Everyone knows that transportation is the largest challenge for the music industry when trying to be more green.  Whether it is the performers tour buses and their 150,000 lbs of annual CO2 output or the many fans driving to shows from miles away, it is a real problem without an easy answer.   Purchasing carbon offset credits for the carbon that fans and bands create related to music events is one solution with a potential real impact.   The Bumbershoot Festival, taking place in Seattle on Sept 5th through 7th, has made it easy for fans to purchase their carbon offsets by allowing an optional $2 charge to be added to tickets to purchase a 367 lb offset.  We think this is a great idea and all performance events should provide this option to fans.

We applaud Bumbershoot’s continued commitment to being a green festival.  Find out more on their Green page.

From the Bumbershoot site:

How do we do it?

• A “carbon offset” balances the impact of unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions produced. How? When you buy an offset you purchase an emission reduction credit. This in turn is money invested in a project, such as a clean energy or reforestation project, that results in less carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere than would otherwise occur.
• Bumbershoot purchases carbon credits to offset all artists’ transportation (air and ground, both to and from the Festival). These credits are purchased from NetGreen, a Northwest offset provider that offers project-based offsets. Projects that receive funding from NetGreen are designed and evaluated for carbon-reducing services not currently available without some sort of investor funding.
• In 2008, Bumbershoot offset 251.5 metric tons of greenhouse gas!

Touring and Festivals remain one of the most important “green challenges” in the music industry.   Many reputable bands and festivals have made progress over the years in solving the problems related to these large events from recycling to energy consumption to fan transportation.   The Bumbershoot Festival strives to be green along many dimensions and provides resourcs to help others “Green Your Festival.”

From their “green page” on their site:

For nearly four decades Bumbershoot has strived to be a socially responsible and environmentally friendly Festival. As a uniquely urban event nestled in the Pacific Northwest, one of the nation’s greenest locales, Bumbershoot maintains a reputation as a trendsetter within the festival industry.

Visit these links on the Bumbershoot site to get more ideas on Greening Your Festival…