The Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) educates, motivates, and inspires the entire theater community and its patrons to adopt environmentally friendlier practices. Its most important message is that getting greener is a journey, not a destination. The first steps can—and perhaps should be—small. The important part is starting today. So, what are some ways that you can easily start your greener theater journey?
1. The BGA encourages every show, venue, or theater company to find a green point person; they call them “Green Captains” and there is one at every Broadway show, at over 45 Off-Broadway shows and venues, and at dozens of regional and college theaters. These point people help identify green changes that can be made in their productions or venues. Anyone can volunteer to be a Green Captain for their venue or company. (Many celebrities—Bryan Cranston and Audra McDonald, for example—have been Green Captains for their Broadway shows. Here are some examples of things a Green Captain might recommend.
2. In the office, simply changing the default setting to double-sided on all printers can save reams of paper in a month.
3. Make sure you find a printer cartridge recycling program where you can take empty cartridges.
4. Additionally, purchase paper that is 100 percent recycled, which is available in most stores and works perfectly in all printers and copiers.
5. Make sure that all computers have an energy-saver mode that puts the monitor into darkness if it is idle for more than a few minutes, and that everyone remembers to turn off their computers and monitors at the end of the day.
6. Also make sure to use power strips for all plugged-in items so they can be turned off all together easily at the end of the day and you are not wasting phantom power (the power that many electronics use when idle can really add up).
7. For your theater, sourcing janitorial and paper products that include post-consumer or at least some recycled content is easily done as Staples, and many other major stores offer greener alternatives.
8. New appliances are much more energy-efficient than their older counterparts so think of replacing any appliances older than 10 years old with new Energy Star models. This change alone will save you money on your energy bills.
9. And don’t forget to put well-marked garbage and recycling bins around your venue.
10. To go even greener, motion sensors can be added to hallway, office, and stairwell lighting, saving energy and money, too. If you are replacing any restroom faucets, consider those that include a sensor to cut down on water waste.
11. In your kitchen, break room, and backstage areas, make sure that you are using reusable plates, cups, mugs, bowls, and utensils. If you must use disposables, find those that use post-consumer plastic (like Preserve).
12. As to the running of the theater, try paperless and print-at-home ticketing options, as well as digital programs that can be emailed to ticket holders in advance.
13. Make sure that your designers and shop crew know to look for greener alternatives for paints, construction materials, and models. For example, the Forest Stewardship Council now offers an FSC-Certified lauan plywood for set construction, ensuring that your sets do not contribute to the destruction of tropical rainforests.
14. When it is time to strike, seek out places to donate costume and set pieces, or store them for future use rather than paying to send them to a landfill. Make sure that any hazardous or toxic materials are disposed of properly and seek greener alternatives.
15. Another easy way to go green is to use only rechargeable batteries in all microphones, flashlights, etc. Most Broadway shows now use rechargeable batteries in their body mics, so you know they work!
16. Make sure your staff knows about your commitment to greener practices and that you include green tips in staff announcements and emails. Patron recycling can be encouraged with reminders and good signage in lobby and bathroom areas.
17. If you can budget for larger changes, there are many choices in energy-efficient lighting for both house (outside and marquee lighting) and for stage instruments. The Broadway Green Alliance even has a Greener Lighting Guide allowing for the comparison of various greener stage instruments.
To find out more about the BGA or to become a Green Captain for your theater, go to BroadwayGreen.com. Good luck on your greening journey! By working together and taking small steps we can all help be a part of the solution.
Ask the BGA a green theater question or request an Off-Broadway, college, or regional green captain kit by emailing green@broadway.org.
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