Venues can create a huge amount of waste, and use a lot of energy, but there are many European organizations that are coming up with innovative, environmentally friendly solutions to the problem of energy use and waste management. Compared to many other business areas, venue owners often have very big challenges because of the number of people using their services, and so use of technology is a must. In Europe, awareness is increasing, and there are now a variety of awards to encourage entertainment and venue businesses to go green. Venues Today spoke to members of staff from three award-winning venues about the importance of the environment, and to a representative of a charitable initiative, which helps venue owners to reduce their carbon footprint, and non-recyclable waste.
THE EDINBURGH (SCOTLAND) INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE (EICC)
Marshall Dallas is the chief executive of this large and successful venue, which hosts both corporate events and theatre.
Can you explain a few steps that EICC has taken to reduce its impact on the planet, and any particular challenges you faced?
The first thing is, we have a dedicated ‘Green Team’ with representatives from all areas of the business. I chair the meetings once a quarter, one of the things we do is sourcing products that are sustainable, such as locally grown organic food from within a 70 mile radius. We also aim to trade with other companies that share similar values; for example, our cleaning company, Mighty, uses environmentally friendly products. We use an environmentally friendly heating and cooling system and try to be as water efficient as possible. The main challenge we face is finding good suppliers, as we carefully check their green credentials, and it can be hard to locally source the quantities needed for catering.
Why is it so important for venues to care about the impact that they have on the environment?
Because international conference centres are prominent businesses as we have such huge events. It’s really important for us to lead the way.
Can you tell me about any awards or areas of particular success relating to being green?
We’ve won many awards, the most recent being the ‘ISO 14,001,’ an environmental system standard, we are the first business in Europe to be awarded this. We have also recently won a VIBES award, which recognizes Scottish businesses that have made significant steps to be green, and a Green Tourism gold award.
THE CRYSTAL, LONDON
The Crystal is owned by Siemens and was designed as both an exhibition about the future of cities and architecture, and as an events venue. Importantly, it was also designed to be as sustainable as possible and to serve as an example of how new technologies can achieve this, even with a large building. Mercedes Lopez, The Crystal, spoke about this innovative building, located in central London.
Can you tell me why being sustainable is so important to the Crystal?
It’s not only important to the Crystal, it is the main purpose why it was built, to showcase that sustainability and technology can go hand in hand; the result of that idea is The Crystal. We have windmills, solar panels, sensors, and we also have a small kitchen in which we use locally sourced, seasonal food, which is picked specially for each individual event.
On your website, it says your annual heating bill is £0, and that you recycle all your water. Can you tell me more about that?
It’s to do with how the building was designed and constructed. The whole thing is made largely of glass, to maximize daylight and reduce the need for artificial lighting. The system we use for temperature control is ground source heating. We have a pump, 150 metres below the building, and from there, heating is generated. It’s a very efficient method. This system regulates the temperature throughout the year, so it stores heat from the summer to keep the building warm in the winter. In addition, the whole roof is covered with solar panels, which generates a lot of energy, and some excess goes to the National Grid. In terms of the water, it is harvested from rainwater and treated within the building.”
You’ve won a few awards; can you tell me a bit about that?
The Crystal has won many awards throughout the four years that it has been open (coming to the fifth year in September). 2017 alone has been fantastic and we have won the EVCOM Clarion, Best Service Provider and Cool Venue, and Best Venue Architecture awards. The two main accreditations are BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum – both are for the design and architecture of the building. For a building to have both together is a very rare thing. Those accreditations certify the Crystal as one of the most sustainable events venues in the world.
CAVENDISH VENUES
Dermot Waldron, Group Operations Director for Cavendish Venues, which operates seven meeting spaces in Greater London, talks about the company’s philosophy.
Why is being sustainable important to your business and can you give me some specific examples of ways in which Cavendish Venues has reduced its environmental impact?
For us, it’s a personal thing. We feel strongly about the environment. As a central London business, we feel we have to show that if we can be sustainable, then smaller businesses in the countryside can do it. Our biggest problem is finding energy, as we have only been able to get 27 percent from sustainable sources. But we try to be carbon neutral and use a carbon calculator. When we refurbished our properties, we used 50 percent recycled carpets, recycled paper, and low energy LED lights. We also spend £40,000 a year on recycling 20 tons of the waste we generate.
Can you tell me more about the carbon offsetting option you provide for customers?
There is definitely a demand for carbon offsetting. We do have an issue with people fully understanding it, but we do our best to offset on their behalf. We try to include things they might not think of, such as the transport to the venue.
What did winning the ‘Visit London Sustainable Venue of the Year’ mean for Cavendish Venues?
Winning green awards helps get the message out there. We are a Central London Venue and if we can do it, anyone can; our competitors can. The little things count toward the whole, even small things such as the fact that we were the first conference centre in the UK to use recycled pencils.
CREATIVE CARBON SCOTLAND
Catriona Patterson, is part of the charity Creative Carbon Scotland, which runs the Green Arts Initiative. This initiative helps arts and entertainment venues to become more environmentally friendly.
Can you give me some examples of tailored recommendations you have given to venues or businesses that organise large events?
We helped the organizers of the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo save 25,000 litres of water by changing the way their urinals work, flushing with air rather than water.
Can venues become more competitive and successful if they strive to make their business greener?
I am definitely seeing an increased awareness among consumers, but I think the cultural and events sector has not been as forthcoming in some ways, compared to other sectors, such as farming. As awareness increases, being seen to be green is something that a venue can present to a potential customer, as a reason to pick them over the competition.