Sunday 8 July 2012

Solar Powered Music Studios and Energy Efficient Musicians

How the music industry has embraced sustainability, energy efficiency and green politics over the last decade.
Did you know that UK’s first ever fully professional solar powered recording studio was built in May 2006? The studio was the first of its kind to jump on the energy efficiency wavelength. As well as recording studios, many famous musicians have followed suit in their own way, whether it be in the studio, on tour or by promoting sustainability through various groups and forums.
Jack Johnson, for example, arguably one of the most successful artists of the last decade, also sports a solar powered studio. An avid environmental campaigner, Jack works closely, amongst other projects, with a group called ‘All At Once’, a network he heads that connects fans with non profit groups, allowing them to share energy efficiency tips and information. His last album was mixed in the eco studio that he calls “The Solar Powered Plastic Plant”. He even donated all the proceeds from the album to support his own non profit sustainability group.
One of the biggest bands in the world, Radiohead, are also no strangers to sustainability. After realizing both the financial and environmental costs incurred on their tour in support of Hail to the Thief, Radiohead took serious measures to make their tours more environmentally sustainable and energy efficient, as well as in their day to day lives. To reduce and offset carbon emissions, they sent their stage equipment by ship and even planted trees as they toured. Arguably the most engaging action Radiohead have taken against climate change, was partnering with Friends of the Earth, in a campaign to convince the European Union to commit to a plan in which greenhouse gas emissionswould see a 30% reduction by 2020. 
This dream, thankfully, is now nearer to coming true, as we see more and more initiatives set up around the UK and the rest of the world, to tackle the ever growing problem of climate change. Still, I wonder if Tom Yorke has had an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) done for his mansion yet? We’ll let you know when he does…
 Paul Patane Just EPC

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