What it Means to be Green

A wise frog once opined, “It’s not easy being green.” That, however, hasn’t stopped everything we see from being labeled “green.” In the same way that processed foods are labeled “natural”, implying some health benefit; a “green” label implies some benefit to the environment or user. Toilet paper is green if it has sufficient recycled paper content and a theater building is green if it achieves LEED certification. Compact fluorescent lamps make our homes green and stage lighting using LED’s and more efficient fixtures make stage productions green. In fact, the theater was green even before it became necessary or fashionable. For many, many years scenery, props and costumes have been used, reused, rebuilt and repainted until they completely wear out. In sum, anything can be labeled “green” but calling a pig a ‘hockey mom’ does not make it so (except under certain exotic political alignments of the cosmos.)

I believe that all of us are genuinely interested in conserving natural resources and keeping the planet healthy. Many times, however, our natural inclinations are overridden by economics and it is often the case that green products and services have a cost premium attached. In some cases this is capitalism at work, but in the majority of cases these products simply cost more to manufacture and distribute. At this point in time, manufacturers are sparsely spread across the country and economies of scale do not yet apply. Shipping from the west coast to the east costs time, labor and fuel which create a price disadvantage; never mind pollution and carbon-footprints. Sustainable products like bamboo, while cost competitive bear an environmental cost in shipment from East Asia. Even in the best of economic times, budgets for performing arts facilities are strict and in the short run are likely to become tighter. So, how are we to make sense of it all and make informed decisions both at home and at work?

To make an informed decision, one must be informed - - duh. It is important to consider a product from a life cycle perspective, sometimes referred to as cradle to cradle. This means understanding the materials used, method of manufacture, carbon footprint, day-to-day use, product life-cycle and disposal. This information will give you a wealth of information but will not necessarily make the decisions easy. As mentioned earlier, a sustainably grown product may require shipment from thousands of miles away. Another product may create hazardous by-products during its manufacture. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s) a mainstay of energy conservation have a mercury content that must be addressed in their disposal. Everything must be evaluated relative to your theater’s needs and location.

Many products used in the creation of scenery contain toxic chemicals which can cause adverse health effects to the scene painter and carpenter who are exposed to the fumes during initial use. Some of these chemicals also ‘out-gas’ over a period of days, weeks or months: meaning that performers and audience will also be exposed to these toxic agents. Some culprits of out-gassing are volatile organic compounds (VOC’s,) that are regulated by the federal government which requires their disclosure on product labels. Low VOC paints are available, but we do not yet know how low is low enough and this designation may prove to be just as meaningful as “low tar” cigarettes and low fat foods.

Zero VOC products are becoming more available but one should still read the label. Our government often works in an unusual fashion. Federal standards for VOC’s in paints were taken from standards related to smog. The presumption is that substances that are toxic in the air will also be toxic in paint (for example.) This is fine; as far as it goes. However, a substance that is not considered toxic in the air may exhibit toxic properties when used as an ingredient in other products. Federal standards do not necessarily address this possibility. Detailed information about what substances may be harmful can be found on the California Air Resources Board website, www.arb.ca.gov.

There are many more technical aspects to this issue, but to pay more than lip service will require an attitude adjustment on the part of individuals, groups, institutions and government. The essence of this mind-shift is that being green is valuable to people and the planet. Just like eating a healthy diet is good for your body. Simple in theory, but practice is another matter all together. Inertia, habit, convenience, cost, short term gratification and misinformation must all be overcome. As technology and research continues; different options will become available. Replacing incandescent lamps with CFL’s was once the sine qua non of energy conservation. Today, LED (light emitting diode) fixtures are available that provide equivalent light output, using less energy and do not have ecological consequences for disposal. It is a puzzle whose pieces will need to be fitted and refitted to reflect differing locations and changing conditions. Keep your mind and your staff’s open to opportunities that you will surely find once you start looking.