Ecology is not only on screen

For various cinemas, sustainability is not only an issue on screen. In Germany, various arthouse cinemas are chosing renewals and fair trade products. An important role for the exhibitors plays energy efficieny. Sustainable measures help to reduce costs.

For the exhibitor of the arthouse Cinema & Kurbelkiste in Münster, sustainability and the sale of fair trade products are a matter of heart and belief. „Renewables, fair juices, coffee, teas, etc. belong there naturally as to avoid products from Nestlé and Co. How can we show believable films about the wheeling and dealing of this cooperations but reselling their products ourselves to our customs?“, wonders the exhibitor “That is no marketing for us but it increases our credibility.”

The Kino im Waldhorn in southern Germany‘s Rottenburg is since 2009 officially climate-neutral. The evaluation of the carbon emississions includes all direct and indirect parameter of the cine operation. In order to compensate the cinema‘s carbon footprint of about 65 tons per year, a reforesteration project in Uganda is supported with certificates. That way also the cinema attendance is carbon neutral – from the access route up to the drunk (or consumed) beer.

Also in the Düsseldorf-based cinemas Metropol, Bambi, Cinema and Atelier, German arthouse exhibitor Kalle Somnitz goes for green measures such as water-powered elictricity, paperless communication as much as possible, using paper with FSC or PEFC certificate and successive conversion of all lamps to energy-saving LED technique. In Hamburg-based arthouse cinema Abaton, that often sets the benchmark in the German arthouse scene, renewables from Greenpeace Energy are supplied since many years. The concious intercourse with the environment is natural for the Abaton Manager Matthias Elwardt. „We are using only glass bottles in our cinema – namely local water by Viva con aqua.“

In order to provide the cinemas with renewables with competetive prices, Christian Bräuer and Felix Bruder from AG Kino – Gilde already made a deal with the renewable provider Naturstrom AG a decade ago. The cinema organization Hauptverband Deutscher Filmtheater (HDF) also points out options for its members. „Energy efficiency provides a high financial saving potential as well as sustainable environment protection“, states HDF Manager Andreas Kramer. With the initiative „Mittelstand for energie efficieny“, the Mittelstandsverbund provides exhibitors with practical recommendations to save energy and costs on the long run as well as contribute to climate protection.

„It is important to have an overview about the exact actual state of the equipment and use“, explains the energy consultant Andreas Deppe. For energy-saving measures such a the implementation of high efficieny heating pumps or the conversion to energy-saving LED lamps there is even public support. The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) subsidizes with its support for crossover technology many energy efficient measures with up to 30 percent of the applicable investment costs. Furthermore, BAFA pays for the work of an energy consultant with up to 80 percent.