B.GreenEntertainment was featured in Des Moines Register / Juice Magazine’s “5 YPs making a difference: Fostering Greener Events” article for the Earth Day segment on April 17, 2013. Find the full article at:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130417/JUICE/304170022/-1/SPORTS12/Fostering-greener-events?gcheck=1
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Earth Day is an environmentalist’s favorite holiday! Earth Day, started in 1970, is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It is considered to be ”the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year.”
Celebrate Earth Day by making green part of your venue’s routine and committing to the environmental cause. The green movement incorporates all levels of management and staff to be effective throughout the facility.
- The three R’s: Jack Johnson sings it’s best when he says “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle“, words that can easily catch on with the right motivation! Take a second to look around. How much waste in your venue can you reduce, reuse, and/or recycle? The answer is probably the majority of it. The first step is to set up a program to evaluate your waste and then incorporate a system to recycle (which includes compost) anything you can’t reduce or reuse. Also, here are some simple ideas to help with the 3R’s: “Kiss to be Green“.
- Educational aspects: There are great ways to teach employees about the importance and ease of making green part of their routine. As a venue manager, look for ways to incorporate this education through seminars, articles, employee job boards, staff meetings, etc. Make it light-hearted and fun for the staff to be involved in a green routine.
- Do and encourage others: The best way to educate is to do it and others will follow. Take a minute a day to make a conscious effort to recycle, use a reusable mug, drink tap water, print on both sides, etc. Once you start doing the new habit, it will become part of a routine. Then think of a new habit that becomes part of your routine. Continue to do this and you’ll be an environmentalist before you know it! Other employees, co-workers, friends, etc. will see these habits and soon follow. And encourage them to do so!
- Creative alternative thinking: Now that you’re in the green routine mindset, it’s time to come up with alternative methods to incorporating environmentally – friendly practices into your facilities daily operation. Again – involve the staff and come up with solutions to eco-problems such as mass transportation, waste, and energy consumption. Here are some examples for 25 Ways to be the Greenest Venue!
Earth Day is just a reminder that we should be putting a conscience effort towards incorporating sustainability practices into our facilities and events. Every year, evaluate your venues progress and goals towards a greener tomorrow. Once you start doing green, it becomes easy and natural! So get your venue in the green routine and Make Earth Day Everyday!
Happy Earth Day 2013!
~ Becky
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Last year, B.GreenEntertainment wrote about what (some of) the big festivals were doing to be green including South By Southwest, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Rock the Green. So this year, we looked coast to coast and every where in between to discover some other festivals and what they are doing to help protect the environment while throwing a big party for music fans! Time to dive in and take a look:
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival ~ San Francisco ~ August 9 – 11, 2013:
Outside Lands started in 2008 and is held at Golden Gate Park with approximately 60 musical guests and several large art installations. The festival brings 40,000 – 60,000 attendees each year with artists such as Radiohead, Metallica, Jack White, Muse, Phish, Beck, and many more. The event also features attractions around food, wine and art. With the environment in mind, the planners designed several aspects to incorporate into the festival including a special section of the festival called Eco Lands – Powered by You! Eco Lands offers an opportunity for attendees to get educated on sustainability with a solar powered stage, urban gardening workshops, local community organizations, national non-profit organizations, a farmer’s market, locally sourced food vendors, refillable water stations and a recycling store. Attendees can either purchase a special Outside Lands water bottle on site to drink free all weekend or bring one from home to purchase refillable water. The kicker – if you have an Outside Lands water bottle from the past 4 years, attendees can bring it to drink free all weekend! Outside Lands works with Clean Vibes (Bonnaroo) and Global Inheritance (Coachella) along with local partners to divert 77% waste from the landfill, educate attendees, and making green be fun for all!
To learn more about Outside Lands Festival’s sustainability practices, visit sfoutsidelands.com.
Sweetlife: A Music + Food Festival ~ Baltimore, MD ~ May 11, 2013
Sweetlife is a festival inspired by the owners of Sweetgreen, a farm to table restaurant in Maryland created in 2007 by three college friends. The festival brings their passion of healthy, local food together with music for a one day event at Merriweather Post Pavilion. But that’s not all – the organizers incorporate environmentally friendly practices into the plan including recycling and composting. They also create a carbon neutral event through the use of solar panels on the main stage and purchasing green tags or renewable energy certificates to help offset the energy use.
To learn more about Sweetlife Festival’s sustainability practices, visit sweetlifefestival.com.
Telluride Bluegrass Festival ~ Telluride, CO ~ June 20 – 23, 2013
Telluride, in its 40th year, is an annual four-day bluegrass festival that takes place in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. The festival prides itself on its environmental efforts with simple to complex solutions. Planet Bluegrass is focused on implementing environmental policies as well as developing new strategies. Currently, the festival recycles/composts, offsets carbon footprint with renewable energy certificates, and provides free water. They have developed a reputation as one of the national leaders in environmental action and hope that it will inspire other festival planners to follow in their footsteps. With all the changes in technology and environmental practices, Telluride now has a blog devoted to Sustainable Festivarians and encourage attendees to join in the conversation to help keep the festival clean and green.
To learn more about Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s sustainability practices, visit bluegrass.com.
Summer Camp Music Festival ~ Chillicothe, IL ~ May 24 – 26
Between 2001 and now, Summer Camp Festival has grown from a 1,000 person, 2 day festival to a 15,000+ person, 4 day festival with 7 stages and over 100 bands. The festival is known for its jam scene with the likes of Umphrey’s McGee, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and others filling main stage slots. The Green Team, a group of volunteers, is responsible for overseeing that the festival grounds and that stay clean along with educating attendees about the importance of environmental practices. The Team works with Old Hippie Recycling to properly sort between recyclable, compostable and trash items prior to distributing to the proper site. They also use bio-diesel generators and work to make the operations carbon neutral. Attendees can also also take advantage of learning about the environment by visiting booths that focus on sustainability as well as checking out the local vendors. Summer Camp encourages festival goers to be green by bringing usable items and providing each attendee three bags, one for recycling, one for composting, and one for trash to help keep their camp site clean throughout the duration of the event.
To learn more about Summer Camp Music Festival’s sustainability practices, visit summercampfestival.com.
These are just a few green festival highlights for this year. We’ll keep searching the states for more and provide another blog post with updates. Do you know a festival that incorporates environmental practices? Share with us so we can feature it the next time around!
Becky
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I recently discovered a website called Renman Music & Business that discusses how people can get ahead in the music industry. Steve Renman, ex-Incubus manager and host of the Renman Music & Business site, is offering an opportunity to mentor one music professional and one artist over the year. This is a great chance to network with his contacts. Well as my passion in life is music, venues, and environmentalism, I decided this was an opportunity I should seek out. So now I’m asking for your help! I need to get to the top 3 candidates for a shot at an interview with Renman himself. I’m hoping that you will watch my video discussing my love for the entertainment industry and why I should be part of the mentorship program. Then you can log onto Renmanmb.com and VOTE for me by liking the video. You will need to register for the site to be able to vote. If I get the mentorship, I will keep everyone updated through blog posts on B.GreenEntertainment!
Watch the video in higher definition below (also found on YouTube) but remember you MUST log onto Renmanmb.com to vote by March 25 at 5:00pm (EST)!
Thank you for taking the time to support me and I will update you soon!
~ Becky
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It’s that time of year again for many musicians, music professionals, and fans to descend upon Austin, TX for the annual South By Southwest Conference, Festival and Trade Show (SXSW). This is the largest event of its kind that happens in the entertainment industry and thousands will be hopping around to venues, catching up with friends, networking, and lingering on the streets to catch a pop-up artist. The annual conference has grown largely in the last several years to also incorporate Interactive, Film, Education and a new Eco Conference, held in the fall. The education, film, and interactive segments are under way at this time and will be wrapping up as the music conference begins on March 12. But what about the environmental impact from this festival?
With over 60,000 attendees within two weeks, SXSW is aware of the issues the conference has on the environment and the organizers work hard to offer eco-opportunities for attendees. So do your part and take advantage of them while you are there. Here’s how to do IT:
- Recycle It: Last year, SXSW diverted over 20,000 pounds of trash from the landfill, which is just about 67% of total trash. This is good but could be better so remember to do your party and recycle/compost! Recycling stations will be available at Southbites, Auditorium Shores and other outdoor SXSW venues, but if you can’t find one in sight, then head over to Brita’s Urban Oasis, the recycling transfer center. Also, as you are leaving Austin, there are recycle bins at the airport’s security check point for your badges to be re-used at next year’s conference!
- Reduce It: So if recycling bins aren’t as accessible as you would like, find ways to reduce your waste. Pack and use a water bottle as you are on the go. It will also help you save money to spend on a local microbrew beer later! There is a refill station at the Brita’s Urban Oasis. Don’t pick up pamphlets or flyers if you don’t want them otherwise you will have to find a place to properly dispose of them later.
- Bike It: SXSW organizers have a solution to getting around … SXcycles, the official bike share program! SXcycles, presented by NBC’s Revolution, equips you with a complimentary bicycle, lights, lock and helmet. It also offers a mobile mechanic and tips on how to get around town. Less pollution and stress free parking – sounds like a winning deal! Be sure to visit the Revolution experience at the SXcycles HQ. Also walking when possible is also another great eco-friendly option.
- Charge It: Need a little recharge for your technology? Stop by Brita’s Urban Oasis for a solar recharge station! (Remember to recharge yourself with water while there!)
- Eat It: There are lots of food options including Southbites, the official food court, and food trucks located throughout the grounds. These places offer organic, vegetarian, and vegan options for everyone! Just remember to compost any leftovers!
- Check It (out): Stop and enjoy the scenery by checking out acclaimed “trash artist” Jason Mecier. He will be creating a custom mural presented by waste management programs of Keep America Beautiful and GLAD.
Also, visit SXSW Eco’s Light Garden, located at Republic Square Park, featuring different multimedia artists. Finally, there are several panels to inspire the eco-friendly mind as well as eco-musicians performing throughout the week. Some to check out are Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, Cory Booker, and many more! Create your schedule and plan ahead to save you some time and energy.
Watch for updates by SXSW Eco for additional ways to be eco-friendly at the big festival. So have fun, enjoy and remember to B.Green in all you do at SXSW! Do it!
~ Becky
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Recently I had the opportunity to sit in on International Association of Venue Manager‘s (IAVM) Sustainability 101 webinar. I was looking forward to hearing what they had to say about how venue managers can learn to be more environmentally responsible. A lot of good points were made throughout the webinar, but the whole time I couldn’t get KISS out of my head. Not the band (although as I write “I Want to Rock ‘N’ Roll All Night” is stuck in my head) but more of the simple marketing term – Keep It Simple Stupid!
We put such a large emphasis on being green that we aim for the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification and forget to focus on the simple things we can do to incorporate green aspects into venues. Sometimes the thought of being green and the whole process to do it are so overwhelming and intimidating to venue managers that environmental practices get put on the back burner or ideas are thrown out immediately. Yes, it would be great if every venue could go for the Gold or Platinum in this case, but it’s just not that easy, not yet anyways. But venue managers can make it easy by keeping it simple! Plus, it takes additional expenses and funding that many venues are not in the position of securing at a time when ticket sales are slow. Again, keeping it simple will help you to reduce costs and help save money to be able to incorporate environmental practices on a grander scale in the future.
By incorporating simple practices venue managers can work towards a LEED goal. This concept applies for all venues – clubs, theaters, arenas, stadiums, sheds, etc. So here’s a few ideas on how to KISS to be green:
- Recycle – It’s amazing how many venues still do not offer recycling at their facilities. At this time, every venue should be doing it. Work with a local waste management and find out what they have available to start doing this today! In many places recycling will allow to cut down on trash consumption and save money. Take it one step further and start composting too!
- Styrofoam – Stop using Styrofoam anything. It’s a fact that Styrofoam is bad for the environment. Stop using it. There are so many other available options that are the same cost or less. Contact your distributor to discuss what is available in your area.
- Reusable Dishes / Bottles - Encourage employees or part – time staff to bring their own mugs, water bottles and plates to use instead of using the disposables on – site. Offer a place to wash dishes by hand and store them for reuse.
- Transportation – Find ways to offer alternative transportation to the facility for patrons and employees. Offer incentives for employees or discounts for patrons. For example, Nitefall on the River in Des Moines, IA offers a free New Belgium beer to anyone that rides their bike to a concert. They offer a secure area with staff to make sure that their transportation doesn’t get stolen.
- Reduce Paper – Make sure employees are not printing everything and using 2 sided print when they do need to print. Scan and email documents instead of copying. At cash registers – do customers REALLY need the receipt? (I can’t remember the last time I actually held onto a receipt unless it was a major purchase and needed it for a refund or return. Can you?) I’m sure if you put your green thinking caps on, you can figure out many other ways to reduce paper waste!
- Lights – Many venues are beginning to see the benefits of LED lighting and switching overhead and stage lights to LEDs. This will help save energy costs in the long run! Even switching to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) throughout the offices will help save funds!
- Cleaning: Have your staff switch to environmentally-friendly cleaning products. There are so many options on the market anymore! Just Google it!
- Employees – Let the employees doing the thinking for you! Come up with a program to allow them to brainstorm ideas that could be incorporated into your environmental practices. By making employees a part of the process, it will be more likely that they will follow the environmental practices and encourage others to do the same!
These are just a few ideas to start moving towards a greener venue and tomorrow. There are many more options and all you have to do is think KISS to be green and reach for the Gold/Platinum. Rock and Roll all Night never sounded so good!
~ Becky
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The Iowa Events Center, managed by Global Spectrum, is located in Des Moines, IA and consists of several facilities including Wells Fargo Arena, Hy-Vee Hall and Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center at Veterans Memorial. Throughout the year the Events Center is host to many different types of events including home games for the Iowa Barnstormers (Arena Football League) and Iowa Energy (NBA – D League Basketball), concerts, conventions, conferences, meetings, wrestling meets, dance tournaments and much more.
Since 2009, Global Spectrum has taken steps toward implementing several green initiatives throughout the Iowa Event Center. A team of employees from the operation and engineering departments work together to develop and implement cost-saving initiatives into their daily operations, with a majority of the savings coming from energy costs. By reducing its energy use in heating/cooling and lighting systems, the Iowa Events Center has been able to save a significant amount of money on energy costs.
So how exactly do they incorporate these initiatives? We’re glad you asked! Let’s take a closer look:
- Recycling: Global Spectrum and Ovations Food Services staffs currently recycles cardboard, paper, aluminum, plastic, and glass throughout the facility, including in the suites and concourses in Wells Fargo Arena. Recycling also takes place in the offices and back of house spaces as well as throughout Hy-Vee Hall and Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center at Veterans Memorial. In addition, all applicable light fixtures, metals, electronics, batteries, motor oils and landscape waste are also recycled. This past year, Ovations catering and kitchen staff incorporated an organic composting program in partnership with GreenRU*! The partnership allows for food scraps and other waste from the on-site kitchens to be diverted from the landfills and made into a nutrient-rich, soil-like compound to be used for landscapes in the community.
- Cleaning: The Iowa Events Center maintenance staff incorporates green cleaning with the use of approved environmentally friendly chemicals, including Alpha HP, a universal cleaner for windows, counter tops and similar surfaces.
- Energy: During the hot summer months, the facility, using “real-time” usage technology, lowers its kilowatt hours by running off a generator to save more in energy cost during the critical hours. The generators are powered by the Iowa Event Center’s own fuel oil tanks. The “real-time” usage allows engineers to oversee each facility’s energy usage, creating awareness leading to efforts to reduce energy on a day-to-day basis. In 2010 it was reported the engineering team reduced the facility’s energy usage by nearly 25% over the previous four years.
- Lights: The team replaced 216 mercury halide lights in Hy-Vee Hall with fluorescent light fixtures. Light sensors were placed into several areas in the facility to increase lighting as natural light diminishes throughout the day. Also, motion sensors in the restrooms, lobby and other areas regularly used throughout the day turn lights off and only turn them on when someone enters into the space. Chief Engineer Al Hayes** continues the savings in lighting by upgrading several fixtures in elevators, catwalks and aisles to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. To further save on lighting costs, if there is an event in one facility and not in the other ones, the areas not in use go black to help offset the use of extra lighting in the event space.
Moving forward, green efforts will continue at the Iowa Events Center with the possibility of adding plasma lights, electric car charging stations, solar panels, water reduction and any other areas they see that need improvement and that meet environmentally friendly standards. Watch for more updates as the Iowa Events Center continues to be more green!
*GreenRU is a “zero waste” recycler of organics and food scraps headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. They offer complete recycling services and can provide carts and/or bins, training, signage, and a complete selection of compostable dinnerware, trash liners, and flatware. Their products are all ASTM D6400 certified and are 100% biodegradable and compostable.
**Global Spectrum’s Al Hayes, Chief Engineer at the Iowa Events Center, is an active member in the Iowa Renewable Energy Association, Iowa Association for Energy Efficiency, and Center on Sustainable Communities.
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