Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne marked its 75th anniversary in 2009 and is a widely renowned landmark for opera and classical music. The 1200-seat venue features almost 100 performances a year and has played host to the world’s greatest opera singers, musicians and conductors over the years. The organisation produces performances both for the annual Glyndebourne Festival and national tours.
THE WIND TURBINE
Following its international artistic reputation, Glyndebourne is on its way to becoming a leader in environmental sustainability too. In 2010 it achieved 2 star Industry Green certification for achieving a 5% reduction in carbon emissions between 2008 and 2009, but much greater savings are now on the horizon: the construction of a 850kW wind turbine, due to be operational by autumn 2011, hopes to provide 90% of the venue’s electricity needs and reduce carbon emissions by 70%, saving in the region of 850 tonnes of carbon per year on a 2009 total of 2016 tonnes of CO2e (excluding audience travel).
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
While this will have a major impact on improving its environmental performance, Glyndebourne have also undertaken measures to ensure that the renewable power is used efficiently: an inverter has been fitted to the main auditorium air handler unit to control the speed of the fan to save energy; the use of more energy efficient boilers has been introduced as old ones are replaced; motion sensors and timers have been installed to improve all round efficiency; and there have been ongoing efforts since 2007 to use LED and energy saving light bulbs where possible and use a lower wattage of bulbs throughout the estate, while staff have undergone training to ensure energy consumption is minimized in the office environment.
Glyndebourne’s highly complex estate sees approx 160 litres of water being used per person per day, far from the national average of 35 litres PPPD. To address this, water is now being recycled in toilets and new flush systems have been installed. In terms of waste, approximately 3250lbs of cardboard is taken to local recycling plants every 3 weeks and the organisation’s recycling scheme is aided by a cardboard baler.
STAFF AND AUDIENCE TRAVEL
Glyndebourne is also considering its other impacts beyond energy use. The Julie’s Bicycle carbon audit estimated that, as with most cultural venues, audience travel accounts for a majority of emissions at 72%, mostly coming from car travel. While not within the direct control of Glyndebourne, audiences are encouraged to share lifts and travel by public transport. Glyndebourne also provides free bus transport for staff and audiences to and from Lewes to promote rail travel to the venue. In 2009 audience helicopter landing travel was also banned on Glyndebourne land.
With audience travel emissions out of the equation, electricity accounts for 55% of Glyndebourne’s GHG emissions, with staff commuting accounting for 23%, signifying that travel emissions are still making an impact on the rural venue’s footprint.
THE FUTURE
Individual departments within Glyndebourne have taken on the responsibility to ensure environmental impact is minimised, and an environmental committee meet regularly to take forward and update the environmental strategy. 2011 sees the committee focusing on the following key priorities:
- To construct and commission a wind turbine of a size considered sufficient to supply over 90% of GPL.’s annual electricity requirements on average, with excess power generated being exported to the grid.
- To recruit, train and establish a core team of Environmental Champions who will promote good environmental practice in all areas.
- Undertake an annual carbon audit, monitoring effectiveness of actions taken to date.
- Conduct a technical energy survey to identify high cost, low cost and no cost energy saving measures.
- To purchase an appropriate compost machine for reducing environmental impact of our gardens.
- Promote the use of public transport for staff and visitors.
- Undertake a programme of education activities to raise awareness of the wind turbine and its specific benefits. Carry out a survey during summer 2011 to research ground source heat pumps into the lake to cover heating, air conditioning and hot water.
Glyndebourne's Executive Chairman, Gus Christie, sits on the UK Theatre Group alongside other key professionals from the commercial and subsidised theatre sectors responsible for advocating and supporting the development of a greener performing arts sector in the UK.
