Many people think ‘green’ when British Columbia comes to mind, so it’s not too surprising that B.C. is leading the way in Western Canada when it comes to striving for film and TV productions that leave a smaller carbon footprint.

What is surprising is the news that Reel Green BC is an industry initiative that’s barely two years old.

The Prairies have yet to find the green pathway, but are in preliminary planning stages, with Alberta just one step ahead of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Calgary film commissioner Luke Azevedo says the Alberta Film Advisory Council is putting together a proposal for greening the film and TV industry to send to the Alberta government. He notes that many municipalities in Alberta have strict environmental standards, such as no-idling policies that productions must follow to gain shooting permits.

B.C., meanwhile, will be taking revolutionary steps as early as this spring, when permanent hydro power drops will be established at popular location and unit parking sites to replace diesel generators that produce carbon dioxide emissions.

At the moment, temporary power drops can be ordered at location sites, but there is a substantial cost and approval process for installation. Once permanent drops are available, a production can simply show up and plug into the hydro electric grid and pay for its energy usage.

‘Our hope is the cost of using a hydro power drop is about equal to or less than the cost to operate a generator for the same purpose,’ says Gordon Hardwick, manager of community affairs at the B.C. Film Commission, which is spearheading the Reel Green BC initiative along with the Motion Picture Production Industry Association environment committee. He is also representing B.C. on the CFTPA’s green panel at Prime Time in Ottawa (see story below).

In 2006, the B.C. Film Commission funded and developed a website called Reel Green BC (www.reelgreenbc.ca), which offers a department-by-department nuts-and-bolts guide to reduce the environmental footprint of a production.

‘We are working towards creating standards and measures and a compliance strategy for the industry, and ultimately some sort of certification to show that compliance level,’ says Hardwick.

Once a certification process is available, MPPIA is discussing whether the level of tax credit available to B.C. producers could be linked to their environmental rating.

Meanwhile, Hardwick says he is encouraged by the way the B.C. industry is voluntarily taking steps to be environmentally friendly. He points out that many productions are using bio-diesel (a natural renewable, vegetable-based fuel blended with diesel) to run generators and trucks.

Recycling sets among different productions and purchasing used clothing from thrift shops for costumes is also being practiced by some productions. Film caterers are sourcing local organic food and eliminating waste by using china and flatware instead of plastic plates, cups and cutlery. And in some cases, buses are now being rented to transport groups instead of each department key taking their own car on location scouts.

Producer Brian Hamilton of Omni Film Productions has introduced a number of green initiatives on the set of his CTV series Robson Arms, which will be used as a case study at the CFTPA green panel.

In addition, MPPIA’s environment committee (established a year ago) is active in disseminating information, providing a forum for policy discussions and developing strategies to reduce energy consumption, waste and emissions.

MPPIA’s committee is also looking at the possibility of creating a non-profit co-op where used set materials can be stored and then resold at low prices.

Hardwick recognizes that there may be higher costs associated with going green, but he says some of those costs may be offset in other departments.

‘There are aspects of our strategy that will be cost-saving in nature because we aren’t consuming as much or reusing more supplies instead of buying new,’ he explains. ‘Other environmental initiatives may cost more… Hopefully in the long run it becomes second nature to do business this way, and overall there will be savings.’

Hollywood shoots in Vancouver are also serving as green role models.

Warren Carr, production manager for 20th Century Fox’s remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, says the studio has a ‘best practices sustainable policy’ that the shoot is following.

‘This is the first Vancouver show out the gate in 2008 where Fox has said, ‘Adhere to this policy whenever possible’,’ says Carr.

The production has a strict no-idling policy; uses hybrid cars for transporting people; minimizes waste and energy consumption in the production office; buys supplies from eco-friendly companies when possible; and it also stays away from plastics and uses real china and flatware for catering (or finds compostable alternatives).

Carr says the shoot is also recycling materials from one set to make the next, and sourcing wood from Coast EcoTimber, a new Vancouver company that mills lumber only from trees already knocked down by storms or salvaged from old buildings.

And Playback asks the inevitable question about what all this costs.

‘I haven’t done the overall calculations,’ says Carr. ‘The only cost savings I see at this point is from using hybrid cars.’

Paramount Production Support, which rents grip and electric supplies, trucks and power and distribution systems to the Vancouver industry, instituted an environmental policy three years ago.

Eleanor O’Connor, VP of Canadian operations, says the company only buys from suppliers that manufacture, package and ship products in an environmentally responsible way.

‘For example, if they use Styrofoam chips for packaging, we explain that we will look for an alternate supplier unless they come up with a more environmentally friendly way to package,’ says O’Connor, noting that 95% of their suppliers are willing to find alternatives to keep their business.

Paramount sources local products whenever possible, and if it must ship, it uses trains or consolidate its shipments in cartons with other companies.

As well, Paramount uses only vinegar or a solution of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to clean equipment (instead of the toxic chemical-laced cleaners that are typically used) and compostable cellulose cloths instead of disposable paper towel. It also expects its clients to return all burnt-out light bulbs and gels to its office for recycling.

‘It is in our contract with clients,’ says O’Connor. ‘They contain mercury and other toxic chemicals and shouldn’t be thrown in a landfill.’