An upgrade of Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre's overhead stage lights, completed in March 2024, is enhancing the experience of patrons while also delivering energy cost savings and environment benefits by reducing CO2 emissions.
The theatre was motivated to pursue the lighting upgrade to keep up with a rapidly changing entertainment industry and to better equip the Civic Theatre as a technical training ground, as well as to enhance lighting efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
The lighting upgrade was supported by funds from Council and $90,000 received from the Office of Responsible Gambling Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure: arts and culture grant.
Council's Manager Civic Theatre Claire Harris said the energy savings from the lighting upgrade ended up being much higher than they had initially estimated.
"We anticipated the energy saving from the lighting upgrade would be approximately 37 percent, but looking at the data we can clearly see it's a lot more than that," Ms Harris said.
"When we compared the last three months – June, July and August – to the same months last year, the cost savings stand at 66 percent.
"Similarly, we were able to cut 73% of CO2 emissions in these three months compared to same months last year."
In addition to the stage lighting upgrade, the theatre's technical team has been replacing all venue lights with more energy efficient options over the past year.
"We're also looking across the board and within the daily operations of our teams at how we can reduce our carbon footprint," Ms Harris said.
"This includes a reduction in physical printing, instead opting for more digital resources, and introducing a bar recycling program.
"Waste from the bar will be recycled through the Return and Earn system, and the funds will go towards the Civic Theatre's 'Helping Hand' initiative, which supports young people within the local government area to attend the Civic Theatre."
Council's Net Zero Emissions Project Officer Hemendra Chaudhary said the theatre's energy saving success shows the community even small changes, like upgrading your lights, can have huge financial and environmental impacts.
"Council is working in many ways to reduce the corporate carbon footprint and at the same time leading the community by example to achieve net zero goals," Mr Chaudhary said.
"We are keen to look at any areas where we can increase energy efficiency or optimise our energy usage across other Council owned facilities.
"While these changes help Council work towards its Corporate Net Zero strategy, we also have support in place to help residents collectively achieve community net zero goals.
"Home Energy Efficiency Kits are available to borrow from the Wagga Wagga City Library and are designed to help residents identify practical ways to reduce energy and water usage and in turn reduce their utility bills."
