With support from the U.S. Green Building Council, creators of the LEED Green Building Rating System, Live Earth will implement new Green Event Guidelines. Learning from LEED, the green event guidelines holistically address the key areas of impact of a large live event - including recycling and composting, food and beverages, packaging, transportation, energy, water usage, and the event site itself. The guidelines also place special emphasis on measurable improvements.

John Picard, the award-winning sustainability expert and former member of President Clinton’s Green White House task force, is leading the Live Earth team of sustainability experts. By embedding a team of world-class sustainability experts within the production staff, waste streams will be designed out prior to its negative environmental impact. From power generation at the concerts to garbage generated by concert goers, Live Earth will bestow an eco-friendly legacy on the live entertainment industry.

Among the steps being taken for our events are:

* All electricity that powers the shows will be from renewable sources, either through utility supplied renewable energy, biodiesel generators, or renewable energy credits.

* Concessionaires will be encouraged to use and directed to suppliers of agricultural/ biodegradable plastics (i.e. made from corn). Also, concessionaire waste will be minimized through a comprehensive recycling and reuse system organized at the venue.

* Venue offices, walkways, etc will be optimized to use as little electricity as possible.

* The entire production design will follow sustainable light design principles. Production lighting will include the use of LED light bulbs, signage will be produced from recycled or agricultural materials, and some tickets will be integrated with public transportation access and green messaging.

* Live Earth staff and artist air travel will be offset through carbon credits

* Ground travel will be hybrid or high-efficiency vehicles, where possible.

Steps being taken in our offices:

* Set computers, printers, etc. to go to “sleep” after a few minutes.

* Print and copy double-sided to reduce paper use

* Use recycled paper products

* Purchase furniture that is made of recycled products, and recycle or donate once it’s no longer needed

* Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs

* Turn off computers and lights at night - install power strips so it’s easy to turn off all electronics at once

* Encourage recycling by having bins accessible around the office

* Have reuseable ceramic mugs for coffee or water, rather than disposalbe ones

* Encourage carpools

* Purchase carbon offsets

“The green event guidelines are a starting point,” commented John Rego, Live Earth’s Environmental Advisor. “They give us roadmap to focus our efforts, goals by which to grade ourselves, and a way to track improvements over time.”

Rego continued: “The guidelines are breaking new ground for the live event industry, so it’s going to be a learning process us all. Beyond improving our actual environmental footprint, I expect our greatest contribution will be educating the thousands of people who are involved in an event of this scale on how to do better - knowledge that we’re confident they’ll take to their next event.”