Creating a Greener Arts Environment

Nurturing talent National Pride

Many performing arts companies and individual artists are doing their bit to ensure that we have a ‘greener’ environment. They see this as essential in creating a better future for all Australia and they believe in leading by example.

Sydney Theatre Company (STC) has a major project called “Greening the Wharf” and were successful in achieving a $1.2 million investment by the Rudd Government Green Precinct Fund to transform the iconic heritage listed STC building, Wharf 4/5 at Walsh Bay, Sydney Harbour, into a sustainability hub. The project includes:

Installing photovoltaic cells for electricity generation
Energy efficiency measures including lighting and building management system upgrades
Rainwater harvesting, storage and reticulation system which will provide 100% of the company’s non portable water requirements

These measures will save over 37.5 million litres of water over the next 25 years and reduce the STC’s carbon emissions by 555 tonnes a year. The STC will undertake a comprehensive education campaign, with seminars and green events aimed at individuals and corporations. For more information go to http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/visit/greening-the-wharf

Solar Project Lights Up Perth
Approximately 200 solar panels have been installed across the roof of a major Perth arts studio, in a Perth Solar City project that will cut 94 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Located at the former Railway Workshops buildings in Perth’s east, the Midland Atelier arts studio will use the 201 solar panels to run lighting and equipment used by residents of the creative precinct, such as photographers, fashion designers and artists.

The project is an initiative of Perth Solar City – one of seven Solar Cities across Australia funded by the Federal Government. The $94 million Solar Cities initiative encourages households, industry and the community to work together to find ways to better use and conserve energy. Senator Penny Wong, said the 60 kilowatt installation at Midland Atelier would generate electricity equivalent to the power needs of more than 15 homes.

The Midland Atelier Solar installation is a $500,000 project jointly funded by the Federal Government and the Western Australian State Government.

The Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne has implemented a number of operational initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. For example they have fitted their security system with Solar charged batteries and have installed a state of the art dimmer system in their Beckett Theatre to reduce heat discharge from the theatre lights, which in turn has reduced the (high energy consuming) air-conditioning requirements of the theatre.

In addition fifty cents from each ticket sold to Malthouse Theatre productions has been invested in renewable technologies. Recent investments, via Climate Friendly, have been to the Bienaihe Hydropower Stations in Yunnan province, China and the Anemon Intepe Wind Farm Project in the Canakke province, Turkey. For more information go to http://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/page/LATEST_GREENLIGHT_NEWS