One of the advantages of sustainable production is that it saves money!‘ We say this all the time. That it’s not poppycock is of course best proven with a concrete calculation example. We are getting help from various film commissions with the development of our harvest map and that’s how we learned that in Utrecht they have two nice examples in terms of energy. We spoke to Wim Horst, Advisor Special Use of Public Spaces, about how much you can save exactly by using green electricity instead of a diesel generator.

The first example is the annual arrival of Sint and Piet, a ‘special’ Dutch December celebration. The parade always ends at the Dom square where some electricity is needed on location; there are a number of small activities, some lighting decoration and also local broadcaster RTV Utrecht shoots their usual reportage. Previously they used diesel generators which are relatively expensive at around 300 to 400 euros per day. Part of what makes them expensive is that they have to be dropped off and picked up by someone, by car. But now there is the possibility to use clean energy for a fraction of the price through the construction of two in ground feeder pillars on two sides of the square. These pillars are unlocked by Wim who, as he has done for 20 years, goes around on a folding bike (you can see him in action on the photo above). You pull a cable from the pillar to plug in and Bob’s your uncle. Invoicing goes directly through the municipality, which buys renewable energy.

And here the calculation: The total energy consumption of the arrival of Sinterklaas on the Dom square was 20 kWh. The municipality charges 0.70 cents per kWh.

20 x 0.70 = 14 euros

Calculating from 400 euros for a regular generator, that is a saving of no less than 96.5%! And in addition, as Wim puts it: “The environmental benefit is, to say the least, significant!

We give a second example, because it illustrates the point so beautifully. Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light, was publicly celebrated last December 2nd on the Mariaplaats. A warm, welcoming square in the city centre that has also been outfitted with an in ground feeder pillar for this event, among others. The organisation of the Hanukkah celebration has been using the renewable power for a long time and is very happy with it. Total consumption came to 52 kWh this year.
52 x 0.70 = 36.40 euros. That is also a big saving of 90.9% compared to using a generator.

So it should be clear, the use of green electricity on location is REALLY cheaper! Do you also want to use the in ground feeder pillars of the Utrecht Municipality? Then contact the Utrecht Film Commission and it is done in a jiffy. Information about the locations of in ground feeder pillars in different Dutch cities and how to get access to them will of course be included on our upcoming online film harvest map, which we develop in collaboration with Superuse Studios.