Paramount Reduced Energy Consumption by 13% and Produced Additional 20% of Energy Use
LABBC CASE STUDY
PROPERTY OWNER
Paramount Pictures
PROPERTY TYPE
Entertainment
SQUARE FEET
2.5 Million
13%
Reductions across portfolio since 2009
2019 Innovation Awards: Energy Efficiency Project Finalist
“Whether in our offices, on set, or through educating our employees, Paramount is committed to being greener and more sustainable, including reducing the carbon footprint of our TV and feature film productions.”
RANDALL BAUMBERGER, President, Paramount Studio Group
PROPERTY
DESCRIPTION
Paramount Studios is a classic Hollywood studio with 142 buildings, including an active backlot set and props warehouse.
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
Paramount established a 10-year Long Range Energy Plan in 2009 to conserve and generate energy on the studio lot. Through these programs, the studio has reduced overall energy consumption on the lot 13% and has produced an additional 20% of energy use on the Paramount Picture studio lot. Paramount also offers work programs to employees and the community to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Film productions consume more energy as they become larger and larger. Paramount Pictures wanted to address this challenge proactively, and developed a plan to reduce energy consumption.
2018 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Installed lighting controls and upgraded 29 sound stages (372,000 square feet) to LED lighting
Installed LEDs in two office buildings
Completed capital renovations and utility replacements at multiple buildings
Employed 1 MW co-generation plant
PROJECTS COMPLETED
BEFORE 2018
Installed 1 MW co-generation system that provides the lot with electricity and 230 tons of chilled water via an absorption chiller (central chiller plant currently provides cooling to 18 stages and 4 office buildings)
Installed high-density heat containment in data center
Virtualized 85% of the property’s data center
PRO TIPS
Getting the organization to a point that we CAN control our utility spend was a mental shift for many, but there were additional benefits to these investments as well.
The major components to providing your organization with a successful energy program are the following:
Ensure that the active participants understand the challenges and objective, we created (4) pillars:
Energy Measurement & Management
Reduce Energy Consumption
Improve Facility Service & Quality
Diversify Energy Sources & Invest in Alternative Energy Sources
We called it “Measure, Control and Improve” to start our marketing to support groups. Realizing the wide and deep support from local, state and federal programs was key to bringing the projects to fruition.
Do not make saving energy a separate workflow. Integrate energy-saving into your current activities, such as capital projects and preventative maintenance programs.
The additional cost or labor associated with energy conservation measures far exceeds the delta in time of the investment.
Don’t create an end game, have a vision to share and re-visit the path to success, as technology changes and there should be continual process improvements.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Paramount has partnered with local programs that provide workers with energy saving opportunities that include electronic waste donations, electric vehicle and fuel cell car demonstrations, and food recovery programs. These efforts have resulted in Paramount receiving an Environmental Media Association Gold Seal status.
INNOVATION
An energy audit funded by the Department of Energy armed Paramount with detailed information on its energy consumption. This allowed them to focus on the largest energy consumers: the data center and sound stages. With the installation of our co-generation system and our central chiller plant, we were able to match the demands of both sound stages and on-lot buildings while reducing overall energy use by ~ 2,700,000 kWh annually.
