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HOW GREEN IS OUR STAGE? "The Australian Conservation Foundation congratulates Malthouse Theatre on playing a leadership role in becoming an ecologically sustainable theatre." Don Henry, Executive Director, ACF Simply living our lives in metropolis Melbourne; having a shower; turning on a computer; travelling long distances for business or pleasure; catching a tram; cooking dinner; or going to the theatre, we can’t help but use energy. The quantity and sources of energy we access for these ordinary activities emits carbon gases which contribute to climate change. When the power hungry lights of the theatre go on, we start generating surprisingly large amounts of the stuff! Malthouse Theatre and The CUB Malthouse have developed Malthouse Greenlight as a call to arms for achieving our goal of being an Ecologically Sustainable company. We are committed as both a company and as individuals, through behavioral and structural change to contribute to an ecologically, cultural, and artistically sustainable future. In 2008 we are committed to working towards this through a three pronged strategy: 1. OUR BEHAVIOUR An assurance that all staff, artists, contractors and co-presenting companies accept responsibility for our current energy use; reduce, reuse, recycle where possible, from administration to set construction, and offset the carbon emitted as a result of operating an efficient business, such as air travel and transport of our personnel and productions. 2. OUR CULTURE Working together with our patrons and the arts industry at The CUB Malthouse to create a carbon positive environment where we accept responsibility for the energy used to present theatre, which includes offsetting patron attendance through the purchase of carbon credits and a tendering process for the purchase of goods and services from energy-wise suppliers. 3. OUR BUILDING Implementation of the ‘Greening the Malthouse’ building project, with the leading environmental architectural firm Design Inc, to make The CUB Malthouse the first ecologically sustainable theatres building, with a significant 10 year ecologically focused engineering strategy. We look forward to working with you in creating a cleaner, greener Malthouse. "The transition to a carbon-free economy is eminently achievable because we have all the technology we need to do it. It is only a lack of understanding and the pessimism and confusion generated by interest groups that is stopping us from going forward." Tim Flannery, Australian of the Year 2007. Extract from The Weather Makers (back to top) THE URGENT PROBLEM Climate Change is a real and immediate global concern. The mounting evidence that our actions are contributing to climate change can no longer be ignored. For more information on the realities and science of climate change, the Australian Collaboration, of which the ACF is a member, has many fact sheets and publications available about climate change www.australiancollaboration.com.au TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR PART In 2007 four students from the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning at RMIT completed a study of Malthouse Theatre’s ecological impact, including carbon emissions. This study was conducted according to pre-audit criteria as laid out in the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Energy Audits. Consulting energy bills for The CUB Malthouse building, it was determined that between November 2005 and April 2007 we released 595 tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. That’s an average of 2 tonnes a day. A PART OF THE SOLUTION Malthouse Greenlight is Malthouse Theatre’s response to these concerns. Malthouse Greenlight Statement of Intent as of Oct 22 Malthouse Theatre’s mission statement is that we aspire to be leaders in Australia’s cultural and imaginative life. As a cultural organisation entrusted with a major public asset, it is now clear that we must respond to the emerging global warming challenge to the best of our abilities. For us this means both immediate and long term strategies, moving from being a relatively high carbon emitter to being carbon positive, through curbing unnecessary energy use, offsetting our emissions, and redeveloping the infrastructure of the building to improve efficiency - and indeed create energy for our own consumption. Malthouse Theatre aspires to be a showcase building of ecologically sustainable development, and for the refurbishment of heritage listed buildings. By ecologically sustainable development we mean the using, conserving and enhancing of the community's resources so that ecological processes and the quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased. We are committed to supporting this aim through modification of our internal practice and behaviour and engagement with audiences throughout this project. It is our hope that in turn this commitment will inspire and deliver benefit to future generations of artists and audiences alike. (back to top) OUR BEHAVIOUR WHAT WE CAN DO EVERYDAY We are currently engaging in numerous behavioural changes for our company. We have established a green purchasing policy which includes an aim to buy from local sources where possible to reduce emmisions caused by transportation. We will aim to buy green power, source green products, produce our marketing materials and programs on recycled paper and print with soya-based inks, send electronic invitations, offset our staff and artist’s air travel, our seats in the auditorium, and continue to green our building’s infrastructure; from changing our light globes to building a roof of solar panels. In the office we have removed individual bins in favour of individual paper recycling bins, hired a more efficient photocopying and printing machine. In our workshop, we recycle all steel and lightbulbs. Our education department is working towards reducing all paper usage by 50%. In all endeavours we attempt to reduce, re-use and recycle. SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE REALITY One of our main hurdles in greening our theatre making practice is the amount of light we use in our theatres. Lighting theatre uses a great deal of power, and generates a large amount of heat. While it is true that once shows are up and running this power consumption and heat generation is limited to a few hours in the day, nevertheless we are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of lighting as much as possible. The Malthouse is seeking to reduce the environmental consequences of theatre lighting in a number of ways: • We are committed to buying Green power. • We have presently made an application to upgrade all our lanterns to Source 4s which are 2-3 times more efficient than any other theatre lighting instrument on the market. • We are in discussion to change our dimming system to one that will reduce heat generation and thus lower our emissions and require less air-conditioning for the comfort of our audiences. • We are investigating changing audience lighting to power efficient LED systems. • We recycle all light bulbs, theatrical and otherwise. As the theatre lighting industries develop ever more efficient means of generating the light required for performance, we are attempting to incorporate these technologies into our designs. At present many of these new technologies are cost-prohibitive, but their cost is dropping daily and their benefits are starting to appear in the Merlyn, the Beckett and the Tower Theatres. WHAT YOU CAN DO EVERYDAY There are a range of actions you can take to reduce your own carbon footprint on a daily basis. With very little impact to your lifestyle you can, take public transport, change your lightbulbs, use a water saving shower head, use cold water in the washing machine, turn your TV off at the wall, start a compost bin or take a mug to the coffee stand! The smallest changes can make a difference. For more ideas you can visit: Australian Government Climate Change Education Resources www.greenhouse.gov.au Australian Conservation Foundation www.acfonline.org.au Zero Your Carbon www.zeroyourcarbon.com (back to top) OUR CULTURE A PART OF THE JOURNEY To be successful in our endeavours towards an ecologically sustainable future we need to work in partnership with our audiences and community to make an urgent and ongoing change. And we ask you to come with us on our greening journey. We have introduced a carbon offset charge on all tickets sold through our box office. A charge of 50c on every single ticket sold and $2 on every subscription package sold will be used to offset the energy used to create the production you are viewing. The funds collected through this scheme will be passed wholly and directly to environmentally sustainable developments, channelled on our behalf by Project Andromeda who agreed to assist us in 2008 through a pro bono arrangement. Project Andromeda will purchase on our behalf carefully vetted credits brokered and analysed by ANZ Investment bank, who have recently been voted the world’s most sustainable bank by Dow Jones. Full details of where the money has been spent will be announced as these offsets are purchased. This is an immediate and measurable way we can begin to take action and contribute to a more sustainable future. The purchase of carbon offsets will also ensure that as we reduce our own carbon emissions, we will move beyond a state of carbon neutrality and become a carbon positive business. (back to top) OUR BUILDING In 2007, leading environmental architecture firm Design Inc were, engaged to provide an initial Ecologically Sustainable Development Appraisal of The CUB Malthouse and the possibilities available for conversion to a 6 star energy rated building. The report showed that this conversion is possible, but will require extensive change to the structure of the building to utilize natural resources such as light, wind and water to the fullest extent. Malthouse Greenlight recognizes that this is a long term plan that will require extensive assistance to achieve, but it is our aspiration that we will, within 10 years, have a building which is recognised as a benchmark in the conversion of heritage assets into 6 star energy rated buildings. We are currently engaging in conversation with a range of stakeholders whose support for this exciting and ambitious project we recognize as vital for its success. It is our aim in 2008 to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study of the structural changes suggested by Design Inc to accurately ascertain an implementation plan. (back to top) |
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| Where
to park Public transport Melway reference Learn more! |
The Café is
a great meeting place offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t rush off. Stay with us after the show and enjoy a drink at the bar. Learn more! |
In 2007 we continue
our Sunday series of commentary and conversation - with a who’s who of guests and lashings of wit. Learn more! |
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