Sustainability

Commitment to sustainability

It is time to think ahead and make a difference together. The world is facing big challenges and we all have a responsibility for future generations. According to the German Climate Protection Programme, 65% of CO2 emissions must be reduced by 2030, and there is still a lot to be done before then! Incidentally, the year 2030 is also an important milestone for the Alte Oper: it will be the 150th anniversary of the building's foundation as an opera house. We are using this anniversary as an opportunity to address the pressing challenges of our time and set the course for tomorrow. We have called this mission 'Future House Alte Oper'. We are addressing questions about the future of the concert business, new formats and new ways of reflecting and engaging with a diverse urban society - and, of course, our responsibility for climate protection. The conscious use of our planet's resources is not something we have recently discovered, but has long been part of our self-image. Nevertheless, we know: The journey has only just begun and there is still so much we can achieve! We would like to take you, our audience, with us on this journey.

Key factor: energy saving
In a large concert and congress centre like ours, with around 460 events and 500,000 visitors a year, with lighting and sound technology and large halls that need to be air-conditioned, energy consumption is a key factor in the environmental balance. We have invested heavily in this area over the last 20 years and have reduced our consumption significantly:

EURO Investments in energy-saving measures since 2005

less electricity in 2023 compared to 2003 despite 45 % more events

less heat consumption between 2021 and 2023

lower energy consumption per event between 2023 and 2003
Many small steps add up to a big one

Every single action counts. That is why we are constantly reviewing our day-to-day office life and the operation of the building in terms of climate-friendly behaviour. We have made major investments in our air conditioning, lighting, hot water, etc. to save energy. But we have also focused on and optimised the many 'little things' - from the use of biodegradable cleaning products to the use of recycled paper in our everyday office life and in our printed promotional materials.
Last but not least, the team's awareness of what we can achieve through our own behaviour is also important. Taking the stairs instead of the lift, turning off lights when leaving the office, not taking domestic flights, printing only when absolutely necessary - there is a lot in our hands!

In detail: What we have already achieved
And where are we right now?

Through a combination of measures, we have been able to significantly reduce our energy consumption in recent years. After all, we have a dual responsibility - not only in terms of how we use the planet's resources, but also in terms of the public funds we receive. But what do the savings we have achieved tell us? To put it in perspective, we are currently using XDC software, developed by Frankfurt-based climate tech company right. based on science, to calculate our contribution to global warming, not in abstract CO2 emissions, but in a tangible number of degrees Celsius. Will we even stay within the 1.5 degree target set by the Paris climate agreement? Our ambition is to land in the 'green zone'. And if not, we will work all the harder to get there!
An alliance for climate protection: the ÖKOPROFIT environmental project

The ÖKOPROFIT environmental project was launched in Frankfurt in 2008. Since 2009, we have been participating in this cooperation project between local authorities and companies, which has set itself climate protection targets. As a certified member of this Frankfurt climate alliance, we are committed to further optimising energy consumption, avoiding and separating waste, reducing resource consumption, and informing and motivating employees to adopt environmentally friendly and energy-saving behaviour.
Further certification options are currently being examined.

Grüne Alte Oper

Was wir bereits geschafft haben

Wir stellen unser klimagerechtes Verhalten auf den Prüfstand und nehmen das Thema Nachhaltigkeit in den Fokus!

Unsere Maßenahmen im Detail