We all know nightclubs are gluttonous fiends when it comes to energy consumption and waste. Have you ever stopped to wonder what happens to those thousands of bottles, plastic cups, straws, napkins and so much more waste that is involved with consuming alcohol after you chuck it into the waste? Or perhaps you have never wondered the cost of running all those lighting apparatuses, DJ booths and projection screens? For anyone who has the slightest inclination towards sustainable living the thought can be pretty disturbing. I for one do my best to recycle on a weekly basis along with lowering my energy consumption by turning the AC off whenever I am not home and making sure I don't have lights on in the house that need not be. Granted my efforts are a mere drop in the ocean considering the population and the society of consumption we live in but hell it makes me feel a better that I am doing something to make a difference.
To my surprise, as I was site seeing around Overtown earlier this week, I overheard a small segment on WLRN (that's 91.3fm for you brain dead out there) with our favorite PR Vice Prez from Opium Group Vanessa Menkes. Interestingly enough it centered around The Opium Groups recent decision to undertake a recycling program at all four of it's South Beach night clubs (Set, Mansion, Opium Gardens and Prive). On top of the recycling program they have also decided to implement energy efficient lighting. Granted for such a tremendous operations this is just a drop in the bucket, but it's a start. So small is that drop that if you compared it to the Netherlands Worm Club, which was built with 80-90% recycled material, the changes seem inconsequential. That's not to say what Opium is doing isn't good, but I hope as their program progresses they can expand to include something like this. It won't be easy adapting these opulent clubs to the minimalist mantra tree hugger's live by but with the world becoming more ecologically aware it makes perfect business sense to begin investing in it. Now let's see who will have the first LEED nightclub in Miami. That would be a serious accomplishment.
I'M FROM CT AND MA AND HAVE RECYCLED MY WHOLE LIFE. UNTIL I MOVED TO SOUTH BEACH. I HAVE TRIED TO RECYCLE IN THE BUSH-PLAGUED SOUTH AND ITS VERY HARD TO DO SO. IF ANYONE READING THIS HAS A SUGGESTION OF WHERE TO RECYCLE ON SOUTH BEACH - I WOULD APPRECIATE THE TIP. I FEEL SO BAD HAVING TO THROW OUT GLASS AND PAPER THAT IN CT WOULD BE RECYCLED. WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE 'RECYCLING' TRUCKS (LIKE GARBAGE TRUCKS) WHO WOULD PICK UP ALL YOUR ITEMS CURBSIDE ONCE A WEEK!
I've never lived on the beach tho
FYI, The city now has a "green department" (i forgot the official name) but it was created on the mayor's order. The departments goal is 3 things 1) have all new buildings LEED certified 2) change the transportation fleet to run on biodiesel/greener vehicles and 3) to plants 10,000 per year for the next 10 years...
Miami's definitely going to get a whole lot greener!