How is it possible to organize a sustainable event, concretely? Answer this question is difficult, because the aspects to consider if you want to minimize the environmental impact are numerous. Among them, without doubt, there's the venue's choice: in fact, it can have a strong impact on the sustainability of an event, since some venues are designed to guarantee higher environmental performance than others.
The first step to take for a more responsible management consists in identifying the main sources of impact. We have already talked about this topic on our blog: in this article , we made a list of the primary elements to evaluate and described the actions that can be undertaken to minimize the impact on the environment.
Today, we'll take a closer look to the criteria that can lead the choice of a sustainable venue: as told, in fact, some spaces are less impactful of others because easier to reach without using a car, green energy or adopt systems made for reduce consumptions.Here are the crucial aspects to keep in mind to best choose the location for sustainable events!
Contents:
- Accessibility via public transport
- High environmental standard
- Natural light use
- Proper management of waste sorting
- Use of eco-friendly cleaning products
- Use of renewable energy
- Energy efficiency of the space
- Consumption measurement through smart software
Accessibility via public transport
It's important that the venue is easily accessible with public transport and well connected to bycicle lanesFor example, it can be located near railway stations, a subway stop, or in an area served by several bus lines, in order to offer the public more options and flexibility in getting around without necessarily relying on private cars. The center areas of the cities tend to be better connected with public transport and to discourage the use of cars due to a lower availability of parkings
High environmental standard
To understand whether a building is sustainable, it is essential to verify that it has certificationscertifications: organizing the event in a certified venue will in fact allow you to demonstrate compliance with real sustainability standardsThere are various certifications and eco-labels that are awarded to spaces that comply with protocols aimed at reducing environmental impacts . For example, Superstudio Events has obtained ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management for all its venues, along with an attestation of 100% green energy. Superstudio Maxi has also obtained the LEED Gold certification, a U.S. classification system for energy efficiency and the ecological footprint of buildings.
Natural light use
If you want to organize a daily event, is better choose a space that allows for extended use of natural light, for example with large windows or wide glass walls positioned strategically. Other elements that can make a difference include theorientation of the building (if facing south, it receives more light) and the presence or absence of obstacles such as trees or other buildings that might block natural light. Finally, light-colored materials and finishes inside the space help increase brightness in the rooms!
Proper management of waste sorting
It is also essential to make sure that the venue offers the possibility to properly separate waste in the right way, by placing collection bins in strategic and clearly visible spots. The number of bins and the frequency of emptying must be calculated based on the number of participants. Finally, we recommend choosing a venue that has established relationships with waste sorting management companies (for example, Superstudio Events has activated a specific collection service for its venues with AMSA and LENOCART), in order to facilitate responsible disposal in compliance with the regulations established by the relevant Municipality.
Use of eco-friendly cleaning products
Many traditional cleaning products contain chemical substances pollute the atmosphere and groundwater. For this reason, it is appropriate that be used only eco-friendly cleaning products, made of natural and biodegradable ingredients. In particular the paper (toilet paper and disposable towels), as well as hand soaps and surface cleaning detergents, must respond to Ecolabel criteria or featuring eco-labels.
Use of renewable energy
We recommend choosing a venue that uses green energy through supply contracts from renewable sources , or that has installed solar panels, wind turbines, or other alternative technologies to allow for self-consumption of energy. For example, the roof of Superstudio Maxi hosts a photovoltaic system with 560 solar panels that covers more than 30% of the building's energy needs: these high-performance systems have allowed us to reduce energy consumption by 54%. For more information, you can consult our “Sustainable Development Policy”, which you can download by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.
Energy efficiency of the space
There are also other solutions that can be implemented to ensure energy efficiency. In particular, we suggest prioritizing the use of low-consumption lighting systems (LED) and thermal isolation. To further reduce consumption, you should also consider the presence of automatic lighting control systems (at least class B) and avoid the use of outdoor heating lamps.
Consumption measurement through smart software
Perhaps not everyone knows thatartificial intelligence and home automation can now help us in this field as well. In fact, there are various software tools for monitoring energy consumption. At Superstudio we use two in particular: the first constantly monitors the operation of electricity meters , allowing us to detect any anomalies (for example, devices or appliances left on by mistake overnight). The second optimizes the energy consumption of air conditioning systems thanks to sensors that can regulate the temperature based on variables such as the number of people present in the rooms and the outdoor temperature.
Now you know the parameters a venue should meet in order to have a lower impact on the environment. If you're thinking of organizing a sustainable event in Milan, the venues of Superstudio Events offer innovative solutions that fully respect the planet — from space selection to complementary services. For more information , contact us!!
