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Top tips for an environmentallysustainable dance sector
The biggest challenge we face as aglobal community today is the transitionto a more environmentally sustainableexistence. As the effects of climate changeand associated concerns of resourcescarcity, growing populations andecosystem degradation become moretangible, we must all find ways to respond.
The arts hold the power to connectwith, animate and motivate people.Arts organisations and artists holdhuge potential to galvanise change; byreducing your environmental impactsand communicating your actions,you can encourage your supply chainand audiences to do the same.
All dance practitioners – dancers,choreographers, designers, productioncompanies, rehearsal space andvenue managers, tour managers andadministrators – have their part to playin making dance more environmentallysustainable. In doing so, you join awhole community of arts organisationsdeveloping imaginative new waysof working that will not only reduceenvironmental impacts, but buildresilience and ensure that we!ll becreating world-leading dance for manyyears to come.
WHY CHANGE?
A commitment to change can unlock newbusiness models, opportunities, and waysof doing things both operationally andartistically. Going green doesn't have tobe just a box-ticking exercise – it's anopportunity to re-think and future-proofyour work. Here are some of the driversinfluencing this shift.
Resource scarcity andcommodity pricing
Energy prices in the UK have rocketedover the last few years and as fossil fuelsbecome increasingly scarce we can onlyexpect costs to keep rising. The cost ofmany other natural materials, such asmetals, timber, textiles and petroleum-based manmade products are also on theincrease as our consumption patterns andinefficient waste systems push the planetto its limits.
Policy and regulation
The Climate Change Act 2008 sets alegally binding target for the UK to reduceits carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.Subsequently, Arts Council England hasmade environmental reporting a fundingcriteria for their major revenue fundedorganisations. This means that danceorganisations across England aremeasuring their annual energy and wateruse and implementing an environmentalpolicy and action plan.
Reputation
Audiences are increasingly conscientiousof the environment, and artists and artsorganisations can provide leadership andgalvanise positive action by visibly actingto reduce their impacts. A survey byBuckinghamshire New University andA Greener Festival in 2012 found that43% of festival-goers who respondedsaid that they!d changed their behaviouras a result of a green initiative theyhad encountered at a festival. Artsorganisations acting on climate changecan build a more positive brand withaudiences who want the culture theyconsume to reflect their personal values.
The business case
Many arts organisations are recognisingthat not incorporating the above driversinto their business planning will increasethe risk of financial instability in the nearfuture. They are also reaping the benefitsof efficiency savings. By reducing energy,waste, water and travel impacts throughbehaviour change and smart investmentin low-energy infrastructure, danceorganisations are able to invest morein making work.
TAKING ACTION: STARTING POINTS
Here are some general guidelines tohelp you effectively reduce your impacts,followed by more specific actions for greenoffices, venues and rehearsal spaces,green production and green touring.
Measurement and Understanding
Measuring the carbon emissionsassociated with your activities is a greatway to determine where your largestimpacts lie and develop a targetedapproach to reducing them. It also allowsyou to compare progress across timeor events to identify reductions.
IG Tools Online carbon calculatorsdeveloped for venues, offices,festivals, tours and productions:www.juliesbicycle.com/industry-green/
Commitment
Environmental sustainability initiatives aremost successful when supported by allstaff, from top-level management down. Anenvironmental policy helps you codify yourcommitments and communicate them tostaff and other stakeholders, and anaccompanying action plan helps settargets and methods for evaluation.
ig-tools
21 Green DanceBy Julie’s Bicycle
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Environmental Policy and Action PlanGuidelines A template for creating yourown environmental policy and action plan:www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/environmental-policy-guidelines
Communication
By being transparent about yourenvironmental impacts and what you!redoing to reduce them, you communicate tostaff, artists, audiences and stakeholdersthat the environment is a priority. This addsintegrity to your work, and encouragesothers to think about their ownenvironmental impacts.
Communications Practical GuidesTop tips for how to communicatesustainability effectively to staff,audiences and suppliers:www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/practical-guides
Staff engagementIn October 2011, Circus Space launchedan Energy Awareness Week, usingplayful initiatives to engage staff withthe organisation!s commitment to reduceenergy use and improve its environmentalimpacts. The building manager monitoredenergy use during the week and thethree-month period following, andcompared to the same period in 2010,they saved 10% on their energy. Fullcase study: www.vimeo.com/39835309
Tracking changeBow Arts have been keeping a blog ontheir journey towards becoming a greenerorganisation – their initiatives to datehave included staff green weeks,monitoring their environmental impactsusing the IG Tools, and improvingwaste recycling at their Open events:www.bowarts.tumblr.com
Green Offices, Venues andRehearsal Spaces
These top tips are adapted from the"Green Your Building Guide! availableonline at:www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/practical-guides/green-your-building
1. Switch off, save energyIntroduce a switch-off routine for alllights and equipment and engage yourstaff in a campaign to avoid wastingelectricity by leaving things on whennot in use. Unplug equipment and
appliances from the wall when notin use (otherwise they can stilldraw energy).
2. Avoid disposable bottled waterIt takes seven litres of water just toproduce a one litre plastic bottle andonly 20% of plastic bottles producedend up being recycled. To reduce thiswaste, use refillable water bottlesinstead of bottled water. Easy accessto tap water or bulk water dispensersshould be provided in offices andrehearsal areas.
3. Maintain efficient heating, coolingand ventilation systemsSet your thermostat at 18 degrees foroptimum energy saving, or for buildingscontrolled by a Building ManagementSystem (BMS), relax your optimumtemperature boundaries to between 18and 24 degrees, accounting for dancerhealth in rehearsal and performancespaces by setting tighter boundaries ifnecessary. Service your boiler annuallyand check your boiler!s efficiency atwww.boilers.org.uk.
4. Support renewable energyChange to a green energy tariff fromyour electricity supplier, or better still,choose a 100% renewable energysupplier like Good Energy or Ecotricity.
5. Green your supply chainChoose suppliers, services andproducts that have strongenvironmental credentials to reduceyour indirect impacts and drivedemand for sustainable goods andservices. Look for ISO 14001accredited suppliers and ask tosee their environmental policy.
Green Suppliers DatabaseA listing of environmentally conscioussuppliers already working with the creativesector: www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/jb-green-database/suppliers
6. Better business travelUse video conferencing for meetingswhere possible and avoid domesticflights. Use train travel within the UKand Europe where possible. If youneed to use a taxi service, choose onethat runs on hybrid cars.
7. Reduce paper usePrint double sided on recycled and/orFSC certified paper. Use non-toxic and
biodegradable ink and recycle inkcartridges. Explore electronicmarketing where possible.
8. RecycleWork with a waste contractor that offersa zero waste to landfill service so thateverything you throw away, includingfood and electric items, is recycled orturned into fuel. Make recycling easy byproviding clearly marked recycling binsfor all staff and front of house areas.
9. CommunicateEffective internal communicationwith staff gives everyone in yourorganisation ownership over the issue.Circulate your environmental policy andaction plan and use fun initiatives toraise awareness. Also include freelancecontractors, suppliers and otherdancers or companies you work with –they contribute to your impacts andoften have great ideas on how toreduce them.
Sadler!s Wells:Towards a more sustainable venueSadler!s Wells has regularly commissionedenergy audits of the building, and hasreduced electricity and gas consumptionby 20% and 70% respectively since 2006.They now recycle 80% of all waste and in2011/2012 achieved a 37% reduction intheir mains water consumption. In recentyears, they have renovated the buildingextensively, including improving insulationand installing lower wattage lights indressing rooms and backstage areas.Their efforts have reduced bothenvironmental impacts and utility bills,the savings from which can be re-investedin their artistic projects.
In 2013-14, further reductions in theirenergy consumption will be achieved byreplacing auditorium and foyer lighting withdimmable low energy LED units, replacingarchitectural auditorium lighting with LEDunits and investing in new energy efficientproduction lighting stock and dimmers.
Through initiatives such as the FutureLight event in March 2013, instigated bySadler!s Wells and organised with WhiteLight Ltd., Salder!s Wells is activelyinvolved in driving forward good practiceand contributing to discussions aroundsustainable futures for dance at all levels –from manufacturers to grassroots.
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Green Production
"Sustainable! or "green! production refers toan approach that considers environmentalimpacts equally alongside artistic andfinancial concerns in the productionprocess. The environmental impacts ofproduction include the carbon emissionsof energy use, waste produced, travel andproduction transport, and the materialsfor set, prop and costume construction,as well as the social implications ofhow and where key resources used inproduction are sourced from. For example,fabric taken from non-organic sourceshas an impact on human health andbiodiversity through the toxic fertilisersused to treat the crop.
These top tips are adapted from the Julie!sBicycle Sustainable Production Guide:www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/practical-guides/production
1. Engage everyone involvedArtistic directors and choreographersshould collaborate with productionmanagers, technicians and lighting,sound, set and costume designers fromthe outset to design an aesthetic thathas a low environmental impact.Recognise that this does not meancompromising artistic vision andconsider developing a green productionpolicy to aid communication.
Sydney Theatre Company GreenProduction PolicyAn example of a green productionpolicy currently in use:www.greeningthewharf.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/STC-Green-Design-Policy-FINAL-2012.pdf
2. Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, RecycleFind ways to re-use, donate,re-purpose or recycle set, props,costumes and production materials.Construct sets so that differentconstituent parts can be dismantledand recycled properly.
3. Be energy efficientConduct rehearsals under workinglights where possible. Switch off showlighting after the rig check until half anhour before the performance –organisations like the National Theatrehave been doing this for years withoutany issues. Switch off any otherequipment when not in use.
4. Design energy efficient lighting rigsUse technologies with low wattage anddesign the show to be lit using the leastamount of power possible. Keep up-to-date with the latest developments inlow energy lighting.
White Light Green Guide A guidedeveloped by entertainment lightingspecialists White Light.www.whitelight.ltd.uk/greenguide
5. Use and experiment withsustainable materialsConsider the impacts of differentmaterials and be resourceful. Try touse as many reclaimed and recycledmaterials as possible, and make surenew products are environmentallyresponsible, for example timber that isFSC certified to show it has come fromsustainably managed stock.
Mo!olelo Green Theatre Choices ToolkitA series of scorecards showing thesustainability of commonly usedproduction materials, and their greeneralternatives: www.moolelo.net/green
6. Use rechargeable batteriesRechargeable batteries are 32 timesless harmful to the environment thandisposables. Use rechargeables forportable equipment and alwaysrecycle batteries after use. For moreinformation see www.betterbatteries.info
7. Recycle set materials after the showMake sure all set, props and costumesare recycled after the show. Use aproduction waste service that recyclesmaterials rather than sending waste tolandfill, for examplewww.scenerysalvage.com andwww.set-exchange.co.uk
8. Communicate your impactsand initiativesCommunicate with your audiences –both because audience travel makesup a significant proportion of any artsactivity (so you really want to encouragethem to travel green) and because itcan amplify the reach of your actionsby encouraging others to do the same.
One step at a timeFreelance production manager, ChrisSwain, has been greening the productionand touring practices of the dancecompanies he's worked with for severalyears, such as Bonachela Dance
Company and The Mark Bruce Company.He tries to implement at least one newinitiative on each tour he works on,and this has included using low energyfluorescent, MBI and LED lightingsystems, using rechargeable batteriesfor practicals and radio mics, a wastevegetable oil (WVO) bio-diesel van fortouring, re-using, selling or donating setitems after tours finish, using the Julie'sBicycle Green Rider and monitoring thecarbon footprint of several tours usingthe IG Tools.
A glimpse of the futurePresenting a futuristic vision of what"sustainable dance! might mean,choreographer Prue Lang has beencollaborating with the MIT Media Labto push technological and artisticdevelopment. Un réseau translucide(sustainable dance performance) (2008)generated 100% of its own energy throughcustom-constructed costumes andscenography, and her present Timeproject(2013) builds on this concept.
The Prue Lang Company has acomprehensive environmental policyaiming to reduce the environmentalimpacts of their performances and touringactivity, available at www.pruelang.com.
Green Touring
These top tips are adapted from ourGreen Mobility Guide:www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/green-guides/green-mobility-guide
1. Optimise your tour itinerary tominimise travel distances and avoidone-off performances. If schedulingfestival appearances, try to find otheropportunities in the same geographicregion. Smarter routing also has apositive impact on your budget anddancers! health.
2. Use a green rider or includesustainability clauses in contracts.This can be as simple as requestingrecycling facilities backstage, or thatfood is locally sourced and seasonal.Ask to see the environmental policyand action plans of venues and events.
Green Rider TemplateA template of potential environmentalrequests to share:www.juliesbicycle.com/resources/jb-green-riders
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3. Reduce production transport asmuch as possible. Try to sourceequipment and set locally, and designset to pack down into the smallestspace possible.
4. Choose low emission transport.Use rail and ground transport for crewand equipment within Europe to avoidairfreight. Choose logistics companieswith fuel-efficient vehicles such as theEuro 5 engine, and drivers with eco-driving training, or explore vehiclespowered by waste vegetable oil (WVO)biofuel. Reduce long haul freightemissions by approximately 25 timesby using shipping rather than airfreight.
5. Book or request hotels withenvironmental credentials that areas close to the venue as possible.Hotels can make up over 50% of thedirect emissions associated with a tourdue to their high energy consumption.Using rented accommodation andservices such as www.airbandb.comor staying with friends can significantlyreduce your impacts.
6. Encourage your audiences to usepublic transport, cycle or car-share.Audience travel is one of the largestindirect generators of emissionsassociated with the arts, so makesure you circulate information on howto get to each venue in the "greenest!way possible.
Rambert Dance CompanyRambert measure the emissions of theirtouring activity, which has led to animproved understanding of their overallimpacts. In their first year of measurement,they had no overseas tours – and yet 35%of the company!s impacts came fromtravel, in the form of one return trip toAustralia! During the autumn 2012 season,Rambert Dance Company toured in Asia,covering Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul.To reduce the amount of productionequipment for transport, they decided toleave their 10-ton touring lighting rig athome, instead relying on local set-ups.The remaining costumes, props, scenery,dance floor and front end lighting controlsystem were transported in a 20-foot seacontainer – avoiding the larger emissionsassociated with air freight.
Rambert has also been auditing theenvironmental impacts of their studiospace since 2011. In 2013 they will move toa new studio with thicker walls, improvedinsulation and better air tightness,promising a reduction in carbon emissionsof around 25%. The building!s sustainableinfrastructure includes solar hot watercollectors (SHWC), which capture the sun'sheat to provide hot water, and air sourceheat pumps (ASHP) which absorb heatfrom the air and are capable of bothheating and cooling, removing the need foradditional heating, cooling and ventilationinfrastructure. These will further reduce theenergy use of the building. Rambert alsohas a commitment to achieve at least a10% CO2 saving by using renewableenergy sources.
About Julie’s BicycleJulie!s Bicycle aims to make environmentalsustainability intrinsic to the business,art and ethics of the creative industries.We are now working with over 1,000organisations in the UK and internationally.
You can find additional resourcesat www.juliesbicycle.com
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