Sustainability
At Kings Place we’re resolutely committed to minimising our impact on the environment and responding to the climate emergency. We’re based in a building with outstanding environmental standards, but there’s a huge amount more for us to do.
As a platform for creative expression, we’re amplifying the work of artists exploring environmental breakdown and how it can be fought. As a building, we’re continually working with our co-tenants to address the key areas of energy, water and waste. And as a company, we strive to embed sustainability across our operations, from reusable materials and lighting sensors to digital-first marketing.
In line with the Paris Agreement, our goal is to reach carbon net zero, where the amount of CO2 we add to the atmosphere is less than what we take out.
Our work since 2024
Some of our recent work in sustainable practice includes:
- Programming Earth Unwrapped, a year-long series focused on how artists are responding to climate breakdown.
- Securing an energy tariff using 100% renewable sources, greatly reducing our Scope 2 emissions.
- Eliminating all single-use plastics from our catering and backstage areas.
- Converting all our lighting in our largest auditorium, Hall One, to LED, reducing energy consumption in the room by around 90%.
- Approving a further LED lighting upgrade for Hall Two, with partial funding from Islington Council.
- Migrated our IT applications to cloud-based platforms reducing our reliance on high energy-consuming servers and server room air-conditioning units.
The building
- We are fortunate to reside in a BREEAM certified building that was built with strong environmental principles at its heart.
- Proximity to one of the largest public transport hubs in Europe, reducing the need for visitors and audiences to use cars.
- Secure bicycle parking for all staff.
- A displacement ventilation system which cools the building using outside air reducing usage of air conditioning.
- High standards of thermal insulation minimising heat loss through the fabric of the building.
- Efficient use of energy through good daylight penetration, motion activated lighting and an advanced transition programme to LED lighting throughout the building.
- Triple glass wall façade on the south and west aspects, dramatically reducing solar heat gain.
- Efficient use of water through low-capacity cisterns, flow control in toilets and showers, leak detectors and harvesting of rainwater for irrigation.
- A ‘green’ roof with solar panels, and bio-ecology enhancing features including: a bug hotel, bird and bat boxes and plant boxes.
- The building is managed by Savills who have achieved ISO14001 accreditation for environmental building management.
- A zero to landfill waste management system with a recycling rate of over 75%.
- Kings Place uses energy from certified renewable sources.
Sustainability policy
The current climate crisis is one of the most important issues that faces the world today and Kings Place is committed to reducing its impact on the environment wherever possible.
We have broken our commitments down into 4 key areas:
The Building
Kings Place is a multifunctional building featuring office space, public areas, a restaurant and performance spaces. Multiple businesses call Kings Place their home.
As a building we aim to be carbon net zero by 2050; work with our building management team to ensure our sustainability ambitions are met; review and support recycling in the building ensuring all occupants have access to the correct recycling points; regularly meet with all building tenants to discuss future goals and ideas.
Performances
We host a wide variety of performances, festivals and events across the year.
We will carefully consider branding and materials exploring sustainable options where possible: minimise energy use for our shows through careful management of air conditioning, lighting and equipment use; review artists we work with and their impacts through travel.
The Team
We have a large team of permanent and casual staff, from technical and production to marketing and our front of house team.
Creating and communicating clear environmental policy to our entire team, we operate a working group that meets regularly to discuss and implement new strategies to reduce our waste and carbon emissions; take environmental impact into account in all aspects of our decision making, when purchasing new equipment, booking shows and operating our venue.
Operations
Our operations include events, office space management and AV equipment hire.
Reducing waste and consumables in our operations and recycling and reselling where possible, we work with local sustainable suppliers and partners; seek to reduce the level of print in our marketing and event operations; monitor and review our impacts annually.
Our sustainability strategy
Sustainability Working Group
The Sustainability Working Group is made up of representatives from all departments in the organisation and meets several times each year.
The aim of the working group is to ensure that the venue makes ethical and environmentally-sound decisions in all facets of the business and encourages others to follow the same processes. The group’s function is to co-ordinate and communicate various initiatives including the venue’s policy and commitments and the sustainability action plan.
Sustainability Action Plan
Our action plan lists all completed, ongoing and scheduled actions the organisation has set relating to our environmental commitments. We will continue to review this document at every working group meeting to work towards achieving our ambitions and commitments.
Audit, Monitoring, Reporting and Review
Environmental impacts will be assessed and audited annually by the Sustainability Working Group which will inform the review process for the policy and action plan. This includes energy consumption, paper waste, consumables and recycling.
Tenant Meetings
Kings Place Music Foundation is a tenant of the Kings Place building. All tenants in the building regularly meet with the building management team, Savills, to discuss how they are progressing towards their own sustainability goals and how we can collaborate on our own commitments.
