RE: Green Production
From: Green PA
To: Production Team
PAPER MEMO
First, the shocking facts:
Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.
Every day American businesses generate enough paper to circle the Earth 20 times
Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees. Those 17 trees alone would absorb 250 pounds of Carbon Dioxide each year.
How can we help as a production?
Whenever possible, send emails instead of paper memos to get that message out - this email saved 65 sheets of paper. All documents generated from the Production Office will have electronic versions. They will be e-mailed out to the crew. If you must print and or make copies of a document, remember you use half as much paper if you simply double side the document. Waste paper can also be used as scrap paper for jotting down notes, taping up petty cash receipts or making origami. Mega Playground, the building which houses the production office, has many receptacle bins specifically designated for paper waste (they also have cans and plastic bins). The paper waste is then separated and picked up by the City of NY and brought to a proper recycling facility. There will also be bins on set to recycle. Please remember to look for them.
What can you do as an individual?
Newspapers usually generate a huge amount of paper waste. If you get a newspaper delivered to your home or if you pick one up on the way to work, think about this:
Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.
If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year.
If all our newspapers were recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year!
WATER MEMO
First, the shocking facts:
Americans will buy an estimated 25 billion single-serving, plastic water bottles this year.
1.5 million barrels of oil is used annually to produce plastic water bottles for America alone - enough to fuel some 100,000 U.S. cars for a year.
Like all plastic, these bottles will be with us forever since plastic does not biodegrade; rather, it breaks down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that contaminate our soil and waterways.
How can we help as a production?
We all know how important it is to keep hydrated (and if you don’t, find out here)
Instead of opening a bottle of water, grab a reusable cup/glass and drink from that.
The kitchen in the production office has a great water cooler that uses UV light to filter and reduce heterotrophic bacteria and biofilm. Coooool! This Production will also be supplying crew with eco-savvy stainless steel water bottles for use on set. By using your water bottle you’ll not only be helping us in our effort to keep green, but you’ll look cool too, and have a souvenir from our film! On set there will be water stations/coolers available to fill & refill your bottles.
What can you do as an individual?
Don’t be shy when the only source of water you’re staring down is our good friend the tap. New York has some of the cleanest and best tasting tap water (hence why our pizza and bagels are the best), and if you don’t believe me take it from the Department of Environmental Protection’s 2008 Drinking Water Supply and Quality Report Apparently NYC water even helps prevent tooth decay!
Still intimidated by the tap? There are plenty of ‘On-Tap Filters’ that you can buy that attach directly to your faucet. However, the people over at Tap’d NY might beg to differ that the filter isn’t necessary.
ENERGY MEMO
First, the shocking facts:
In the typical U.S. household, appliances and home electronics are responsible for about 20 percent of your energy bills. Heating and cooling are responsible for about 56 percent.
Homes lose an average 50 percent of their heat through the walls and loft spaces. Insulation to protect those spaces may seem costly, but in the long run, it’s more energy efficient.
North America accounts for roughly 25 percent of all the worlds’ energy usage annually.
How can we help as a production?
Nearly 28 percent of all energy usage is accredited to transportation (What about the other 72 percent?). A very simple energy saving tip is not leave your vehicle idling. A common sense study proved that idling engines get approximately ZERO miles per gallon. Idling for just 10 seconds uses more gas than simply restarting your engine.
What can you do as an individual?
While most electronics offer an ‘energy efficient’ sleep/standby mode, don’t be misled. Nearly 75 percent of electricity used by electronics is consumed while in their standby mode. If you plug your electronics into a power strip, switch the strip off when you’re not using them. This will help you lesson your CO2 emissions and lesson the energy bills impact on your wallet.