Wednesday, 20 May 2015

VIVID SYDNEY 2015 LIGHTS UP WITH GREENPOWER

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres announced today that all grid-­‐connected lighting installations at this year’s Vivid Sydney will be powered by 100 per centGreenPower accredited renewable energy as part of a commitment to sustainability for theworld’s largest festival of light, music and ideas.

Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency which owns and manages Vivid Sydney, has partnered with the Banksia Foundation to measure and improve theevent’s sustainability performance.

Mr Ayres said that although Vivid Sydney’s physical footprint is bigger than ever in 2015, itsenvironmental footprint will reduce.

“Visitors to this year’s Vivid Sydney will be treated to the biggest program of light, music andideas events yet, and I am pleased to announce that in 2015, each of the light program’s grid-­‐connected illuminations, including all installations on the Light Walk and in Martin Place, will bepowered by GreenPower accredited renewable energy,” Mr Ayres said.

The GreenPower Program, administered by NSW Trade & Investment, provides an independentaudit of the renewable energy sector to ensure that the energy purchased is genuinelyrenewable and additional to regulatory requirements.

Banksia Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Graz van Egmond said, “We are excited to come onboard as Vivid Sydney’s sustainability partner. While the majority of installations use energy-­‐efficient LED lighting, our first task has been to assist Destination NSW in sourcing GreenPoweraccredited renewable energy. This is a great step forward in Vivid Sydney’s sustainability journeythat we are very proud to be associated with.”

Destination NSW has engaged Powershop to supply this year’s Vivid Sydney lighting installationswith GreenPower. The accredited renewable energy will be sourced from Albury, Eastern Creek,Awaba and the Tweed Shire.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase said, “Vivid Sydney is focused oninnovation and creativity, and while the installations and projections will enthral its visitors, weare also ensuring the Festival supports a positive environment message.”

The use of GreenPower complements a number of Vivid Sydney environmental andsustainability initiatives including the use of efficient technologies, extensive promotion of theuse of public transport, waste minimisation initiatives and adherence to sustainability policies

within Vivid Sydney precincts, use of electronic ticketing, and the exploration of sustainable andenvironmental management solutions, ideas and technology within the Vivid Ideas program.

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

Vivid Sydney’s grid-­‐connected lighting installations are powered by certified 100 per centrenewable GreenPower in 2015.

The GreenPower Accreditation Program is a joint initiative of the NSW, ACT, SA, VIC andTAS governments. It allows businesses, households and events to proactively purchase electricity sourced from GreenPower certified renewable energy generators, which is thenadded to the electricity grid on customers’ behalf.

By purchasing GreenPower, customers are displacing the electricity they take out of the gridwith renewable energy that has zero net greenhouse gas emissions and minimal impact on theenvironment. Importantly, this energy is additional to the amount of renewable energy alreadyin the grid as mandated by the Commonwealth Government’s Renewable Energy Target. Bypurchasing GreenPower, customers are helping to drive investment in Australia’s renewableenergy industry. Thanks to GreenPower customers, more than $500 million has been investeddirectly back to certified renewable energy generators since 2009.

Vivid Sydney is owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism andmajor events agency. The annual 18 day Vivid Sydney event, staged from 22 May to 8 June in2015, is the world’s largest festival of Light, Music and Ideas.

For the full Vivid Sydney 2015 program, go to http://vividsydney.com

The full media kit including high-­‐res images and video is available at http://vividsydney.com/media-­‐centre

MEDIA CONTACTChloe Woodgate, Destination NSWM: 0427 10 276E: chloe.woodgate@dnsw.com.au