Michigan State University (MSU) is making a real effort to downsize the amount of energy and resources used on campus. The university pledged to reduce its greenhouse gases by 2010 and has implemented an aggressive recycling strategy that involves the construction of a $13.3 million recycling center.
This month, MSU will get a visit from a major Broadway show that’s also trying to make things a little greener. Mamma Mia! is participating in the Touring Green initiative established by Clark Transfer, a trucking company based out of Pennsylvania. Participants in the Touring Green initiative agree to contribute .015 cents per mile to NativeEnergy, an international provider of carbon offsets.
Mamma Mia! also cut back it’s transportation fleet, a fairly difficult task when you’re transporting 57 people, props, personal belongings and costumes. But, the Mamma Mia! crew managed to reduce its fleet from eight to seven.
“When you add that up, we’re using a lot of energy,” says Rina L. Saltzman, associate general manager for the tour. She says each 53-foot truck traveled 28,000 miles in 2007. If they each travel the same distance in 2008, they’ll contribute $2,940 to Native Energy.
“At home you can do things like turn off the lights,” she says. “On the road, it’s a little different because you need to use a certain amount of energy to put on a show every night.”
The Mamma Mia! crew is implementing other carbon footprint-reducing tactics. They gave each staff and crew member metal water bottles so they could get rid of the thousands of paper cups that are wasted on stage during every show.
They’re also making an effort to get rid of program inserts by making announcements rather than sticking additional paper in the programs.
“It’s just the simple things that you never really think about,” she says. “On one level, it’s kind of the sexy thing—it’s cool to say you’re part of the green movement—but we really believe in it.”
Mamma Mia! will be at the Wharton Center in East Lansing Sept. 30 through Oct. 5.
Source: Bob Hoffman, Wharton Center
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
All Photographs © Joan Marcus
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