. London is in Mayor of London A programme such as this demonstrates Arts Council England a very important position, as what we do here that the arts in England can lead will be watched around the world. internationally in responding to the pressures of climate change, moving beyond I am committed to a 60 per cent reduction of a duty of compliance with issues such as London’s greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2025. This plan will help enable all of us to reach that target and avoid some of the potentially disastrous consequences of carrying on ‘business as usual’. It will help theatres to communicate the message about climate change to audiences, without imposing on their artistic integrity or reducing the quality of shows. This plan is a response to the overwhelming concern of the theatre sector to reduce any negative impact on the environment and its production has been aided by some of the most influential players in the cultural world. These span commercial and subsidised theatres and arts organisations, and include The Theatres Trust, National Theatre, Royal Court, Live Nation, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), and Arcola Theatre. I leave you with one final thought before you read the rest of this plan: if all central London theatres challenged the age-old practice of keeping stage lights on and only switched 2 3 2.Why go green? 3.Total carbon footprint for London’s theatre industry Take the lead To enable a reduction in theatre’s carbon productions and theatre environments, Who is this plan for? London’s theatre’s productions and venues emissions, our starting point was to measure without sacrificing artistic quality. are renowned worldwide, and the city is one This plan is for anyone working in where the emissions come from. Identifying If all actions recommended in this plan are of the most important touring locations for London’s theatre industries, from small the main problem areas within the industry taken, London theatres can reduce their CO2 companies globally. London theatres are not independent production companies gave us a picture of where best to focus our emissions by almost 60 per cent from 1990 a large contributor to carbon emissions but and arts venues to large groups of efforts to achieve the most effective results. levels by 2025. their ability to influence is extremely commercial theatres. significant. London theatres can reduce their The total emissions from London London’s theatre industry’s carbon footprint: It aims to guide you through some of own carbon emissions and at the same time theatres (excluding pre-production and 50,000 tonnes a year the most practical and effective ways to have a much wider reach by showing our audience travel) are approximately reduce your energy use and make audiences and other theatre industries what 50,000 tonnes a year1 London theatres greener – while also is possible. saving you money Save money The industry footprint is roughly equivalent to: Recommendations have been grouped Being green saves you money. • ten per cent of London’s total bus emissions into broad areas of responsibility and Many of the ideas in this plan – switching to technology, although you may find it • driving a car 1.5 million times round the M25 greener lighting, reducing energy useful to read all sections to begin with. • the yearly energy consumption of almost consumption, reusing materials – will, in the Further information on the carbon 9,000 homes medium term, save you a considerable footprint calculations is given in the amount of money. With rising electricity, gas • total TV emissions from all homes in appendix, and further information on and oil prices, there is a financial urgency to Westminster the practical recommendations is take action. available at www.london.gov.uk/mayor The figure of 50,000 tonnes does not include It is only a matter of time before legislation or www.theatrestrust.org.uk indirect emissions from audience travel, catches up with green issues. There is estimated at approximately 35,000 tonnes Theatre front of house (daytime and evening, already new legislation concerning lighting of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. London and light fittings. Industries that get ahead audiences are good at using public incl. auditorium aircon/ cooling) of the game can not only better influence transport. However, around one third still Rehearsal space (heating/ cooling) policy but reduce the pain of hasty travel by car or taxi. Encouraging audiences Theatre offices and back of house compliance later on. to use more sustainable modes of transport daytime/ evening is also key to reducing the theatre industry’s Attract talent Stage electricals (lighting, sound, automation) carbon footprint. The growing momentum to act on climate Overnight theatre (front and back of house) change has come from artists, directors, Without action, emissions and fuel bills are Pre-production management production staff and others within the set to grow, in particular with the trend of Production materials (sets, props) theatre, arts and cultural industries, all eager West End productions using more energy to to make a difference. create ever more visually spectacular shows. Exterior lighting of theatres There are plenty of actions we can take now to increase the energy efficiency of 1 Notes: • To avoid double counting with other areas, indirect emissions from audience travel and embedded carbon in waste are not included in this footprint figure but are addressed later in the document. 4 • Due to the lack of historical data, 2007 has been taken as the base year for the calculations used in this report. 5 • It is assumed that base-line (‘do nothing’ scenario) emissions would grow in line with London’s overall commercial and public sectors. 4.What can we do to reduce the footprint? At every stage of a show’s production carbon Exciting and making a impact What about listed buildings? But the technology doesn’t exist? emissions savings can be made. This applies Reducing electricity use is likely to have the Although listed buildings can present Some of the greener technologies, such as from the moment any research begins, biggest environmental benefit, whereas extra challenges, there is plenty that can lower emissions stage lighting, are still scripts are printed and sets constructed, waste generation and disposal is possibly be done, and which complies with being developed and tested. By working through to rehearsals, the performance run the most visible and attention-grabbing area regulation, within the fabric of the together and asking our suppliers for and the eventual get-out. London has a for staff and audiences. building. Plus most of the savings green alternatives, simple market forces target to reduce emissions by 60 per cent by In devising a green plan for your theatre, it’s opportunities will come from behavioural will encourage their development.