How to Reduce Energy Consumption at Events

Events require a lot of energy. The Event Industry has quite a substantial carbon footprint; in the UK alone an estimated 380m litres of diesel is used every year, costing an estimated $444m. This translates to 1.2bn kilograms of CO2e emissions every year, around the same as the country of Malta. Clearly, there is work to be done in shifting the dial towards energy-efficient events, and this article is going to take a look at the most effective actions available.

The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative roadmap highlighted energy usage as one of five key action areas that need addressing if the events industry is to become sustainable. With this in mind, let’s take a look at what’s happening now and some practical ways to reduce our events’ carbon impact.

From keeping a space warm in winter or cool in summer to lighting the stage and ensuring the food is piping hot, the energy sector is the biggest contributor to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and a big factor in the impact of any event. 

Tackling this means grappling with systemic and specific challenges, from power grids to LED lighting. With all of that, reducing your event’s energy can feel like a daunting prospect - so let’s break it down into a few easily actionable steps you can actually take yourself when planning your next event.

‍TABLE OF CONTENTS‍

How to reduce your event’s energy consumption

• Measuring
• Lighting
• Outdoor events
• Embrace new technologies
• Choosing the venue

Energy-efficient venues that are making a difference

How to reduce your event’s energy consumption 

Reducing the energy consumption of an event can feel like a tall order, but there are some clear and actionable steps available to any environmentally conscious event planner. 

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1. Get the measure of things

The first key step to getting on top of an event's energy usage is to have a really robust way of measuring what is consumed. Measuring energy use creates a baseline from which to identify key areas of impact, and from this, you can make a plan to tackle them.

The key to getting accurate information surrounding energy consumption is to have an open and accessible channel with venues, suppliers and organisers. This means you should seek to work with venues to establish a baseline, ideally, based on similar events that have been held there in the past, and from there, you can then gauge what your upcoming event’s energy consumption would be.

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2. Switch to LED lighting 

LED lighting is markedly more efficient than incandescent lighting - up to 75% more so, in fact. Insisting on LED lighting from both venues and suppliers is a great step you can take towards reducing energy consumption.

LED lighting is becoming an increasingly important investment for suppliers. Alive Technologies has changed much of their lighting to LED to not only reduce energy usage but also increase life span. 

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3. Head outdoors

Outdoor venues significantly require less energy. A daytime event in the summer will not require heating or lighting, and you might even get a tan. Plus, who needs an excuse for a summer party?

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4. Embrace new technologies

Whilst in-person events are not going anywhere, adding virtual capabilities not only opens up the accessibility of the event but can help reduce the total power needed to support the venue.

Virtual is not just helping attendance, either. Cutting-edge technology now allows multi-floor spaces to be rendered in high-definition. This 3-D tour technology reduces the need for in-person visits, cutting down on the energy cost. 

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5. Choose the right venue

Selecting the right venue is going to be the most important decision you can make in reducing energy consumption. Most venues are, by virtue, big multi-faceted spaces that don’t hold back on lighting, heating and other energy-intensive facilities. That said, venues have come a long way recently in reducing their energy consumption. 

In a best-case scenario, your chosen venue will already be getting its energy from on-site renewable sources. This can mean solar panelling, ground source heat pumps, biomass heating and much more. Renewable energy procured on-site means less travel, less carbon and, often, less cost. A win on all sides.

If on-site renewables are not an option, your next bet is a venue that buys renewable energy from other sources. Renewable outsourcing is where a venue is powered by an external energy provider, but ensures the provided energy comes from a renewable source. This is probably the most common example of ‘renewable energy’ within the events industry. 

The third, and least desirable, option is offsetting. Offsetting is where a venue pays an offsetting scheme to counteract the carbon they produce. Think of it like an eco-centred system of indulgences. Whilst it may seem like a silver bullet, the world of offsetting is murky, difficult to trace and much less effective than using actual renewable energy sources. 

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Venue spotlight

We work with a number of energy-efficient that have already proven their commitment to caring about the planet. Next time you’re planning an event, keep these in mind. 

The Crystal – The Crystal, a sustainable cities initiative by Siemens, is a future-facing venue in the heart of East London’s Docklands. Making use of  5,000 sq ft of solar panels, this all-electric building uses a ground source heat pump to generate its own energy. The strikingly modern building is a great mix of cutting-edge visuals and market-leading energy facilities. 

Oceandiva London – A unique seafaring sustainable venue that launches in 2023. Oceandiva promises to determine where any carbon emission reductions can be made across the lifecycle of an event; from sourcing, energy used, food and beverage choices to audience travel and everything else in between.

‍Lumiere London (Shoreditch) – A chic, well-lit studio in the heart of East London’s creative hub. Luminere’s Shoreditch spot gives you an aesthetic, versatile event space without compromising on values. Expect comprehensive energy monitoring, venue-wide LED lighting and power from Octopus Energy.