Opera House to save $70K a year from lighting upgrade

A major upgrade of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall lighting system has dramatically reduced energy use and improved the venue experience for both performers and audiences.

The two-year installation incorporated the latest long-life LED technology and includes a new control system for the stage, auditorium and performance lighting.

The project has won the Heritage Buildings category for Excellence in Sustainability at the NSW Government’s Green Globe Awards. The innovative technology developed for this project by theatre lighting and automation systems company State Automation and lighting specialist Lumascape has already received interest from international performing arts centres. Ryan Wilks (crown and high-level lights) and Downer Australia (low-level lights) carried out the installation. The update is expected to reduce electricity consumption by 75%, with estimated savings of about $70,000 a year. Other benefits include: greatly reduced need for staff to work in confined ceiling spaces to replace lights; increased capacity to create ambient and specific lighting effects, without the cost of hanging additional lights; and removal of about four tonnes of air-conditioning ducting.

“The improvements in terms of energy use, waste and staff safety are very substantial. For example, the old lamps lasted between 300 and 1000 hours, and needed to be changed several times a year. The new lamps are guaranteed for 50,000 hours, so they will need to be changed only once every nine years. At the same time, we are delivering improved services to our performing arts partners and venue hirers,” said Sydney Opera House Director of Theatre & Events David Claringbold.

Demonstration of the new Concert Hall lighting system and capabilities.

The improvements were achieved while adhering to the building’s strict architectural and performance heritage requirements. A key factor in the project’s success has been the multidisciplinary collaboration between Opera House theatre lighting and building teams, contractors, lighting suppliers and the two Opera House resident companies that most use the Concert Hall, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant said: “This project shows how new technology can deliver benefits on many fronts - in this case, environmental, financial, artistic and operational. The fact that this has been achieved in a heritage-listed building is a testament to the commitment and innovation of the Opera House’s staff and partners.”

“Our mission says everything we do should engage and inspire people. That should be just as true of our sustainability initiatives as of the performances we present. The Concert Hall lighting upgrade is an excellent example of how we can renew the Opera House to meet the needs and expectations of 21st-century artists, audiences and the broader community,” said Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM