FEST 7's carbon footprint was calculated to be almost half as big as FEST 8's when including hotel stays and band travel...

Check out our lastest video here on The FEST 2009 and some footprinting stats, courtesy of Carbon Solutions

Map with pins placed by FEST8-goers indicating where they traveled from

Gainesville Florida’s annual FEST event entered its eighth year this past October. A rock music event that lasted three days, the FEST 8 hosted a few hundred punk and alternative unsigned and signed bands from independent music labels.

It attracted approximately 6,000 people from all over the U.S. and many international countries. For FEST 8, twelve different venues accommodated the performers and revelers over the 3-day weekend, creating a raucous carnival of attendees that stretched along University Avenue and Main Street in downtown Gainesville, FL. As an event that relies heavily on electricity and long distance transportation, FEST 8’s CO2 output was of a magnitude that merited both carbon accounting and offsetting.

On October 30th at 10 A.M., three volunteers surveyed FEST-goers at the event registration on their distance traveled, method of transportation, number of travel companions, and time spent in a hotel. Attendees were also asked to place a pin on U.S. and world maps to indicate where they traveled from, creating a visual geographic representation of the FEST’s scope.

Strikeforce Diablo at FEST8

According to the survey of 1,026 attendees, approximately 10,219 tonnes of CO2 was emitted in total or 1.70 tCO2 per person. 20% of these emissions were generated by cars, 72% by air travel, 8% by lodging, and ~1% by electricity used to power the venues during the shows.  Approximately 6,000 people attended the event, making the FEST 8’s total carbon footprint around 10,219 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of emissions from the consumption of 1,150,00 gallons of gasoline.

there will be light snow showers in Missoula tonight, but there’s only sun in our forcast this Halloween weekend in g-ville.  Let the sun rock it’s turn into raw power this weekend curtousey of Pure Energy Solar’s tower of power.  

Let the sun contribute to  some ringing ears  at the FEST8 this weekend- the forcast is favorable.

Come see what Society Promotions has in store for us  this weekend too.  I am certain we will be fully synethsized with visual equivalent of sustainble rock.  An art collective by design, they will use nature to inspire them.  Check them out virtually here.

And last but not least of all will be our friends of the long lost art of ethereal broadcast, local low power radio warriors 94.7-LP WGOT FM.  Will they be solar powered too?  Come and find out curious friends.  Check WGOT out here 

it will be hard to miss the fearless and generous effort of our fellow artists collective Society Promotions, while they defy convention by invention of thoughtful carbon-neutral art.  come see it for yourself as it evolves all weekend.

This year is made possible by sponsorships from individual Fest-goers, by local businesses sponsoring entire shows, and from co-operating businesses and organizations.

those friends are- Society Promotions, Alachua County WASTE Watchers Program, Bearded Brothers, Mr Goodbike, Earth Pets, Maude’s, INDIGO, Ladybird Hair Salon, East End Eatery, Capitol City Bank, Common Grounds, WGOT 94.7FM, Pure Energy Solar and of course, The Fest.   more businesses to come…

thanks to you!

The overall carbon footprint of The FEST 7 of 2008 was measured at about 3,610 tons which included all travel from participants and bands as well as venues and hotels. 
The art  from Society Productions brought awarness and education around the affect that this event had on the environment and how all tonage from the venues was ultimately offset by CREx.