The Guardian has published an article with Glyndebourne festival, discussing the festival becoming the very first to be powered by renewable energy, after installing a 67 metre wind turbine.
The Guardian has written the festival's top seven tips for organisations keen to address their long-term impact on the environment. They are as follows:
1. Tap into support networks
Look for guidance from those with more experience. There is also plenty of information on the internet to help you start out.
2. Be prepared to be patient
Big changes take time, reducing an organisations impact on the environment should be seen as a long-term goal. Glyndebourne started to address its environmental impact in 2005.
3. Formalise your commitment
Draw up an environmental policy to detail future ambitions. This can help to keep up momentum when things don’t seem to be going as smoothly or quickly as you would like.
4. Get your staff involved
Gaining the support of staff is a fundamental need. Glyndebourne started an Environmental Champions Group that would meet quarterly to talk about and organise activity. Specialist knowledge from different members of staff can help to progress environmental aims.
5. Identify easy wins
Try to explore easy ways to make changes and improvements that will have the biggest impact on emissions. This could include things such as timers to switch off toilet lights when they are not in use or thinking of ways to reduce the use of certain transport.
6. Think big and small
Consistent, small scale changes are important but Glyndebourne has also spent time researching a number of renewable technologies other than wind power.
7. Communicate your environmental vision
To maximise chances of achievement, you need the help of other organisations around you. Front of house staff should also make it clear that the environment is a priority to the organisation.
Cedrec’s take
It’s great to see that so many small changes can make a difference to the environment. Most of these tips seem reasonable and it’s encouraging to see the outcome Glyndebourne has been able to achieve.
