The Earth Thanks You

Give yourself a pat on the back for doing all you can to help protect the beautiful destinations we all love to visit and Mother Earth!

Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels

       Exchange CDs, DVDs and books instead of buying. Now you can avoid purchasing new products without forfeiting your entertainment needs.

"The professional's choice for environmental services"

Going green doesn't have to cost a lot of green! Use these simple tips to make a positive impact on the environment while keeping your wallet intact. It's easy, even for the laziest of environmentalists

Shut down and unplug electronics. Make small changes to use – and pay for – less energy, like shutting down your computer when you're not using it and plugging your cell phone and other electronics into power strips so you can turn several devices off with one switch.

Wash your clothes in cold water. By using cold water instead of warm, the average household can avoid emitting 1,281 pounds of carbon dioxide annually and save on energy bills.

Fill your bottle with filtered tap water. Choose the greener solution by using a reusable bottle, like the FilterForGood bottle, and filling it with filtered tap water. If you use a Brita filtration system you can make another responsible choice by recycling your pitcher filter when you replace it, which should be about every two months (or every 40 gallons). Find out more about recycling Brita filters here.

Update your wardrobe for less. Instead of consuming new products, trade fashionable clothes, accessories, cosmetics and shoes for free (you only pay for shipping). By swapping merchandise you can lower the amount of harmful emissions caused by the manufacturing process. Check out swapstyle.com to learn more.

Update your wardrobe for less. Instead of consuming new products, trade fashionable clothes, accessories, cosmetics and shoes for free (you only pay for shipping). By swapping merchandise you can lower the amount of harmful emissions caused by the manufacturing process.

       Use refurbished electronics. You can get refurbished electronics for a steal (they often sell for less than 50 percent of the retail price!), and before they're resold to the public, they go through an intense defect-testing process and the warranties usually remain intact. So you can save money and help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

Use kitchenware products made of recycled materials. Preserve uses items such as recycled Brita pitcher filters and empty yogurt containers to make their line of colorful kitchen gear. Since they're about the same price as regular kitchenware, it's a no-brainer to choose Preserve products. Visit preserveproducts.com to find a retailer near you.

Start a linen (both towels and sheets) reuse program in all guest rooms.

Install low-flow showerheads and sink aerators.

Switch to low-flow toilets or install toilet-tank fill diverters.

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs in guestrooms, lobbies, and hallways. Use sensors and/or timers for areas that are infrequently used.

Whenever possible, buy food and guest amenities in bulk (i.e., use refillable hair and skin care dispensers).

Educate your staff to turn off lights and turn down heating/air conditioning when rooms are unoccupied. Also, during summer months, to close the drapes.

Install window film to lower heating and cooling loads and reduce glare in guestrooms.

Provide guestroom recycler baskets for newspaper, white paper, glass, aluminum, cardboard, and plastic.

Provide your guests with bicycles, walking maps, and information on public transportation.

Provide recycling bins both in public areas (i.e., poolside), in the kitchen, and in the back office (including one at each desk) to make recycling as easy as possible

Buy office and guest amenity products that contain recycled material.

Use recycled paper products (with high post-consumer recycled content) that are either unbleached or bleached using a chlorine-free process. Minimize the amount of paper used for each guest (i.e., reduce paper size of invoices, etc.). Print with soy-based inks.

Buy organic, fair trade,

cruelty-free guest amenity

products whenever possible:

◦bedding

◦hair and body care

◦coffee and tea

◦etc.

Use nontoxic or least toxic cleaners, sanitizers, paints, pesticides, etc. throughout the hotel. Make sure all chemicals are stored safely in a well-ventilated area.

Purchase "Energy Star" appliances wherever possible

If the hotel has a pool and/or hot tub, install a solar water heating system and use pool and hot tub covers when the pool area is closed.

Provide your guests with bicycles, walking maps, and information on public transportation.

Provide reusable items such as cloth napkins, glass cups, ceramic dishes, etc. with all food and beverage services.

Provide glass cups and ceramic mugs (instead of plastic) for in-room beverages. Place cups and mugs upside down on paper doilies (instead of covering opening with a plastic wrapping).

Use daylight exclusively in your lobby, bar, and restaurant for as much of the day as possible. Consider installing skylights if needed.

Donate leftover food to a local nonprofit organization and/or use a compost bin.

If your hotel has a restaurant, consider transitioning it into a Certified Green Restaurant or Certified Green Commercial Kitchen (Ask your Environmental Solutions-USA representative). Buy organic, locally-grown food and/or plant an organic garden to provide fresh produce for your guests.

Switch to drought resistant native plants in garden areas. Replace mowed landscaping with native ground cover.

Replace exit signs with Light Emitting Diode (LED) exit signs.

Include filter changes, coil cleaning, thermostat calibration, and damper adjustments in your ongoing maintenance plan.

Monitor, record and post rates of energy and water use. Make repairs or replace equipment when rate changes indicate problems.

Use an energy management system (EMS) to tie in air handling units, HVAC, and lighting to prevent conditioning space when it is not necessary.

Create an incentive program to encourage your staff to participate in and improve upon environmentally-friendly practices.

Use proper insulation and reflective roof coverings.

When doing construction or remodeling projects, contact the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) to learn about the nationally accepted standards for green buildings (called LEED). Buy previously used or recycled-content products whenever possible.

Consult outside sources to evaluate the total system when replacing major mechanical equipment (such as chiller, water tower, etc). Often, this can lead to downsizing and other opportunities to reduce both the initial investment and operating costs.

Replace electric package terminal air conditioner (PTAC) units with more efficient heat pumps or other geothermal technologies.

Donate leftover guest amenities, old furniture and appliances to charities.

If available, schedule an energy audit through your local energy provider.

If your hotel has a gift shop, consider purchasing fair trade products.

Offer discounted rates to sustainable living/environmental organizations who would like stay at and/or hold meetings at your hotel.

Avoid room service and carryout.

Avoid room service and carryout.

Copyright © 2009  by L.G., all rights reserved.

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS-USA INC..