How Theaters are Becoming Greener

Lately, society’s growing focus on environmentalism has extended to the performing arts. In-person performances are generally temporary works, with production lengths varying from years to only weeks. But the immense amount of waste material generated by sets; the carbon footprint of tours; and the energy consumption due to lighting, sound, and special effects all have environmental impacts. However, organizations and theater companies around the world are realizing that they can adopt sustainable practices without compromising the art. 

The Sydney Opera House is one of the best examples of both modern, sustainable infrastructure and art. Designed with eco-friendly principles in mind, it has earned a six star Green Star rating and runs on renewable electricity, cutting emissions by 26 percent and being carbon neutral since 2018. Award-winning designer Jorn Utzon and a team of engineers recognized that 80 percent of the building’s carbon emissions would have been created by electricity usage. By the time the opera house finished construction in 1973, a novel seawater-based cooling system was integrated into the building, thanks to their work. The system includes a centralized plant room with the main chillers and control systems connected to 35 kilometers of pipes beneath the roof’s “sails.” Fans and pumps assist in dissipating heat, circulating the system, and cooling the seawater. More than 50 years later, their innovative work—now known as the “heart and lungs” of the building—continues to make the Sydney Opera House a leader in sustainability. In addition to this technology, the opera house has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives that have diverted a combined 95 percent of event waste from landfills. For example, they have increased recycling rates from 25 percent to 60 percent by implementing a waste management system that transfers food waste to an organics facility and are currently working on recycling 85 percent of operational waste. They also eliminated single-use plastics on site and have been advocates for ocean conservation. A reef structure built around Bennelong Point’s seawall, which borders the opera house, has even attracted species such as octopuses and the endangered White’s Seahorses. 

While many older arts centers may not have the same capacity for sustainable infrastructure as the Sydney Opera House, many production companies are finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint through other groundbreaking practices. One of these examples is only a train ride away! The Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) has worked with major organizations to promote eco-friendly practices in New York City’s theater industry. In the 2010s, the BGA led an initiative to change Broadway marquee lights to power-saving LEDs and fluorescent bulbs, powered by electricity saved by energy efficient costume washing machines. Additionally, since 2008, the BGA’s work has kept 22,000 pounds of textiles and 63,000 pounds of electronics out of landfills. The BGA’s touring green program has offset more than 10,000 tons of carbon, connecting touring companies such as ballets and orchestras to “green captains,” encouraging sustainable practices at venues. This includes encouraging energy efficient appliances, overseeing responsible transportation, and ensuring the use of sustainable materials in sets, costumes, and merchandise. Captains are appointed regionally for unions, events, and even off-Broadway productions. If such a historic and high-energy industry like Broadway can progress towards eco-friendly practices, sustainability and the arts can go hand in hand all across the world. 

Barnard College is doing the same by developing their Circular Design and Production initiative, which seeks to change the technical side of their in-house productions. With the help of energy consulting firm Gotham 360, Barnard Theatre measured the greenhouse gas emissions of their performance Some Hero based on how much new and reused material was used. They found that when a production used 50 percent new and 50 percent reclaimed materials, it generated 4.59 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, or six months worth of energy use in an average American home. On the other hand, using all new materials resulted in 9.9 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide—a 115 percent increase—or the equivalent of a home’s energy use for a full year. All reclaimed materials resulted in only 0.13 metric tonnes, or just 1.5 months worth of home energy use. The project’s success suggests that if just half of all U.S. theatre productions cut their emissions by 50 percent, the industry could prevent nearly 120,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, which is a huge step toward sustainability.

In the future, sustainable practices may even shape the artistic visions and storytelling of productions. Consultancy service Green Eyes Production analyzes every aspect of a production down to the script. As of today, they have already worked with 16 productions. Non-profit organization Good Energy Services even provides Hollywood storytellers with ways to integrate climate narratives into their productions. As the performing arts continue to evolve through new shows and technologies, it’s more important than ever to factor sustainability into the future. The growth of new companies such as Green Eyes and Good Energy stories pioneers a movement in which climate initiatives and theater are intertwined. While the movement gains traction, companies like the Sydney Opera House, Broadway Green Alliance, and Barnard College are already creating a more sustainable way to perform.