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Eco-Chic Clubs Put Energy Into Conservation
The Butterfly Social Club in Chicago was constructed using recycled materials for the floors and walls, part of a trend to create eco-friendly nightspots.
(Photos By Stacie Freudenberg -- Associated Press)
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Beyond a handful of clubs, the green trend is catching on slowly. Most are taking baby steps, serving organic cocktails and banning smoking.
Stereo by the Shore on Long Island lures such celebs as Scarlett Johansson and Wilmer Valderrama. The Southampton hip-hop hideaway is known for its lush green gardens, which bloom pesticide-free.
Owner Michael Satsky lowers energy costs in the summer by raising the thermostat and openings windows. He also bans smoking on the grounds. But the free helicopter service for VIPs commuting from Manhattan certainly doesn't save gas.
The balance between opulence and conservation could be a sticking point as trendy clubs, often known for over-the-top indulgences, try to adopt the minimalist mantra of tree-huggers.
There are few eco-friendly clubs in South Beach, though hot spots Mansion, Prive and Set are among hundreds of clubs in the country relying on light-emitting diodes to illuminate dance floors. LEDs give off nearly five times the light as an incandescent bulb for the same amount of energy, experts say.
Beyond that, managers said their venues have no plans to go green.
But in the Netherlands, busting a move could soon generate enough energy to help power a dance club, according to one Rotterdam company, Enviu. The company is working on a prototype floor that captures the vibration of dancers and transfers it to batteries.
"It's a way to reach young people in a way they understand it. You're forced to make it sexy and challenging to them," said Stef van Dongen.
The floor won't power an entire club, so the company is also using smart lighting and acoustics designed so music is played at half-volume.
The floor isn't cheap, at roughly $400,000 for a 10-by-10-foot space, but van Dongen says it's cost effective in the end.
The goal is to prove clubs can make money and still be conscious of the environment.
Enviu plans to sell the dance floors to other venues and already has requests from clubs in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Club managers say earth-friendly hot spots seem like a natural progression for the green movement.
"The new generation of clubgoer tends to be increasingly conscious of the environment," said Vanessa Menkes, vice president of the Opium Group, which owns four of Miami's most popular clubs. "I think the green trend is slowly and steadily penetrating all facets of business, from the automobile industry to the food industry, and there is no reason why night life won't be next."
