Contents Foreword by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London 2 Why go green? 4 London’s theatre industry’s carbon footprint 6 Top tips to go greener 10 Success stories 17 Greater London Authority September 2008 Where do I start? 27 Published by The Carbon calculator for Greater London Authority production planning 30 City Hall Thank you! 32 The Queen’s Walk More London Where to go for further London SE1 2AA information 33 www.london.gov.uk Q&As 35 enquiries 020 7983 4100 minicom 020 7983 4458 ISBN 978-1-84781-188-2 Copies of this report are available from www.london.gov.uk Printed on 100% recycled paper. 3 Foreword by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Theatre is of vital importance to without imposing on their artistic to manage in order to have a London. Our artistic talent and integrity or reducing the quality huge impact on our purses as reputation for excellence are well of shows. well as the planet. I look forward known around the world, but to working with you to make This plan is a response to the theatre also makes a significant London’s theatres the greenest in overwhelming concern of the contribution to the economy, and the world. theatre sector to reduce any last year was no exception - negative impact on the Boris Johnson attendances reached 13.6 million, environment and its production Mayor of London making it the most successful has been aided by some of the year on record. most influential players in the As a global city London has the cultural world. These span ability to trailblaze new and commercial and subsidised ‘...Arts Council England is beyond a duty of compliance exciting initiatives, with the theatres and arts organisations, delighted to be a partner in the with issues such as energy potential to inspire and influence. and include The Theatres Trust, Green Theatre Programme for management, to a role of London is in a very important National Theatre, Royal Court, Live London, recognising the inspiration and influence much position, as what we do here will Nation, Ambassador Theatre importance of this work in greater than that due to the be watched around the world. Group (ATG), and Arcola Theatre. helping theatres to increase the industry’s size alone. That this efficiency of their business leadership should emerge from I am committed to a 60 per cent I leave you with one final thought processes thereby reducing the London is of great reduction of London’s greenhouse before you read the rest of this industry’s carbon footprint while encouragement to those artists gas emissions from 1990 levels by plan: if all central London theatres saving money and continuing to and audiences that are drawn to 2025. This plan will help enable all challenged the age-old practice attract artists and audiences. this world city for its ability to of us to reach that target and of keeping stage lights on and innovate...’ avoid some of the potentially only switched them on half an A programme such as this disastrous consequences of hour before the performance, demonstrates that the arts in Moira Sinclair, Executive Director carrying on ‘business as usual’. It they could collectively save over England can lead internationally London, Arts Council England will help theatres to £100,000 a year in energy costs. in responding to the pressures communicate the message about The changes we make do not of climate change, moving climate change to audiences, have to be expensive or difficult 4 5 Why go green? Take the lead It is only a matter of time before Attract talent ‘…The Mayor of London’s Green London’s theatre’s productions legislation catches up with green The growing momentum to act Theatre Programme has provided and venues are renowned issues. There is already new on climate change has come much-needed structure and worldwide, and the city is one of legislation concerning lighting from artists, directors, impetus to a passionate and the most important touring and light fittings. Industries that production staff and others engaged sector that lacked the locations for companies globally. get ahead of the game can not within the theatre, arts and rigorous approach and direction London theatres are not a large only better influence policy but cultural industries, all eager to to achieve systemic change. The contributor to carbon emissions reduce the pain of hasty make a difference. programme has provided the but their ability to influence is compliance later on. tools and connected people, extremely significant. London putting the industry on the path theatres can reduce their own to achieve ambitious emissions carbon emissions and at the reductions goals. The published same time have a much wider Who is this plan for? documents and continued reach by showing audiences working groups will allow This plan is for anyone and other theatre industries London’s theatres to be at the working in London’s theatre what is possible. cutting edge of environmental industries, from small performance as well as Save money independent production performing arts…’ Being green saves you money companies and arts venues. to large groups of Andrew Haworth, Environmental Many of the ideas in this commercial theatres. Services Manager, Live Nation plan – switching to greener lighting, reducing energy This plan aims to guide you consumption, re-using through some of the most materials – will, in the medium practical and effective ways This is a summary of the full term, save you a considerable to reduce your energy use Green Theatre Programme amount of money. With rising and make London theatres report. The full report is electricity, gas and oil prices, greener – while also saving available for download at there is a financial urgency to you money. www.london.gov.uk/mayor and take action. www.theatrestrust.org.uk 6 7 London’s theatre industry’s carbon footprint In order to enable a reduction in This figure does not include London’s theatre industry’s London’s theatre’s carbon indirect emissions from carbon footprint: 50,000 emissions, our starting point was audience travel, estimated at tonnes a year to measure where the emissions approximately 35,000 tonnes of are coming from. Identifying the CO2 per annum. London main problem areas within the audiences are good at using industry provided us with a public transport. However, picture of where best to focus around one third still travel by our efforts to achieve the most car or taxi. Encouraging effective results. audiences to use more sustainable modes of transport is also key to The total emissions from reducing the theatre industry’s London theatres (excluding carbon footprint. pre-production and audience travel) are approximately 50,000 tonnes a year1. This is roughly equivalent to driving a car 1.5 million times round the M25. Theatre front of house Stage electricals (daytime and evening, incl. (lighting, sound, automation) auditorium aircon/ cooling) Overnight theatre 1 This estimate was derived from a number of case studies and data sources, in particular: Rehearsal space (heating/ cooling) (front and back of house) Carbon Trust surveys (National Theatre, Arcola, ATG Group, Delfont Macintosh theatres, Royal Court), Live Nation Survey, British Performing Arts Yearbook 2007/8, SOLT Theatre Audience Theatre offices and back of house Pre-production management Survey (MORI 2003-4), Audiences London Snapshot London II, Arts Council Economic Impact daytime/ evening of UK Theatre (2004), DCMS Performing Arts data, SOLT box office 2007, theatres’ own Production materials (sets, props) websites, White Light estimated lighting usage in London theatres. Exterior lighting of theatres 8 9 Without action, emissions and If all actions recommended in Did you know… • The cost of installing low fuel bills are set to grow – in this plan are taken, London energy lighting will pay particular with the trend of theatres can reduce their CO2 for itself in just two and a West End productions using emissions by almost 60 per cent half years. more energy to create ever more from 1990 levels by 2025. • The Theatres Trust can visually spectacular shows. There Note: Business as usual scenario advise on energy saving are plenty of actions we can take assumes theatre emissions grow in initiatives for theatres now to increase the energy line with London’s commercial and (www.theatretrust.org.uk). efficiency of productions and public sector growth. Studies by theatre environments, without • Significant financial and 2CO GLA economics suggest the two sacrificing artistic quality. savings can be made by sectors are closely tied. Moreover, simply replacing incandescent consumption of energy in West End bulbs with compact productions continues to grow. fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Further savings will also be Total CO2 savings identified to 2025 achieved because there is less need for air conditioning, 60,000 +9% fewer lamp replacements and 50,000 Action required at a less maintenance. national and European 40,000 level to fill the gap (e.g. changes in grid electricity generation) 30,000 20,000 Tonnes CO2 per annum 10,000 0 Gap Target to 2025 current footprint considerations savingsfactor from correctionpower and staff training savings in materials savings from heating non stage lighting selection/ disposal and aircon controls savings from internal/ savings from ventilationsavings from insulations Do nothing - 2025 scenario savings from stage lighting savings from pre-production savings from external lighting (boiler renewal and controls) savings from energy programmes (energy efficient bulbs, controls) 10 11 Top tips to go greener Areas Things you can do to Typical % of CO2 Areas Things you can do to Typical % of CO2 for reduce emissions payback savings for reduce emissions payback savings savings time (theatre savings time (theatre venue) venue) Ventilation • Reduce temperature for night-time hours • Instant 10-12% Lighting External lighting: 2-4% and air (e.g.