The Orange Hut Joins 10:10

“It wasn’t the Exxon Valdez captain’s driving that caused the Alaskan oil spill. It was yours.” Greenpeace advertisement, New York Times, 25 February 1990

In line with the idea that, “if we don’t think about future generations, then they will never forget us…” we have decided it is time to follow through and bring the Orange Hut studio in line with an idea for sustainability as an effort to become a more efficient and eco-conscious organisation that is considering it’s impact on the global community and global ecology.

Just recently, while walking around the creative space, I’ve been noticing little differences… And while I initially couldn’t have told you what the differences were, they were definitely the direct result of something being missing… Something which was usually there – present and subtle. And after a bit of time it started to dawn on me what was happening… People were becoming more aware of their consumption and usage of electricity. I mean, when you’re working in a sonically insulated environment, one normally doesn’t have to be too concerned about thermal insulation, as they usually are one and the same thing. Good sound insulation = good thermal insulation and visa-versa. However, one of the things I have noticed over the years in all the recording studios in which I have worked is the “hideous” waste of electricity that goes on: whether it be in the form of left on amps, guzzling tube based electronics, or power sucking condenser mic pres (like the one that comes with AKG’s C12), it’s all so easy to overlook in the throws of passionate creative flow. Then there are the lights… And the cups of tea, where usually a kettle is topped right up to the max, just in case anyone else wants a cuppa… But that’s all gone!?

But now, whenever I come down into the kitchen, there is always just the right amount of water in the kettle for the right number of people who are over here working. And when there is nobody in a room, there is no light coming from that room. Even the familiar sound of the lone guitar amp left cackling by itself in the corner – a sort of soothing hum intermingled with the occasional crackle of static discharging from the tubes and connectors, something which I find really relaxing – is absent. When amps are not in use, the guitarists now switch them off… ! Even the mic pres, synths, tube compressors and computers are being switched off when not in use… No longer do I see screens with half composed scores or partially edited documentaries blazing away light while their operators are elsewhere, sourcing more creative juice for their endeavours… Even the display sleep settings are now left on 15 mins rather than never… And the computer hard drives are put to sleep after 30 minutes. We’re even composting too!? Something I thought I’d never see… And just the other day someone mentioned to me that it was probably time to reach into our own pockets – something totally unheard of here – and pitch in together for a solar thermal microgeneration unit that will meet some of our hot water needs… I mean we’ve even got bunk beds in the spare room now, so people don’t have to drive back and forth between home and work each and every day…

I’ve got to say I’m enjoying these new dimensions of living that we’re all injecting into the equation… Because, in this mindful action, I’m glad to report there is a deep sense of calm growing within me; an all pervading stillness; one which fills me with a sense of hope that we might actually be ready to achieve a 10% reduction in our carbon emissions this 2010. The musicians, editors and creatives are all finally doing it, and not just talking about it… But the best bit (as I’m sure they’ll be telling you) is that… I’m not bloody nagging them anymore!

Thus it’s time we – here at the Orange Hut – took that 10:10 pledge to demonstrate to everyone we know (and to those we don’t know) just how committed we all are about reducing our carbon foot print to make that change for a cleaner, greener world. By thinking about what it means to be sustainable, we’ve begun supporting renewable energy sources rather than finite, dirty and expensive ones many of us still use. But most importantly, we’re having fun doing it! And would you believe we’re even saving money too!

So if you fancy joining in the fun, then why not sign up today and click the 10:10 logo below!? After all, many hands make light work!

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step…” Chinese proverb

“Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” Kenyan Proverb

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” Old proverb