by Craig Smith, Grande Experiences
In today’s world, sustainability is a commitment that companies across various industries are embracing. As a pioneer in the immersive experiences industry, Grande Experiences recognises the need for sustainable practices, and we’ve made it a key part of our operations. We see it as our responsibility to promote a greener approach to delivering our breathtaking experiences.
Lampless projectors & LED lighting for more sustainable immersive experiences
We own all of our equipment and one of the earliest moves we made towards sustainability was the adoption of lampless projectors. This projection format enables companies to remove their reliance on replacement projector lamps. The reduction in environmental impact was apparent immediately and came on several fronts:
- Reduced domestic and international shipping
- Reduced waste requiring specialist disposal/recycling
- Increased life span of projectors, meaning less need for replacement equipment
In addition to lampless projectors, companies can also transition to all LED lighting fixtures on all new system builds for more sustainable immersive exhibits.
Much like with projectors, running LED theatrical lighting fixtures sees drops in replacement lamp shipping, increased “in service” time and, most importantly, reduced waste of consumables. The current generation of LED lighting technology allows us to create stunning visual experiences. All while leaving a smaller ecological footprint and maintaining the warmth and optics of traditional fixtures.
Shipping and service
Further insight into the equipment selection can be found when reviewing the field service life of the equipment and, more importantly, the frequency and shipping footprint of individual items when manufacturer service is required. Here, companies can optimise for more sustainable immersive experiences in several ways.
The first is global support with key technology manufacturers, followed by designed service life, in-field repairs and physical footprint. Factoring all the above coupled with technical performance, we find our equipment choice encompassing the following traits:
- Predictable service life
- Local service options in any region for larger items
- Manufacturer direct repairs on smaller items (able to ship with domestic couriers)
- Manufacturer direct support with access to parts and service agents.
It is also important to minimise the environmental impact associated with transportation. To address this, our touring systems fit in a standard 40ft HC and a 20ft GP container. Companies can achieve this optimisation through careful equipment selection and case design that facilitates efficient sea freight, and trucking. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-haul transport, for more sustainable immersive experiences.
By optimising systems and their service life, companies within this industry can deploy and commission systems with minimal international travel. For example, an entire touring experience can be installed, commissioned, remotely operated and uninstalled with just two Grande team members supported by a local production crew. This minimises air travel and enables our clients to support the local industry with onsite production work.
Sustainable materials for immersive exhibits
Looking ahead, we are committed to using more sustainable materials in our immersive operations. We actively discuss paths to develop meaningful recycling programs to minimise electronic waste with our technology manufacturers.
Our immersive experiences possess a smaller ecological footprint than traditional museum and gallery exhibits. It is no longer sustainable for cultural institutions to ship valuable artefacts worldwide due to their expense, the risk of damage during transit, and the growing concerns about climate change. With immersive installations, it is possible to send an experience to a location based on schedule availability and efficiency rather than region compatibility.
This also ensures our assets are deployed and working consistently, reducing the amount of cross-loading, storage and international shipping.
Another critical aspect of our sustainable immersive experiences is our system reusability. This comes in several forms; however, every touring asset Grande operates is designed to be turn-key and self-contained. This equates to the reusability of all equipment, including screens and other peripherals. This lowers the carbon footprint associated with the disposal of obsolete equipment.
The black box approach
A notable feature of our immersive experiences is the concept of the “black box.” Taking a new approach to venue preparation minimises the need for new structures for each exhibit, reducing the environmental impact of building and demolition. The flexibility and adaptability of the black box concept ensure that we can efficiently configure each space for different exhibits without extensive alterations.
At Grande Experiences, we understand the growing importance of sustainability in our industry. We have taken significant steps to incorporate eco-friendly practices into our operations. Our adoption of lampless projectors, LED lighting fixtures and shipping-conscious system designs, as well as our commitment to sustainable materials and recycling programs, showcase our dedication to a greener future.
Moreover, our focus on immersive experiences with small ecological footprints and regional solutions reinforces our position as an industry leader in promoting sustainable ways of working. This is a path to a reduced environmental footprint and a demonstration of commercial efficiency.
Top image: Van Gogh Alive, London
