Reduce Generator Fuel

How to Get Started

• Review the Communication Guide on Power Planning to Reduce Generator Fuel to learn how to steer your production.
• Discuss power planning with your crew and refer to the Power Planning Meeting Checklist for help.
• Source clean power alternatives when budgeting for your production.
• Discuss power requirements and explore adding supplemental grid power where necessary.
• Have Locations inquire about grid access at all sites and support areas.
• Book a studio facility and backlot that has adequate grid power for all production needs.
• Ask your vendors what batteries and fuel-efficient generators are available for your production.
• Have the production electricians verify the grid tie-ins prior to shooting.
• Be a sustainability leader. Spread the word. Communicate your successes to all financiers, studio execs, cast and crew so they build enthusiasm for your sustainable production and encourage others to follow your lead.

Reduce Generator Fuel for as Many Power Needs as Possible

Fuel used in generators is a significant portion of the fuel used on productions.

Studio Power

• Ensure there is adequate power for all of the power needs below.
• Explore options for supplemental power.

Prep/Construction

A significant amount of fuel is often used for construction and prepping crews. Ways to reduce fuel use in prep may include:

• Arranging for grid access to cover all prepping and wrapping periods to eliminate generators.
• Discussing battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
• Ensuring that if a generator is required:
  • It is the most efficient generator possible.
  • It is the right amount of power (right-sized) for actual power needs.
  • It is refilled with renewable diesel wherever possible.

Set

Set power requirements can vary from location to location. Productions tend to use large generators that can power the largest lighting setups on set. This can result in wasted fuel and money.

• LED lighting can be more expensive, but it may reduce power needs, allowing a battery or house power to be used in place of a diesel generator, which saves fuel.
• Ask your DP Lighting team to discuss average power requirements and rent a battery, hybrid or generator that will work for most days.
• When there is a larger power requirement due to a large lighting setup, bring in additional daily power as required.
• Discuss accessing grid power at all locations.
• Discuss battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
• Ensure that if a generator is required:
  • It is the most efficient generator possible.
  • It is right-sized for actual power needs.
  • It is refilled with renewable diesel wherever possible.

Basecamp/Circus

These areas usually use the most fuel of all generators on a production. To help reduce fuel use here, consider these options:

• Discussing accessing grid power at all locations.
• Discussing hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
• Discussing the need for overnight power.
• Establishing a temperature that will require power to maintain and communicate this number to the generator operators.
• Solar basecamp equipment can be a good solution and has proven to reduce generator fuel under the following conditions:
  • It is supplemented with batteries that can provide power during non-solar production hours.
  • The solar-battery combination is providing ALL power to the trailer.
  • There are enough solar trailers to avoid running a basecamp generator the majority of the time.

Catering/Craft Service

Caterers usually have their own generators. Both Catering and Craft Service require overnight/weekend power to keep the fridges cool. To help reduce fuel here, consider these options:

• Discussing accessing grid power at all locations for daytime and overnight power requirements.
• Discussing hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
• Using an existing running generator to power Catering and/or Craft Service, instead of using a standalone generator.

AC/Heating

Air conditioning units often come with their own generators. To reduce their fuel use, consider these options:

• Discussing accessing grid power at all locations.
• Discussing hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
• Using an existing running generator to power air conditioners instead of using a standalone generator.

Equipment Trucks

Some regions use multiple small gasoline putt-putts to power trucks, while others use a medium-sized generator. Fuel reduction approaches to consider include:

Discussing powering all equipment trucks with one source of power to avoid multiple small generators.
Discussing accessing grid power at all locations for daytime and overnight power requirements.
Discussing hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
Using an existing running generator to power equipment trucks instead of using a standalone generator or multiple small putt-putts.

Overnight and Weekend Power

Power usage here is often weather-dependent, but a blanket decision made to address one specific condition can become standard operating procedure for the entirety of production, which could end up wasting fuel, money, and labor.

To help prevent this, consider these options:

• Discussing powering all trucks requiring overnight/weekend power with one source of power to avoid multiple small generators. This may require moving the trucks so that they are all within reach of one power source.
• Discussing accessing grid power at all locations for daytime and overnight power requirements.
• Discussing hybrid and battery alternatives to reduce generator fuel.
• Discuss the need for overnight power. Is it necessary, or is it something that can be avoided?

Who to Talk To

Learn which departments and crew can help you reduce the use of fuel in your production’s generators and how.

Communication Guide

Quick Math – Budgeting and Building the Business Case

It is important to include the cost of generator fuel when building the business case for clean energy alternatives. If a grid tie-in is available to replace a generator, you will save the cost of fueling that generator.