Green Is Universal at NBCU.

NBC Universal is making "green production" easier for its televisions shows by integrating environmental sustainability into its core production culture. As part of an ongoing goal to implement eco-friendly practices across the company, NBC Universal has launched a green production initiative to deliver a comprehensive combination of environmental tools and resources to its crews and staff to facilitate a move towards more sustainable production.

"Over the last few years, we've been committed to changing the way we do business so that we can lessen our impact on the environment and do our part to help our industry operate more sustainably," said Beth Colleton, VP of Green Is Universal. "By making green practices a part of our work culture, we can make significant strides in reducing the environmental footprint of our shows as well as the entertainment sector."

In partnership with "Green Is Universal," NBCU's company-wide environmental initiative, NBCU's television production arms, Universal Media Studios (UMS) and Universal Cable Productions (UCP), have developed a series of best practices and educational materials that are being put to use on all productions.

Highlights include:

Green is Universal Film and Television Production Guides: NBCU has published step-by-step instruction guides that detail environmental best practices specific to film and TV production - from location scouting to set design construction to vendor selection to wrapping and locking a set. These guides, which can be found on www.greenisuniversal.com, are not only available for use within the company, but are also available to the industry at large. "Green is Universal" will soon publish additional guides specifically geared towards television news, cable originals, award programs and special events.

"Green 17": A baseline commitment to 17 green goals produced by UMS and UCP are currently implementing that cover key areas of environmental impact including recycling and repurposing, alternatives to VOC paints and toxic cleaners, paper use reduction and digitization and water bottle removal. Many productions already go above and beyond the baseline goals, with shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "Psych" using sustainable wood and rechargeable batteries for sound equipment (respectively).

Dedicated and experienced personnel: In addition to the resources and support of the company's "Green is Universal" and operational staff, NBCU has a Manager of Sustainable of Production who liaises with both film and television productions to help implement and track green best practices and assist shows to transition to more sustainable operations.

NBCU continues its commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of its films and TV shows all the way through the DVD release process. In early 2009, Universal Studios Home Entertainment transitioned to a DVD case that uses 20% less plastic than the standard DVD case. Approximately 60 million of these cases will be used in 2009, resulting in a 1.8 million pound reduction in C02 emissions.

NBCU is also pursuing other innovative ways to "go green". Earlier this year, the company implemented a "closed loop" recycling system at its 30 Rockefeller Plaza corporate headquarters in New York where more than 50 tons of paper trash has been recycled and converted into cardboard DVD cases and boxes for company use.

About "Green is Universal"
Launched in May 2007, "Green is Universal" is NBC Universal's ongoing environmental initiative dedicated to raising Green awareness, effecting positive change to the environment, and substantially greening its own operations.

NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, and a leading television stations group.

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