Energy has been behind so much of the debate of the world. At Boom we try to decrease consumption and find solutions for cleaner and sustainable energy sources.
The sheer volume of people at the festival means that we consume a lot of energy. Our checklist takes into consideration everything from sound systems, lights and performances to transport and construction – and everything else in between.
For much of the modern world, energy means the burning of fossil fuels. Not for us. Our energy projects include:
2008: YOUR OIL IS MUSIC: Waste Veggie Oil in the Generators
• In Boom 2008 we collected and used 45,000 litres of waste vegetable oil in the generators. We avoided emitting a total of 117,000 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere.
• Boom’s vehicles (one truck, two vans) are run on waste vegetable oil
• We have one 100kw generator that runs on waste vegetable oil
• We used 15,000 litres of waste vegetable oil in Boom 2010.
2010: BOOM LAB: GOING SOLAR
• We built three small mobile photovoltaic stations with six 80-watt panels. They were used to power the offices of areas such as production, Sacred Fire, Healing Area and Ambient Paradise and generated 2.4 kw/hour per day.
• The fourth solar station produced at the Boom Lab had an output of 3.2 kw/hour of solar energy per day.
• Boom Lab also developed an even bigger station that was placed near the logistics and main workshops. Following the tilt of the sun, 18 panels produced 13kw/hour of solar energy per day.
2012: BOOM OFF-GRID:
Boom Off-The-Grid was a new project for 2012 within the realm of energy efficiency. The general goal was to take 25 percent of the festival off the grid. It involved four different sub-projects:
• Solar and waste-vegetable-powered generators run the Healing and Sacred Fire areas
• A clean-energy irrigation system covering 50 hectares of land, energized by solar power
• The entire Production Village powered by the sun
• The generator of the Liminal Village powered by a combination of wind-solar-energy and conventional fuel
The initiative means that 25 percent of the Boom was operating independently of the mainstream electrical matrix as we took the Boom Environmental Program to the next level.
More Info on Boom Off the Grid click HERE
LED LIGHTING
• Cultural Areas: Since the 2006 edition, we have been active in the implementation of LED lighting.
• Public Lighting: Our low-impact lighting becomes increasingly ambitious each year. In 2010, we converted 80 percent of our halogen lighting into LEDs.
• Art Installations: All art installations use LED lighting.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
• In 2010, 3,500 people traveled to Boom on the Boom Bus from Lisbon and Madrid.
We estimate that by counting an average of three people per car, we have prevented some 1,150 cars from driving into to the Boom – therefore contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
• In 2012 there were 140 buses on the Boom Bus service. There were 6322 passengers. By promoting the Boom Bus we have saved 531 tons of CO2.
