News

In our bid to move towards ecological and organisational sustainability, we have just installed Photovoltaic panels across the entire saw tooth roof structure of Bristol’s Tobacco Factory. This is the largest renewable energy system of any arts organisation in the region and one of the largest in the country.

This exciting and ambitious project was made possible by generous grants from the Biffaward Landfill Trust and the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Low Carbon Buildings Programme.  The panels cover 164m² of the roof space, have a peak output of 25.3kWp, will produce a carbon saving of approximately 253 tonnes (that is the equivalent of filling over 10 hot air balloons a year for then next 25 years) and contribute over 33% of the Theatre’s total energy requirements. Not only will this reduce our carbon emissions and save us money, we hope to be an exemplary leader within the arts sector and educate audiences, visitors and staff alike about the benefits and possibilities of carbon footprint reduction.

In light of the recent ACE funding announcements and in a bid to improve long-term financial security this is a significant and positive move by the Theatre and the Tobacco Factory.

“Over the last few years the Tobacco Factory Theatre has doubled its annual audience; worked with hundreds of artists, including launching several projects that have travelled nationally and internationally; opened a new auditorium and rehearsal room and made significant capital improvements throughout the building. We are pleased that the Arts Council has recently recognised our achievements and invited us to join the national portfolio funding programme. These are difficult times across the industry but this recognition helps us look forward to the future with renewed conviction. We have always been careful not to become over-reliant on state funding and our installation of this PV system is an example of how we will continue to respond imaginatively to opportunities, increase the resources available to us and be a cultural and social flagship for our community.”  Ali Robertson, TFT Director

The Tobacco Factory is a champion of independent organisations, encouraging collaborations with innovative independent companies;  the use of efficient and sustainable transport with extensive bike rack facilities, a bike to work scheme and soon an electric Smart car, and where possible using locally grown and sourced produce.

“The PV array is the latest and greatest move in the Tobacco Factory’s journey towards zero carbon, giving us one of the largest Arts building PV installation in the country.

This adds to our water harvesting, our recycling policy, our programme of moving over to LED lighting and solar thermal hot water – and with an added private installation over my own loft we can run an electric Smart Car with on-site renewables. We have placed a clean and safe power station into the heart of Ashton.”
George Ferguson, Owner, Tobacco Factory

We will soon have a readout monitor in the Theatre that will tell us just how much energy we are producing and how much carbon we are saving. Watch this space.