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The Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center is enacting a new program called “Green the Bankhead” that aims to make the Bankhead Theater safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly.
The goal of the new project is to achieve LEED certification, a globally-recognized rating acknowledging a commercial building’s sustainability, by 2019 as well as WELL certification, which assesses the health and well-being of patrons and staff.
“We’re excited to get the project underway, but we are being strategic in balancing the cost against the efforts that provide the greatest value,” said Chris Carter, the Bankhead’s developing director.
Since opening in downtown Livermore in 2007, the Bankhead Theater has served as a venue for hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy concerts, theatrical performances, free community and cultural events, and visual arts exhibits. It is managed by the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center through a partnership with Livermore city leadership.
The “Green the Bankhead” project plans to replace incandescent light bulbs with LED lighting, which will create significant energy savings. Current lights at the Bankhead use 575 or 750 Watts and some stage lighting consumes as much as 3,000 Watts. The new LED lights will use only 170 Watts while still providing the same amount of brightness.
LED lights also generate less heat, reducing costs on the theater air-conditioning system. Some of the new LED lights also have multiple colors, making them ideal for shows and other events, Bankhead officials said.
Around $8,000 to $10,000 alone would be saved by the new installations in the auditorium, and changing the lighting on the stage would save twice that amount. In total, 20% to 30% of all energy costs could be saved once these changes have been made, officials said.
Another major goal of the massive energy systems overhaul is to eventually install solar panels on the roof of the building. Other less costly developments include investing in low-flow water features, replacing worn-out carpet with more environmentally friendly material, and modifying the layout of offices and other rooms to take advantage of natural lighting.
David Doyle of Doyle Construction is leading the effort to “Green the Bankhead.” He acknowledged that the newest LEED v4 certification is rather difficult to obtain, and should the Bankhead Theater manage to achieve the new standards, it would be one of the first theaters in California to do so. The foundation will also be working with Glumac, a sustainable energy company stationed in Folsom, which has over 45 years of experience advising clients.
Despite the ambitious nature of the new energy venture, “Green the Bankhead” will actually help the organization become more financially thrifty as well. Several generous donors have already stepped up to help fund the project, and over half of the total $700,000 cost has already been secured, officials said.
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