How We Made Our High Energy Consumption Business Green

As a stage and studio installation company, understandably our projects don’t always have energy saving properties at their core. While we try to utilize energy saving LED lighting and recycle construction materials wherever possible, installing a sophisticated television studio in a university usually focuses on function and effects as opposed to energy saving design.

Of course, many of our clients are environmentally responsible and will look for solutions that have minimal environmental impact and allow them to save on their running costs, but it still poses an environmental challenge when we are continually dealing with spotlights, lighting grids, complex sound systems and generally high energy consumption solutions.

Despite this, we’ve still managed to establish a sustainability policy and ensure our work has a minimal impact on both the local and wider environment. It certainly takes some investment and effort across all aspects of our operations, but if we can decrease our carbon footprint, then we believe every company can utilise some of our principles to establish greener practices.

Transport Policy

We heavily rely on large goods vehicles when completing projects, so tackling efficient transportation methods was an obvious choice when working towards our sustainability policy. Our approach focuses on both the simple (i.e. good driving practices) and solutions which require a little more investment (opting for greener vehicles and carefully planning routes to ensure the most efficient journey is being taken).

We ensure that our staff:

• Reduce engine warming time before beginning a journey

• Accelerate gently and aim to keep speed constant

• Use engine breaking to increase fuel efficiency by 2%

• Reduce engine idling

• Plan the most efficient route

We ensure our vehicles:

• Have tyre pressure checked regularly

• Contain no unnecessary loads

• Regularly undergo maintenance checks

Wastage and Recycling

We have a strict policy of salvaging all left over materials and re-using them wherever possible, or if the quality is lacking, recycling them. This is particularly useful with materials such as cable, and all surplus materials are carefully stored and handled in order to minimize unnecessary spoiling. Aside from our in-house recycling policy we additionally employ the services of a professional waste management company. This allows us to see exactly how we are performing from a recycling perspective.

The Simple Things…

We strongly encourage our teams to adhere to basic (but effective!) practices both in our own premises and when carrying out work on site. These small policies are a great way to go greener if you’re on a low budget and can really make a difference to your utility bills too. We’re sure you probably adhere to common sense practices in your workplace, but if your policy isn’t effectively communicated to staff then you can find even the most basic practices aren’t adhered to. We’ve established the following in-house and site policies:

• Using energy efficient lighting, including both site specific lighting and permanent LED lighting in stage projects.

• Reducing heating.

• Using flow taps and dual flush toilets.

• Insulating wherever possible.

• Regular machine and equipment maintenance.

Establishing a green policy doesn’t have to be a costly and convoluted policy and by carrying out even the most simple changes (i.e. replacing traditional light bulbs to energy efficient options and opting for recycling bins) can help reduce your running costs and appeal to your customers (a ‘green’ company has great marketing potential).

We hope we’ve shown you how you can increase your business sustainability efforts with investing heavily in the infrastructure of your business. Of course, eco business should be strived for wherever possible, but when a major overhaul just isn’t viable, even the most simple techniques and policies can make a sizeable difference.

Victoria is writing on behalf of stage lighting and stage installation specialists PG Stage. PG Stage is proud to be an environmentally responsible business and maintains their green policy on both UK based and global projects.