Which Came First, the Budgie or the Cat?
James May Man Lab with Ben Todd (from Arcola) Broadcast 8thNovember 2011
Watch as the ashes of two beloved pets are launched into space and scattered in the stratosphere!
Two teams, one led by James May, the other by Arcola’s Ben Todd, disagreed on which gas (hydrogen or helium) should be used to fill up the balloons, thus competition arose. Ben claimed that because hydrogen is half the weight of helium, it would travel faster into space. James’ preference was Helium, the traditional choice and, in his opinion, the most effective. And so the race began. Cameras were attached to each balloon, the ashes of the animals flew up into space, at varying speeds and eventually the ashes exploded into the stratosphere, 25,000 feet above ground.
Watch the programme to see who wins and to view some amazing footage of space!
Olympic Green London Film features Arcola
London & Partners and the GLA have produced a series of short films to show a world-wide audience how London is preparing to be the host city of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Arcola Theatre features in Programme 3: Green London “Organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games have promised the most environmentally-friendly games ever staged. We take a journey across the city to find out how London is living up to the Green Challenge”
To view the short film, which also features beehives on the roof of Fortnum & Mason’s and the Duke of Cambridge in Islington, click here
For more information about the London Media Centre, London and Partners and to find out about other films in the series click here
Arcola Energy for Schools workshop – Climate Week Prize
InSeptember, a group of pupils from Pool Academy in Cornwall visited Arcola Energy for a workshop with Matt Venn – our Associate Technologist. The girls had won the workshop with their winning energy saving idea in the Climate Week 2011 Schools competition – the Fidgit which converts kinetic energy into electricity. Over the course of an afternoon, they were able to develop a prototype of their invention.
“It was a great day and we all had a brilliant time in London and at Arcola – thanks very much for the time you all gave us” – Teacher – Pool Academy
For more information about Arcola Energy for Schools workshops – click HERE
Green Alliance Summer Reception – Ben Todd on the arts and the environment
On 13 July, Ben Todd joined an illustrious panel for a debate on the role of the arts in tackling environmental issues – What have the arts ever done for the environment? It was part of the excellent Green Alliance Summer Reception at the Royal Opera House; a unique collaboration between leading organisations from the arts and environment sectors.
The reception opened with a performance by The Opera Group of an extract from their new opera Seven Angels, which interprets the themes of John Milton’s masterpiece Paradise Lost for a modern audience facing up to the urgent challenges of a changing climate and ever-depleting resources.
Then the panel, chaired by Alison Tickell of Julie’s Bicycle and including Jude Kelly: Artistic Director of Southbank Centre, Peter Randall-Page: Artist, Matthew Taylor: Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts, Dr David Frame: Deputy Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Oxford University and Arcola’s Ben Todd held a lively debate on arts and the environment.
Panel discussing what have the Arts ever done for the Environment
Some of the panel’s statements were tweeted live – follow the debate on twitter at #greenarts. Some of Ben’s statements:
“Sustainability is finding a way to live that works for everybody for ever. Adding art is what makes it worth living”
“The arts are the place where you shift culture”
“The dream is anyone can walk through our door in Dalston and get involved”
The reception finished with many animated discussions over canapés and drinks. Many thanks to the Green Alliance for organising a fascinating event; we look forward to future engagement
Green Tourism Gold Stars
- Arcola Energy team accepting our award from Tony Juniper.
Arcola Theatre won a Gold Star Award at the 2011 Green Tourism Week Awards on Thursday 9 June.The award is a celebration of the work we’ve done moving into our new home in the Colourworks building on Ashwin Street, maintaining our high standard of sustainable practices. Gold Star Awards were presented to the ten highest scoring businesses participating in the Green Tourism accreditation scheme. Over 400 businesses have reached the gold standard so receiving a gold star is a high accolade indeed.
Green Tourism Week takes place from 6 – 12 June, and is a celebration of tourism which takes into account the needs of the environment, local residents, businesses, and visitors; now and in the future.
Arcola and Artsadmin’s Cycle Sunday event on 12 June will be a great finish to Green Tourism Week – a chance to celebrate the bike on the streets of East London
Help us Calculate our Carbon Footprint!
As part of Arcola’s sustainability work, we are carrying out a survey of audience travel to help us estimate our carbon footprint. Please click HERE (http://bit.ly/heiWho) to complete a short survey of only 4 questions (by Saturday 11 June), about how you travel to the theatre.
All responses are anonymous.
You might ask why we need data about audience travel for Arcola Theatre’s carbon footprint. Some carbon footprinting methods include what are known as “indirect emissions”; greenhouse gas emissions which would not be caused without the thing (in this case Arcola Theatre) being there. Another source of indirect emissions is the purchasing of supplies – as this includes manufacture, transportation and disposal of items.
For further information, please contact – energy@arcolatheatre.com
- The Arcola Energy Team with Lord Smith. From left to right – Alexandra Clement-Jones, Nicola Brodowska, Simon Mylius, Lord Smith, Feimatta Conteh, Rajvinder Malhi
On Thursday 3 February the Arcola Energy team were delighted to attend the 2011 Sustainable City Awards at Mansion House, in the City of London.
We were thrilled to receive awards in two categories; for Resource Conservation and Greening the Third Sector. Arcola was also shortlisted in the Tackling Climate Change category. Awards were handed out by Lord Smith of Finsbury, Chairman of the Environment Agency.Click here to find out more about the awards and other winners
Arcola is Exceeding with 10:10 Commitment
Arcola Theatre 10:10 Progress Report
Reducing our carbon footprint by 10% during 2010
We are dedicated to meeting our 10:10 commitment to reduce our carbon footprint by at least 10% during 2010.
Reference Period
During 2009 (1/2/09 – 31/1/10) Arcola Theatre’s carbon footprint (scope 1 and 2) has been calculated as 86.1 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. We used 94,757 kWh of electricity which contributed 51.6 tonnes to our total footprint and 154,678 kWh of gas which contributed 31.6 tonnes. The largest proportion of Arcola’s carbon footprint, some 60%, is from electricity generation.
Approach
In January 2011 Arcola Theatre will be moving premises. We have thus focused our efforts on behavioural elements of our electricity usage rather than modifying the building, for example with new insulation, efficient boilers, lighting equipment, etc. This means a primary focus on electricity consumption.
Target
If we are to reduce our total carbon footprint by 10% with our gas usage and travel emissions remaining at 2009 levels, we must reduce our annual electricity related emissions by 8.6 tonnes, from 51.5 to 42.9 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
However, to ensure that we are meeting our 10:10 commitment we must take into account the uncertainty of the 2009 carbon footprint calculation. The uncertainty of Arcola’s total carbon footprint has been calculated at 9.1 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This means reducing our emissions by 8.6 + 9.1 tonnes, that is from 51.5 to 33.9 tonnes.
Using conversion factors taken from DEFRA and taking into account the uncertainty in the 2009 calculation at Arcola we must reduce our electricity consumption during 2010 by 32,714 kWh, from 94,757 kWh to 62,043 kWh.
Weekly electricity consumption:
2009: 1,822 kWh/week +/- 179 kWh (uncertainty of electricity usage)
2010 target: 1,528 kWh/week +/- 323 kWh (uncertainty of all energy consumption)
To take account of the uncertainty of the 2009 calculation we must reduce our weekly electricity consumption to 1,205 kWh/week
So far, so good
In the first 29 weeks (since 22/2/10) we used a total of 25,287 kWh of electricity.
This is a weekly average of 872 kWh/week, a weekly reduction of 950 kWh/week, or a 52% reduction in electricity usage.
Projected carbon reduction for 2010
Using this data we can estimate that Arcola’s total electricity consumption for 2010 will be 45,000 kWh and will contribute 24.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent to our total carbon footprint.
Assuming that travel and gas usage will stay at 2009 levels (we have not reached winter so gas consumption is low thus far):
Gas: 31.9 tonnes CO2
Travel: 2.6 tonnes CO2
Total carbon footprint projection for 2010: 59.0 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Total reduction based of 2009 calculation: 27.1 tonnes CO2 equivalent
Based on these figures Arcola is estimated to reduce its carbon footprint by 31% in 2010.
Potential problems and sources of error
- During 2009 we occupied the top floor of the building and part-used an industrial unit to the rear thus we had approximately 25% more space (not all in continuous use). Balancing this somewhat, despite a loss of space, in 2010 our staff/volunteer numbers have increased by about 25%. So we are not really comparing performance of the same operation.
- January 2011 we will be stripping our existing premises and running the first shows in our new premises.
- To calculate Arcola’s 2010 carbon footprint as accurately as possible the energy used in the construction and embodied carbon for all building materials for Colourworks should be taken into account.
- The carbon footprint report in 2009 had a fairly limited scope dealing only looking at purchased gas and electricity and air travel. Other scopes that could have been included are all business travel and employee commuting, emissions from paper used and waste generated and emissions from procurement of goods that are used and sold by Arcola.
Dave Mosley, September, 2010
References
Guidelines to Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, UK GHG conversion factors for company reporting, updated April 200
Arcola Recieves Green Tourism Gold Award
Arcola Theatre is delighted to announce that it has achieved Green Tourism Award Gold standard. Sustainability Projects Manager, Rachel Carless, and the rest of the sustainability team worked hard to fulfil the rigorous set of criteria set out by the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), who came to carry out an audit at the end of April. Arcola is now the first theatre in the UK to achieve a Gold award in Green Tourism and is proud to be recognised as ‘a strong local catalyst in greening North East London (Hackney and surrounding districts)’.
The GTBS, developed by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism and validated by Visit Britain, is the largest of its type in the world, and since 1997 has worked to make tourism and the hospitality industry in the UK more sustainable. The audit covers areas such as energy efficiency, waste minimisation and recycling, use of local produce, and support of public transport, its overall aim to encourage sustainability in business and provide the consumer with a ‘green’ choice.
Attempting to improve on the Bronze Award, received in 2008, the sustainability team had a number of issues to address including improving links with other GTBS members (e.g. Arts Admin), developing better systems for measuring the theatre’s energy use, and sourcing greener cleaning products. In the GTBS’ audit report, special mention was given to Arcola’s success in communicating the green message, in particular through the Green Sundays events and the green notice board up in the café/bar. Reaching the GTBS’ Gold standard is recognition of Arcola Theatre’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and its goal of becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral theatre.
The Green Tourism audit report can be viewed here.
Arcola Recognized as Green Community Hero
On Nov. 25, Arcola proudly accepted the award of Most Innovative Project at the Green Communities conference in Liverpool. Green Communities is an intiative from the Energy Saving Trust that supports, facilitates and promotes community based energy projects. They are a great resource for any group interested in pursuing sustainability.
For more information on the awards click here .
If you have a community group and would like to join Green Communities, sign up here.
Arcola Wins Archant London Environmental Award 2009
Rachel Carless, Sustainability Projects Manager and Lisa Woynarski, Sustainability Intern, accept award from Penney Poyzer.
Arcola Theatre was awarded Best Environmental Business of the Year (Small to Medium) at this year’s Archant London Environmental awards. The awards ceremony, held on 20th November, was hosted by TV presenter, Penney Poyzer (of BBC’s “No Waste like Home”). Boris Johnson, Mayor of London praised the awards in a statement read in his absence, saying “We have to take bold steps to improve our environment and combat climate change, so I urge you all to continue with your exceptional endeavours so we can really make a difference.”
Click here to find out more about the awards and the other winners.
You can also read the Hackney Gazette article here.
Are you a theatre manager or building manager?
There is a free Green Theatre workshop on October 23 at Arcola. This is a Theatres Trust and LDA-sponsored event where you can hear about new free audits and subsidies to help London’s theatres go green.
Friday, October 23 from 10:00 – 12:30 at Arcola Theatre.
Please note although this event is free registration is required. There is a limit of two delegates per theatre premise. This event is only suitable for theatre or building managers.
Click here for more information, including the list of speakers.
We’ve Signed the Copenhagen Communiqué on Climate Change
This is the definitative statement from the international business community appoarching the United Nation climate change conference in Copenhagen this December. The communiqué has already been signed by hundreds of small and medium-sized organizations as well as some of most recgonized brands in the world. The communiqué calls for a robust, ambitious and equitable global climate framework that can be incorporated at domestic and international levels.
Read the communiqué and see who else has signed it by clicking here.
We’ve joined 10:10
The idea is simple: working together with business, government, organisations and individuals to achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010. Cutting 10% in one year is a bold target, but for most of us it’s an achievable one, and is in line with what scientists say we need right now. And by signing up to a 10% target we’re not just supporting 10:10 – we’re making it happen.
From the launch at Tate Modern’s iconic Turbine Hall on September 1st, 10:10 is backed by major national media partners and is already supported by some of the biggest names in business, the arts, sport and politics.
This initiative complements and provides a public platform for the ongoing work by Arcola and our partners on the road to Carbon Neutrality.
Everyone can sign up to for 10:10. Click here to visit their website.
Future Arcola Launched
Our vision for the future of Arcola theatre is taking shape. Click here for more information.
Green Offer
Get two for one tickets for the first week of the following shows at Arcola… Just bring in a plant for our roof garden and claim your free ticket for Ghosts (22-25 Jul) or Dirt (28 Jul-1 Aug). Go to Arcola’s main website for further information on booking. Quote ‘green offer’.
Carbon Smart Awards
Arcola recently achieved ‘Carbon Smart’ status, following an energy audit and training day with the Carbon Smart team, organised through the London Community Recycling Network. Carbon Smart’s award scheme recognises and promotes businesses of all types and sizes that have taken clear practical action to reduce their impact on the environment. The awards are a cost effective way to do the right thing and build a strong, credible environmental message for staff and clients. For more information about the awards, visit Carbon Smart’s website.
London Leaders 2009
Ben Todd, Executive Director of the Arcola and founder of Arcola Energy, becomes on of 15 London Leaders…
The London Leaders programme brings together London’s leading lights in sustainability to deliver change, and inspire others to do the same. The London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) was established in 2002 to advise the Mayor of London on making the capital an exemplary sustainable city. The Commission is made up of individual experts who give their time voluntarily, promoting sustainable development, embedding sustainability into London wide strategies, and helping make sustainability a meaningful and understandable concept for all Londoners. The LSDC launched its ‘London Leaders’ programme in 2007. Visit the LSDC website to download recent research and find out more about the London Leaders and their projects – www.londonsdc.org.
Moving on…and getting greener
Arcola has moved the majority of its electricity tariff over to Ecotricity. For every pound Arcola spends, Ecotricity spend a pound building new sources of green electricity. If you want to make the switch to greener energy, visit www.ecotricity.co.uk. We switched to Ecotricity because out of all the electricity suppliers they are statistically the greenest – spending the most on new green energy sources according to ‘pounds per customer’. It’s a simple yet very effective move any company or individual can make to become greener…
Arcola opens its doors to theatre-going cyclists
On Sunday 8 March, as part of Cycle East, Arcola was delighted to become a temporary home to almost 70 bikes and their owners. The cyclists were taking part in a special tour around three Hackney venues, taking in some theatre along the way. You didn’t have to be on a bike to join in but it certainly made for an exciting way of getting around Hackney to enjoy the day…
In an hour of theatre especially curated for EAST, Arcola presented, to packed out audiences, three new and rarely seen short plays by London writers Steven Berkoff, David Eldridge and Rebecca Lenkiewicz. A wide range of organic, fairtrade food and drink was also on offer from Arcola’s eco-cafe to keep everyone’s energy levels up for the cycle home. This was an excellent example of how sustainability and the arts can merge and we hope to do lots of similar events in the future.
Arcola Energy signs up to Climate City Pledge
We believe that as a member of the diverse community which makes up the Square Mile of the City of London, we have a responsibility to lead by example in responding to this challenge. To this end we will: (1) Measure the carbon footprint arising from our direct activities; (2) Mitigate the amount of carbon we produce by enhancing the energy efficiency of our operations; (3) Maximise the effectiveness of any offsetting for our unavoidable emissions by ensuring that this is done in accordance with the UK Government’s proposed Code of Best Practice.
The CBI Green Award Goes to Arcola Energy
At the Tenth Confederation of British Industry Growing Business Awards ceremony held on the 27th of November. This new Award is made to a company that has made the most significant and measurable changes to its environmental performance in the past 12 months.
Arcola Theatre Receives Green Tourism Award
Arcola Theatre received a Bronze award at the Green Tourism Awards ceremony held on 13 November 2008. According to the assessor, ‘Arcola Theatre is an extra ordinary business with a range of exemplary green practices in an old and energy inefficient building. The green team is excellent and the staff have implemented some excellent practices as noted with the café produce, the fuel cell technology, the LED spot lighting and the work with the local community to establish a local transition town’. Next year we’d like Silver and eventually Gold, so we will be continuing to work towards making Arcola as sustainable as possible. The Green Assessment we received as part of this scheme provides a perfect basis upon which to inform our Sustainability Policy, so we would encourage others to sign up.
Arcola Theatre highly commended as a British Renewable Energy Pioneer 2008
The Gala Dinner of the British Renewable Energy Awards 2008 was held at the Cafe Royal in Regent Street on 19th June 2008. Arcola Theatre had been short-listed in the category “Pioneer” elaborated to recognise organisations outside the sustainable energy industry, pioneering the use of renewable fuels, heat or power.
Arcola Theatre highly commended by the Charity Awards
The Charity Awards is the pre-eminent awards programme in the UK’s vibrant and diverse voluntary sector. The Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional performance in the leadership and management of charities. Arcola Theatre has been short-listed in the category “Animals – Conservation” for the Arcola Energy Project.
