
Press Contact: Chris Baker
05 Jun 2024
This World Environment Day (05 June), Theatre Royal Plymouth is highlighting some of the ways it is making changes in order to become more eco-friendly and reduce its environmental impact.
It follows the declaration of a Climate Emergency, announced by the theatre in April.
Earlier this year, the theatre was named among Arts Council England recipients to ‘significantly exceed’ aims of reducing their energy-related greenhouse gas and carbon emissions since 2018.
TRP has upgraded much of its lighting from tungsten to LED and upgraded its SMART systems to monitor usage of equipment, reduce power wastage and identify ineffective equipment due for change.
The upgrading of lighting throughout the workshop at TR2, office space, corridors and passageways, has reduced the theatre’s overall annual electrical costs by 50%.
TRP has big ambitions and is aiming to make TR2 carbon zero in the coming years.
The theatre has recently finished the installation of 338 (425 Watt) solar panels at its Production and Learning Centre, TR2.
The £150,000 system has been running since April and allows theatre staff to keep track of how much power is being generated at any time.
The panels are predicted to save around 75 tonnes of carbon each year.
Excess energy is sold to the National Grid, and during sunny days, the panels are generating enough to power the whole of TR2, as well as 15 houses for a day.
Theatre Royal Plymouth is also working with Plymouth County Council’s District Heat Exchange to drive down gas usage. The theatre has fitted new and improved gas loggers which allow for close monitoring of the system.
Last year, TRP was shortlisted in the National Cleaning Excellence Awards for its continued commitment to sustainability and increased efforts to source innovative cleaning solutions. The theatre uses biofriendly Tersano solutions, which offer a safe, sustainable and long-lasting way to clean and disinfect large public spaces without using harmful chemicals.
TRP’s Head of Estates, John Spreadbridge, who also chairs the Environmental Theatre Group, said: “We are committed to improving our carbon position and reducing our impact on the planet. Recently introducing solar panels at TR2 has allowed us to go far beyond carbon neutral, reducing our demand on the National Grid. Generating our own power, we have lowered our environmental impact considerably. In two months, we have saved 15.58 tonnes of CO2, showing that we can make a difference. We are making environmental decisions in relation to contractors, materials, products and utilities. We will ensure our carbon position will always remain a priority.”
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