Insight: Issue 67 (20th October)

Have you heard the news?
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We’re chuffed to bits to have been awarded Zero Waste Scotland’s Bronze Award!

This is a direct result of Cameron’s Resource Efficiency Pledge, which we made as part of a government-backed scheme that helps Scottish businesses be more efficient in their use of energy, water, and other raw materials. If you’re curious about how it works, you can find out more about the pledge here. Also, FYI, we’ll be going for the Silver Award next year – and you better believe we’ve got our eyes on the Gold the year after that.

In other non-Cameron news: SWG3 has unveiled mind-blowing plans to power the venue using body heat; Coldplay have pledged to cut CO2 emissions by 50% ahead of their 2022 world tour; Glasgow’s biggest entertainment venue has a new name; a new report has found that events play a major role in boosting wellbeing; plus, we’re sharing this week’s most awesome tech stories from around the world, because we can’t help ourselves.

SWG3 to power venue using body heat

Just when you thought SWG3 couldn’t get any cooler, they come up with this: a state-of-the-art renewable heating and cooling system that transforms the body heat of clubbers and gig-goers into a source of renewable energy.

The first of its kind to be installed in Scotland, BODYHEAT uses heat pumps and fluids to capture the incredible amounts of body heat generated by SWG3’s crowds, channelling their combined energy into twelve 150m-deep bore holes drilled beneath the venue. This heat can then either be used immediately to cool the audience, or stored under the ground until it’s needed to heat the building. Seriously, our minds are blown.

SWG3 hope to have the system up and running in time for COP26, which takes place in Glasgow from 1-12 November 2021. Watch this space.

Coldplay to cut emissions by 50% on 2022 world tour

And it’s not just venues and lil old events agencies like us that are going green – bands are, too. In advance of their 2022 world tour, Coldplay have issued a set of steps they’ll take to make sure their shows are as sustainable and low-carbon as possible – promising to reduce consumption, recycle extensively, and slash CO2 emissions by 50%. They’ve also said they’ll release a report when the tour is over, outlining how well each initiative went.

So far they’ve committed to: powering shows with low-emission sustainable energy sources, wherever possible; powering tour buses and trucks with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) which can lower generator emissions by up to 90%; and perhaps most impressively, they’ve collaborated with BMW to produce the world’s first-ever mobile, rechargeable show battery made from recycled BMWi3 parts.

If you want to find out more, they’ve made a website exclusively for showcasing their sustainability initiatives: sustainability.coldplay.com.

Introducing. . .the OVO Hydro

Next up, introducing the OVO Hydro: the brand new name for Glasgow’s biggest entertainment venue. Having re-opened its doors to music fans in September – after a heart-breaking 18-month absence – Scotland’s flagship venue is expected to welcome over 1.2 million visitors next year, with over 40% more events programmed than in an average year.

The new title partner, OVO Energy, is also committed to supporting the venue in further reducing their environmental impact (bit of a theme in this insight, eh?). The venue will continue to develop its sustainability credentials as part of its quest to achieve ‘Greener Arena Certification’ – a rigorous, independent certification process verifying that carbon reduction and transition strategies are at the heart of all venue operations.

Events boost mental wellbeing, says report

Aaand yet another reason why we <3 events – according to a new report, major events are good for your wellbeing. The Contribution of Events to Scotland’s Wellbeing report was commissioned by VisitScotland and the Event Industry Advisory Group (EIAG) to help to understand how events support Scotland’s mental health. The findings suggest that cultural events could play an important role in helping people to cope with stress, especially as we navigate the ongoing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

So, if you’re looking for an excuse to book some gig tickets (as if you needed one), you can check out more of the findings here.

This week’s best tech stories from around the world

Last for today, it wouldn’t be a proper insight without a bit of tech geekery! Singularity Hub have shared a list of this week’s most awesome tech stories from around the world (wide web) – and now we’re sharing it with you! From AI and robotics, to security and even space, all your tech-tastic bases are covered.

Team Cameron, over and out.