Arts: Earth Partnership (AEP) is one of 3 eco-stage initiatives developed by the

Electric Lodge
1416 Electric Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
Phone: (310) 306-1854
Fax: (310) 306-1117
livearts@electriclodge.org
aep@electriclodge.org

AEP: Information

The time is now… The moment for positive change and action is upon us. The hunger for a worldwide sustainable eco-system, to put an end to global warming and to re-claim our planet’s future is enormous and palpable in every community across the country - but nowhere more so than in the arts community where our passion for and exploration of the human condition is unparalleled. That is why we have decided to partner with the Earth and say “yes” we want change. Yes! We want a better world. Yes! We want to preserve this precious planet for all the generations to come… So join us in the Arts:Earth Partnership and start making a difference right now.

Process / How Does It Work?

1. Read through this information and fill out the “Venue Application Form”. Fax or Mail it to the address listed along with the 2 Year Certification Fee.
2. Upon receipt of your application we will contact you to set up an initial site visit to audit your facility and give you a list of what you need to do to be in compliance with AEP standards.
3. After this first visit we will give you resources on where to acquire the materials needed for compliance.
4. Your staff implements the required changes.
5. You contact us again. An AEP auditor returns to your facility and once we confirm changes have been made we give you:
   1. An official AEP member certificate.
   2. AEP window and box office decals.
   3. Information packets for staff and visitors.
   4. Instructions and password for use of our AEP website.

You are now an AEP member and doing your organizational best to create a sustainable environment. Congratulations!!

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Member Benefits / Why Should I Join?

Being a certified AEP partner means you have taken a significant step toward achieving environmental sustainability. Not only will you reduce your energy costs, landfill impact and CO2 emissions, but you will be setting a positive example for your staff, visitors and audience to follow.

With every theater, gallery, studio, performing arts company, museum, and artist who joins AEP and makes a commitment to practical sustainability, our impact grows exponentially through our audiences and visitors.

FURTHER BENEFITS

• Your organization will immediately start saving money on energy.
• Your organization will be recognized as being eco-friendly and making an honest commitment to sustainability.
• Exclusive access to AEP’s on-line Materials Bulletin Board Exchange.
• Exclusive networking opportunities amongst likeminded peers.
• Annual meeting to share ideas and recognize innovative partners.
• Unique marketing and fundraising opportunities.
• Greater audience enthusiasm.
• Measurable impact on the environment and quality of life in Los Angeles.
• Have informational material available for visitors.
• Create an atmosphere that encourages and enables innovation.

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The Birth of AEP – A Message From the Founders:

Dear Arts Venue:

Have you ever thought about what it means to “go green” either in your personal life or as a venue? To make some sort of effort toward creating a sustainable environment but been overwhelmed by the notion of where to start or how much it will cost or just exactly what you have to do to be “green”? And who decides if you’re green or not green? And just how green is green enough?

We have asked these questions and investigated different aspects of what it means to be sustainable and discovered that a majority of arts venues can not afford the thousands of dollars that it takes to even initiate the leading national sustainable ratings indicator LEED or its local equivalents which often require serious redesign and construction to comply.

In response to such cost barriers to established organizations wishing to be recognized as making a conscious contribution to the environment, we came up with some simple, practical and most of all affordable ways to “green” our operation and what’s more, increase awareness on the part of thousands of our visitors every year.

And then we had an even bigger idea… Thinking of the collective impact of hundreds of arts related businesses taking these simple steps at conservation we asked ourselves, why not form a partnership between arts organizations and the Earth we all share - an Arts/Earth Partnership (AEP). Participants in this coalition will pledge to put into place an easily attainable set of ecological sustainable practices and, through materials provided them by the AEP, make their visitors aware of the effort. The hope is that by taking these simple but effective steps toward sustainability our audiences and visitors might begin to follow our lead and the collective force of that movement will ultimately have a huge impact on the planet and on the quality of our lives.

The long-term goal of the AEP is to expand throughout Los Angeles and beyond to other cities and communities across the country. We expect that the charter venues would have a substantial role in shaping this effort as it begins to grow to regional or even national proportions.

We are therefore very excited to offer you this opportunity to join us by attaining AEP Certification. You will thus be committing to sustainable practices within your facility, and by extension, within our arts industry as a whole.

Please review the bullet list of practices we require for AEP Certification. You will also find below a list of suggested practices and recommended resources. The nominal application fee will be kept in a distinct AEP account and used for administering the partnership and the creation of materials that explain who we are and what we do to any of the public that may be interested. We also intend to have annual gatherings at different participating venues to celebrate our partnership with the Earth and recognize organizations that expand our mission in ways as yet unforeseen.

It was D.H. Lawrence who said, “It is the business of art to reveal the relation between man and his environment.” Clearly, relations between man and his environment have never been more strained. As artists in every medium incorporate environmental concerns into their work, we believe that it is time for those of us in the “business of art” to align ourselves with sustainable and ecological practices.

If you would like to join us and help position the arts world as a leader in an effort toward achieving sustainability, fill out the attached form and send it in. Our first gathering of charter participants will be held in the Fall of 2008 at the Electric Lodge. We, and the Earth, welcome you with open arms.

Let art change the world!

Sincerely,

Artistic Director and Founder President

Electric Lodge Visual & Performing Arts Center
Venice, CA. 90291

ElectricLodge.org / ArtsEarthPartnership.org

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Costs & Environmental Impact

This is where we will post our quarterly and year end impact reports in PDF form so members and the public can see the dramatic impact of the partnership.

Below are two simple examples of the energy & cost savings a typical mid-size venue might expect from joining AEP.

COST ANALYSIS

COST EFFECTIVENESS OF CFL vs. INCANDESCENT IN 20 BULBS

ANNUAL ENERGY / COST SAVINGS

3500kWh – 876kWh = 2,624 kWh

2,624 kWh x 1.34 pounds CO2/kWh = 3,516 pounds CO2/yr = 1.7 tons CO2

**Yes, you read this right, changing 20 60 watt incandescents to 15 Watt CFL’s prevents 1.7 TONS of CO2 to enter the atmosphere!!

(1.34 pounds CO2/kWh in the United States)

$560 – $140 = $420/yr (Purchase of 20 CFL’s = $100)

AEP / COST ANALYSIS II

COST TO MEMBER - TYPICAL MID-SIZE VENUE:

CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction, Annually = 3.4 TONS

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Certification Requirements

AEP certification requires compliance to certain standards in eight areas of operation. There are mandatory categories and optional categories in each area. During the initial site visit our auditors will work with you on developing your customized criteria based upon your existing practices and capacity. Areas of focus are:

Operations & Culture, General Practices, Solid Waste, Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Chemical Use and Pollution Prevention, Transportation, Landscape. Some examples of required and optional criteria in each category include:

OPERATIONS & CULTURE

• Venue will have literature on ecological sustainability available to patrons, in its public space and available to audience and visitors who request it.
• The facility will commit to displaying the AEP logo and/or Certificate in a location readily visible to the public.
• Members commits to ongoing discussion of sustainable practices at board and staff meetings and to adopting a “culture of sustainability”, agreeing to go as “far” as their capacity will allow in their greening efforts.

GENERAL PRACTICES

• Discontinue use of all non-recyclable plastic products and food service containers.
• Check with the AEP Materials Exchange and contact CalMAX, (California Materials Exchange) and / or other materials exchange programs before purchasing any “new” supplies or equipment.
• Obtain or purchase used office equipment
• Inform main supplier’s sale representatives that you prefer eco-friendly products – request that they start carrying these products if they do not currently do so or switch to a supplier that does.

RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE

• AEP members shall utilize the AEP SET & MATERIALS EXCHANGE for the potential recycling of sets, furniture, paints, screws, office supplies, appliances, electronics, fabric and other re-usable materials before they enter landfill.
• Clearly labeled recycling bins and trash receptacles in public, guest, cast and employee areas. Absolute attention towards getting the recyclables to the recycle bin or to the recycle center in your area.
• A strict commitment to the use of eco-friendly / recycled office supplies, bathroom supplies, cleaning products, paper products and inks.
• Design marketing materials that require no envelope.
• Reduce junk mail by removing your business’ name from national databases at:
  www.stopjunkmail.org

WATER EFFICENCY

• Understand your water bill and review it for indications of leaks or other problems.
• Regularly check for and repair leaks.
  
• Place “use water wisely” stickers or paper notices near all faucets. Educate staff on the critical need for water efficiency. (AEP can provide stickers upon request)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Use of low energy light bulbs (compact fluorescent or other) in all non-performing and non-exhibition lighting fixtures (interior and exterior).
• Replace all exit signs with LED or high-efficiency alternatives.
• Program computer monitors to sleep mode after 15 minutes or less.
• Set the Energy Saver feature on photocopier to default.
• When replacing equipment and appliances ensure that they are Energy Star rated and/or equipped with energy saving features. www.energystar.gov
• Maintain your HVAC units and change filters every 3-4 months.
  

CHEMICAL USE & POLLUTION PREVENTION

• Stock only one non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner for daily use. For example one multipurpose cleaner, one glass cleaner, etc.
• Educate and inform cleaning staff of your eco-friendly preferences.
• Discontinue purchase of glass cleaner and replace with vinegar and water for cleaning windows.
• Use less-toxic graffiti removers

TRANSPORTATION

• Facility offers incentives, such as admission and / or product discounts, for patrons who use alternative transportation to and from facility such as public transportation (e.g., bus, train, bike, or walk-ins).
• Provide a secure location for staff to store bicycles or install a bike rack in or near facility.
• Provide ridesharing information on carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling, walking and public/mass transportation on a bulletin board. Distribute rideshare information monthly.
• Provide Big Blue Bus or Metro maps and information.

LANDSCAPE (Only applicable to certain members)

• Test irrigation system to ensure proper operation and watering schedule. Ensure all spray heads are functioning and not over spraying onto hardscape.

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Member Green Events

The AEP “Green Events” listings on our home page are specifically designed to build audience and promote environmental awareness through our art. It is not intended for all productions, performances, installations and exhibitions.

Currently “green events” are defined as an event with the topic, subject and / or content directly related to environmental sustainability.

Please submit the title, dates and web link and a brief description of how the event fits into the guideline above. AEP will determine which events will qualify for listing.

Application Forms

There are two applications. Each one will be in .PDF form so prospective partners can print it or fill it out on-line. So, when someone clicks the “Application Forms” tab they get two options.

• Venue Application

• Performing Arts Company / Individual Artist