Greening Our Operations

Working towards a more sustainable RTÉ

More sustainable productions

As part of making its overall operations more sustainable, RTÉ continues with the rollout of Project albert, a BAFTA managed programme designed to support more sustainable programme making of all kinds. Founded in 2011, albert supports the global Film and TV industry to reduce the environmental impacts of production and to create content that supports a vision for a sustainable future.

A total of 111 RTÉ programmes achieved albert certification in 2022, including the following series:

• The Late Late Show (series 2022 / 2023) 
• The Today Show (ongoing) 
• Prime Time (series 2022 / 2023) 
• 3 x Prime Time Climate Specials 
• Ask Me Anything (series 2022) 
• The Main Stage (series 2022) 
• Cloch Le Carn, Scannal and Gafa (2022) 

Energy management

RTÉ has established itself as a leader within the public sector by exceeding the targets set out by the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) and becoming the first broadcaster in Ireland and the UK to achieve the international energy management standard ISO50001 in February 2021.

As part of the ISO 50001 process, RTÉ keeps under ongoing review a Register of Opportunities in which targeted energy efficiency opportunities are identified and assessed.

In February 2022, RTÉ Property & Services completed a project to upgrade the lighting in RTÉ’s Radio Centre on our Donnybrook campus. The project involved the removal of 681 lighting fixtures which were upgraded to more energy-efficient LED lights, but also the reduction of total light fittings by 308. This upgrade and reduction in luminaries will see us reduce our electricity usage by over 290,000kWh, equating to 552,800kg Carbon (CO2e) per annum.

In 2022, the Energy Team targeted the upgrade of legacy air conditioning systems in the Television Building on our Donnybrook campus, to modern EC fans and controls. This resulted in an approximate energy saving of 70% for that particular system.

Whilst reducing our energy usage is a key aspect of our energy management system, we have also installed 50kw of photovoltaic (PV) generation on the roof of Stage 7 on our Donnybrook campus. This system offers the potential to offset our total electricity usage within the Stage 7 building by up to 10-12%.

Waste management

No RTÉ waste has gone to landfill since 2017 and effective waste management and prevention processes continue to contribute to an overall reduction in waste. The importance of waste prevention and segregation is actively promoted with a ‘recycling at source’ policy. RTÉ’s total tonnage of waste in 2022 was 297 tonnes, a reduction of 40% against 2019.

Biodiversity

New pollination friendly areas have been created across RTÉ’s Donnybrook campus and RTÉ is a certified participant in the All-Ireland Pollinator plan.

Water

RTÉ aims to support national water conservation and protection ambitions. More than 95% of principle facility buildings are now metered to reduce wastage.

Unaccounted for water (unmetered/leakage) in 2022 on the Donnybrook site was 20% of total water used due to a combination of additional metering and the elimination of leakage within the network through water main enhancements. Mains water usage has decreased by 10% in the past four years.

Working collaboratively to make a difference

• RTÉ is a signatory to the Low Carbon Pledge, run by Business in the Community Ireland.
• RTÉ is a signatory to the Business in the Community Business Mark and has been certified for this mark for sustainability (originally based on ISO 26000 standards and verified by the National Standards Authority of Ireland).
• RTÉ is a signatory to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland Sustainability Roadmap Charter and is committed to working collaboratively within Ireland’s national media and screen sector to find ways in which transition to lower emission production can be accelerated.
• RTÉ is a member of the Screen Greening Coalition.
• RTÉ is a member of the European Broadcasting Union Sustainability Coalition, working with peer media organisations across Europe to explore ways in which broadcasters can play a leadership role in broadcasting production reform, and promote climate understanding and action with audiences.