Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/24970
GREEN IS UNIVERSAL While much of the entertainment industry has started to embrace green ini- tiatives, it’s hard to deny that NBC Universal has been leading the charge. Back in 2007 they started “Green is Universal” (www.greenisuniversal.com), the media and entertainment company’s initiative that focuses on bringing an environmen- tal perspective to everything they do, such as green on-air storylines and incor- porating more sustainable practices into day-to-day corporate operations, in- cluding at its Universal theme parks and on as many productions as possible. “The reality is we are in a really good position to provide information, enter- tainment and experience on an important topic like the environment, and the creative process is unique every single time,” reports Meredith Feiner, NBC Uni- versal Communications,Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks. “Specifi- cally, behind the scenes with our operations and with more sustainable produc- tion practices,we are always learning and always evolving, but really creating that culture of sustainability in an industry where it’s not necessarily vital to the bot- tom line — it’s something that’s very important to us.This means finding and im- plementing those best practices not only across NBC Universal, but sharing that information with our industry peers.The more people who are doing it, the big- ger the difference that can be made. Knowing there are a lot of studios out there, big and small, that can put a lot of these guidelines into practice and really make a difference is why we continue to do this.” As part of Green is Universal, NBC Universal hosts green weeks twice a year. The first is in April and is focused around Earth Day; the other is in November prior to Thanksgiving.“During these two weeks you’ll see that little green pea- cock in the corner of the screen, and a lot of our shows weave relevant infor- mation into their script or coverage,” describes Feiner, adding that NBC Univer- sal came out with a Green is Universal production guide last year that is distrib- uted within the company as well as to peer studios. Implementing these initiatives in productions — for television and film — is a huge part of Green is Universal, and Shannon Schaefer, NBC Universal’s man- ager of sustainable production, knows first hand that these policies are in place and making an impact. In 2009, NBC’s television production group collected 17 green goals that are policies across all of its productions.“To have one show do everything is really great, but to have all shows follow our green policies is even better, because then we are raising the bar on what production does in daily operations,” says Schaefer. So NBC Universal has rolled out green policies across all of its shows, which at any given time includes between 25 and 30 titles.These are network shows on NBC, such as Parenthood, 30 Rock and The Office, and cable shows like USA’s Psych, In Plain Sight and Royal Pains, as well as Syfy’s Warehouse 13 and Being Human. The Today Show,The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon are participating in addition to syndicated shows such as Access Hollywood and Jerry Springer.“The reach is very far, and that is exciting to us because it means a really big impact on saving the environment,” says Schaefer. She reports that a number of the shows often go further than what is required of them, in- cluding Parenthood, 30 Rock and Psych. In addition to participating in the company’s Green Committee — made up of a cross-section of crew members from each show — Parenthood has gone beyond the basics, using low-VOC paints, staying as paperless as possible, and of- fering comprehensive recycling.“They also compost their food waste when they are here at the Universal lot,” says Schaefer, explaining that they sort the waste so it can be sent to a compost facility off site. “Parenthood, like many of our shows, has done a great job of reusing set materials as much as possible and finding used materials to incorporate into new sets. In addition they use rechargeable batteries for sound, so cutting down on the amount of batteries they employ.” USA Network’s Psych also takes being green very seriously. In October of 2010, the show was recognized with the EMA (Environmental Media Associa- tion) Green Seal Award, which acknowledges productions, entertainment and events for making environmentally conscious efforts. In addition to no plastic water bottles in the office or on set, all food wastes are composted off site (like Parenthood) and the paint department uses only low-VOC paints — no oil- Parenthoodand Psychare two shows that collect their food waste for composting. based paints, stains or shellacs. In addition, they take all unused paints and reuse them as primers on future sets, and any paint left over at the end of the season is donated to theatre groups or drama school programs. 30 Rock has installed water filters in its offices, so they are not only eliminat- ing plastic water bottles but reducing the transportation costs and carbon footprint of having those five-gallon water cooler jugs delivered.They also rent hybrid vehicles for below-the-line crew as well as some cast members. Out- sourced uses only reusable water bottles on stage and they donate their left- over food to local charities. “Warehouse 13 had a competition to see who could bike the most or use mass transit to get work, and Access Hollywood has transitioned their shooting suite to LED lights,” reports Schaefer. NBC Universal’s internal operations are also participating. Its IT department, within the TV group, has set up video conferencing for shows that shoot outside of Hollywood.This reduces flight travel for executives, saving the carbon emitted from jet fuel. New York-based Royal Pains and Albuquerque, NM-based In Plain Sight take advantage of this initiative.The television IT group has also set up re- mote support for the shows, which reduces the driving around they have to do, even within Los Angeles. Schaefer points to an idea that came out of a Green Committee suggestion about accounting practices going paperless.“We were able to change internal fi- nance procedures at NBC to go digital and save thousands of pieces of paper each week.” Feiner sees the Green Committees as mini think tanks for each show.“People are supportive,” she says.“You have to make it easy and realize it takes time.We need people from all different levels on the shows to be supportive, and that is what has happened.” www.postmagazine.com February 2011 • Post 27