Lyric life

Today the Lyric plays host to Julie’s Bicycle’s Fit for the Future Conference in partnership with Arts Council England and the Fit for the Future Network, a full day event exploring environmental sustainability in the context of capital redevelopment projects.

To coincide with this sold-out event, the Lyric Hammersmith has announced that it has achieved a 4 star Creative Green certification from arts & environment agency Julie’s Bicycle for 2015/16 – one of the first two theatres to do so, under their recently revised scheme. Within the assessment the Lyric achieved the maximum score for its commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction.

The Lyric has been tracking and reducing carbon emissions for 7 years and in 2011/12 became the first theatre to achieve the previous highest potential rating of 3 stars from Julie’s Bicycle, and also the first to maintain this rating for four consecutive years prior to the scheme’s revision.

In April 2015, the Lyric opened its new Reuben Foundation Wing which added a variety of new studio and workshop spaces, making the Lyric the largest creative hub in West London. The new building is 64% larger than the original with extensive new facilities, is home to 9 partner organisations and has allowed the Lyric to significantly expand its programme of work for young people.

Despite this substantial expansion, the Lyric achieved a 73% reduction in relative energy use and has still reduced absolute energy use by 5% between its baseline year in 2009/10 and 2015/16.

In addition to this new certification, the Lyric is on track for BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for its capital project, which is rare for a part-new and part-existing building. The new building incorporates many energy saving and environmental features including a green sedum roof, natural ventilation, air-source heat pumps, LED lighting throughout, design which maximises the use of natural light, use of reclaimed materials where possible and low water use systems, all of which will contribute towards the BREEAM rating.

The Lyric’s Green highlights this year included:

• Recycling 97% of all waste, achieving a Gold Award from our waste management provider First Mile
• Staff campaigns to raise awareness both internally and via the Lyric’s social media channels, including: 21 days of action campaign in the run up to COP21 climate talks in Paris; Well-being season; Giving up Single-use Plastic for Lent; Green Travel
• The adoption of Cyril the polar bear, our ‘Lyric Loves Green’ mascot
• A well-established green team with members from across the organisation
• Our paperless finance and administration department
• Issuing reusable Lyric water bottles to all new staff and company members
• Analysing our half-hour energy data to identify key efficiencies – we now switch off our neon sign during daylight hours
• Partnering with our catering provider to improve the sustainability of events and catering by sourcing locally produced products and by using fully recyclable disposable cups
• Programming two shows to raise the awareness of environmental themes: Leaper: A Fish Tale and The Little Gardener, as part of our children’s season and our outdoor theatre season
• Playing an active role in our local business improvement district, supporting and encouraging environmental improvements in Hammersmith

Sian Alexander, Executive Director for the Lyric Hammersmith said “For us sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and is enshrined in our mission and business plan. We see it as part of our role as a major cultural icon in West London to act responsibly to drive down our carbon emissions and to model a positive way forward to a low carbon future, inspiring the community around us. As a charity, it is also important for us to save money through energy efficiency so we can channel more of our resources into our programmes on stage and in developing the creativity of young people”