The Energy Analysis: The First Step in Saving Your Green Hotel Some Serious Green!

If you read any hospitality industry news, you’ve undoubtedly seen stories of green hotels that are saving big money by becoming more energy efficient. You might wonder how they do it.

Indeed, hoteliers across the country are always asking us the same question: What’s the quickest, most affordable and meaningful way for our aspiring green hotel to begin reducing its negative impact on the environment while also saving money in the long run?

Our answer – Conduct an energy efficiency analysis!

An energy efficiency analysis, also known as the E²A program, is an examination and analysis of a building’s energy flow by an expert, for the purpose of identifying ways to monitor and conserve energy without negatively impacting overall productivity. In the case of green hotels, an energy audit would allow the property to figure out, quickly and precisely, how to reduce it’s consumption without having an adverse effect on the guest experience or on the green hotel staff’s work environment.

Here’s how it works: our EcoGreenHotel team of qualified energy efficiency professionals uses a variety of specialized tools to determine exactly how much energy is being used at the property. We take things like weather, occupancy, and other factors into account to arrive at an accurate benchmark, or measurement standard, that your green hotel can use to begin tracking – and lowering – its energy consumption over time and results in savings.

We use the most trusted measurement tools and hospitality-specific resources in the industry – chiefly those developed by ENERGY STAR – to calculate the benchmark, so you can be sure it’s a valid representation of your property’s actual usage.

Our team then recommends concrete ways to reduce consumption at your green hotel – ways you may never even have thought of. For example, after one energy efficiency analysis, we recommended that the hotel install wireless energy management guest room controls that interface with the hotel’s software to give management direct control over energy use in unoccupied rooms. The savings for a 100-room hotel?A whopping 30% of the total energy used for guest rooms!The system paid for itself in no time. Of course, the key is to find the right technology, provider and price for it to make sense.

Whether it’s implementing new policies (linen re-use, for example), upgrading electrical and HVAC systems, exploring alternate energy or looking for ways to maximize your energy purchasing power, we’ll turn you on to all the hundreds of ways you can get more bang for your energy buck.

And speaking of bucks, we’ll help you identify and apply for all the rebates, incentives, grants and other funding available to help green hotels like yours go even greener, and we’ll do it faster and more affordably than you ever dreamed was possible.

Are you ready for an energy efficiency analysis at your green hotel? Contact an EcoGreenHotel energy efficiency professionalat info@ecogreenhotel.comtoday and let’s get started!

Why? Read our Triple Bottom Line & Eco-Efficiency article for more information.

Opening the Door to Volunteer Travelers at Your Green Hotel

In the wake of disasters in two of the world’s greatest tourist destinations (the 2004 tsunami in Asia, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005, most recent Gulf Coast oil spill), tourists discovered that a vacation or meeting that includes volunteer time is a rewarding way to enjoy a trip away from home while also giving back to their host community.

In the last half of this decade, volunteer travelers, or voluntourists, have begun combining vacation or business travel with charitable work in and around their destination in greater numbers than ever before, and voluntourism has quickly become one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.

These days, savvy green hotel marketers around the world are finding inventive ways to attract volunteer-minded travelers. Is your green hotel doing everything it can to appeal to voluntourists? Here are a few of the many imaginative ways that green hotels and trip organizers are rolling out the welcome mat for volunteers:

• The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau created a special program called “Meet Responsibly” which helps local green hotels garner more convention and meeting bookings. Meeting planners choosing to hold their event in the Fort Lauderdale area can choose from a menu of volunteer opportunities for their attendees – things like helping at a nearby food bank, cleaning up a park, beach or bike trail, or planting trees.


• Give eight hours of community service to a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and receive a 50% discount – or in some cases, a free night’s stay! – at over fifty Sage Hospitality properties across the USA.


• Volunteers at the recent 2010 Albany Tulip Festival in Albany, New York were treated to lodging discounts from several hotels during their stay.


• Green hotels along the Gulf coast – including the Port Inn and Mainstay Suites in Port St. Joe, Florida, are offering discounts to oil spill volunteers.


• The Four Seasons Austin’s “Pay It Forward” program links volunteer-minded guests with a food bank and a downtown beautification project and rewards them with up to 46% off their room rate.

Voluntourism is clearly here to stay, and figuring out how to get in on this lucrative new segment need not stress you out. We volunteer to help! If you need some fresh ideas for attracting voluntourists to your green hotel, simply contact us today and let’s brainstorm!

Smart Landscaping Can Reduce Hotel Water Costs

Smart Landscape Watering Systems Reduce Hotel Water Costs while Maintaining a Beautiful and Healthy Landscape

Summer is here and most green hotels have geared up to make sure their lawn and landscape stays green and beautiful for the enjoyment of guests and improved occupancy rates. As you start switching on those irrigation systems, now is a good time to think about controlling utility costs and being environmentally friendly.

Over watering of lawns and landscapes is the most common cause of water waste. It not only runs up the utility bills, but also can cause other problems including:

• Plant diseases such as root rot


• Run-off from your lawn and landscape, which may contribute to the pollution of streams and lakes (because lawn care chemicals go along with it)


• More frequent mowing and pruning from rapid plant growth


• Excessive “green waste,” which has become a costly waste disposal problem for cities and counties

How can a hotel use water efficiently with an irrigation system?

Recent innovative technologies can now help green hotel operators reduce wasted water and decrease utility expenses. A weather based watering technology, SmartLine, has proven to be an economical choice for green hotels of any size.

How Does it Work?

Stated simply, it’s like a thermostat for the landscape. The Weathermatic SmartLine System replaces the existing sprinkler timers that operate like the old egg timer. The SmartLine System uses weather readings from a small, on-property weather station to automatically calculate precise run times for the plants in each zone. It uses the sprinkler precipitation rates, soil type, and slope to apply water in run and soak cycles at a rate the soil can accept. This technology also eliminates the need to have lawn maintenance crews manually adjusting controllers to match the ever-changing weather conditions.

Real Dollar and Water Savings

With over 200,000 installations in 80 countries, SmartLine water savings range from 20 to over 60% and wasteful irrigation runoff is virtually eliminated. This high efficiency system results in a return on investment of typically 12 months or less.



You Only Know What You Measure

Another helpful feature is the SmartLine Water Management Service that includes access to monthly reporting detailing site-specific water savings and performance compared to water usage goals considering the actual weather conditions. This could come in very handy not only as a monitoring device, but to verify the entire irrigation system is working properly.

For more information, visit EcoGreenHotel Store or email us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com.

What is a Green Hotel?

Six Things No Green Hotel Should be Without--By Scott Parisi, President, EcoGreenHotel

It seems as if you can’t turn around anymore without running into something “green.” Nowhere is that more true than in lodging. Green hotels – or at least, those calling themselves green – are sprouting up everywhere, and travelers are becoming increasingly more aware of what to look for and how to judge whether or not a green hotel actually is… well, green!

You want your guests to know without a doubt that there’s no green-washing happening at your green hotel. I’ve put together a green hotel checklist so you can see how your property stacks up. Does your property have:

• Staff Buy-In and Ongoing Education: In a truly green hotel, everyone – from the front desk staff to the owner and everyone in between – fully understands, supports, practices and can communicate the property’s environmental policies.
• A Working (and funded!) Energy Strategy: Today’s green hotelsgo beyond just changing a few light bulbs and implementing a linen reuse policy. They analyze their energy efficiency – including conducting Energy Star benchmarking -- and then seek out and apply for incentives, rebates and loans that allow them to make meaningful changes in their consumption.
• A Green Purchasing Plan:From locally-grown organic produce for its banquet salads to environmentally sensitive cleaning products and furnishings, green hotels know where and how to source the most cost-effective earth-friendly products.
• Green Hotel Certification:A green hotel designation from a certifying body that does on-site audits assures your guests that your property has met rigorous environmental standards.
• Specialized Marketing: Green hotels recognize that expertly targeted internet marketing is vital to their ongoing success in an increasingly competitive industry.

So how does your property stack up? I know it seems daunting to meet all those requirements, to track down trustworthy, LEED-Accredited Professional advisors, find rebates and incentives, train everybody, and still manage to run a lodging facility… who has time for that?

That’s why I created EcoGreenHotel to be a one-stop shop. We have trainers, engineers, financial advisors, purchasing and marketing specialists, thousands of quality green products and a certification program to meet the needs of every type and size of lodging facility at all stages in the green hotel process. We are LEED-Accredited Professionals specializing in energy efficiency. We can help your property achieve all of the above in the most cost-effective way possible, and we can start today.

ENERGY STAR FOR HOSPITALITY

By Jeff Kiec, Director of Sustainability - EcoGreenHotel

In today’s strenuous economic conditions, hotels are looking for every advantage to increase occupancy and lower operating expenses. Fortunately, there is a program that can help do both. The U.S. EPA’s EnergyStar Labeling program for hospitality buildings offers solutions to property owners to find hidden operational cost savings and unlock energy efficiency throughout the property. In addition, since EnergyStar is the most recognized eco-label by environmentally conscious consumers, it provides positive connection to the traveling public.

Energy Efficiency = Cost $avings

• U.S. hotels spend close to $4 billion on energy every year.
  
  
  • A 10 % reduction in energy costs is equivalent to increasing ADR by $0.83 for limited service hotels and by $2.45 for full-service hotels.
  
  
  • Hotels and motels spend an average of $2,196 per available room each year on energy, an amount that represents about 6 percent of all hotel operating costs

Hotels can dramatically improve energy performance and thus operating costs with simple steps that will leave additional capital to invest in further property improvements. In addition to delivering financial savings, cost reductions through energy efficiency translate into greater profitability for hotel owners.

Increased Recognition = Additional Revenue

• Leading online travel companies, Travelocity (Green Directory)and Orbitz (Eco-Toursim Travel Guide),enhanced their online hotel listing to allow travelers to easily identify properties that have earned the EnergyStar Label.

Leading hotel corporations are taking advantage of the cost savings found within the program. Hilton Hotels earned the EPA’s EnergyStar Award for Excellence in Energy Management and ties their hotel general managers' annual bonuses to energy performance. By meeting Hilton's goal of reducing energy consumption by 5% for every owned hotel, a manager's annual bonus was increased. This resulted in almost every property meeting the goal. Marriott has over 275 hotels with its EnergyStar label, more than any other hotel company. The US EPA also presented Marriott with its EnergyStar Sustained Excellence Award and has named the company “Partner of the Year” since 2004.

Currently there are 415 labeled green hotels: which represents 4% of the total labeled buildings in the US. (see figure 1).

Less than 1% of all of the 47,000 US hotels are Energy Star Labeled, which means yours can stand-alone in its local market. EcoGreenHotel can assist your property achieve the EnergyStar Label through its onsite Energy Efficiency Analysis and EnergyStar benchmarking and labeling services. http://www.ecogreenhotel.com/energystarbenchmarking.php

EcoGreenHotel Announces Partnership with EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Program

June 7, 2010, Robbinsville, NJ - EcoGreenHotel today announced a fundamental commitment to protect the environment by becoming an ENERGY STAR partner. Through its voluntary partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Program, will work to improve energy efficiency and fight global warming.  EcoGreenHotel believes that a strategic, corporate energy management program will help us enhance our financial health and aid in preserving the environment for future generations.

“The EcoGreenHotel team is excited to partner with the EPA and the DOE through their highly-regarded ENERGY STAR program, which is recognized worldwide for its excellence,” said Scott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel. “ENERGY STAR is among the most trusted and demanding certifying bodies there is, so earning partnership status with them means a great deal to us and the industry we serve.”

In partnership with ENERGY STAR, EcoGreenHotel will:

• Measure and track the energy performance of our client’s facilities where possible by using tools such as those offered through ENERGY STAR;


• Develop and implement a plan consistent with the ENERGY STAR Energy Management Guidelines to achieve energy savings;


• Help spread the word about the importance of energy efficiency to our staff and community;


• Support the ENERGY STAR Challenge, a national call-to-action to help improve the energy efficiency of America’s commercial and industrial buildings by 10 percent or more;


• Highlight our client’s achievements with recognition offered through ENERGY STAR.

"Environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility - and today I'm pleased EcoGreenHotel is taking this motto to heart," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.  "By making smart energy choices, EcoGreenHotel is helping improve our nation's energy and environmental outlook."

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2007, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.

For more information about EcoGreenHotel, visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com or call 1-888-229-0213 for program details. Visit www.energystar.gov for more information about ENERGY STAR.

EcoGreenHotel Expands Energy Solutions Team

Robinsville, NJ – June 3, 2010 - EcoGreenHotel LLC is pleased to announce that Mark R. Hahn has been appointed Vice President of Energy Solutions. Mr. Hahn will be responsible for providing comprehensive energy efficiency solutions to the hospitality industry, expanding EcoGreenHotel’s growing portfolio of clients who have reduced their energy use and operating costs.

Scott Parisi, President of EcoGreenHotel LLC stated, “the Green Hotel movement continues to gain momentum as a growing list of corporate and public entities encourage their employees to conduct business with certified ‘green’ properties. As the established online booking engines, such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz announce their Green Hotel criteria, there is no doubt that hotels and resorts that embrace sustainable practices will gain market share. Forward thinking management companies and hotel owners have found our energy solutions to be very valuable, cost effective and profitable. With a growing pipeline of new business, we are building our team to support this growth.”

Mr. Parisi continued, “The addition of Mr. Hahn to our team enhances the direction of the Energy Solutions Division and positions the organization to be fully versatile in assisting hotels in all services related to Green Hospitality. The Energy Solutions Division conducts Energy Star Benchmarking, Energy Efficiency Analysis and Energy Performance Project Management. EcoGreenHotel is proficient in identifying federal, state and local utility rebates, incentives, grants and loans. By leveraging available programs, we are able to assist properties to inject capital towards energy conservation measures that create positive cash flow. With new technologies rapidly being introduced into the market and new programs for funding and subsidizing projects, it was time to add an individual with Mark’s experience to our team.”

Mr. Hahn brings a deep commitment to the energy business to his role at EcoGreenHotel, along with extensive experience in financial management. Mr. Hahn studied renewable energy, with an emphasis on solar and thermal efficiency, earning degrees in environmental science and business. He designed and built one of the first solar heated structures in New Jersey. Prior to joining EcoGreenHotel, Mr. Hahn was Executive Vice President with at an energy performance company in New York State where he led a team bringing comprehensive energy solutions to the public sector.

Mr. Hahn commented on his new role; “Through a collaborative process with facility managers, engineers, technology specialists, financial experts and legal counsel, EcoGreenHotel will assist facility owners and property management to conduct energy analysis, develop project scope, arrange financing and incentives, and improve their properties. Our mission is to develop and implement actionable plans that save energy, lessenimpact on the environment and improve cash flow for our clients in the hospitality industry.”

An Idea to Help Gulf Coast Green Hotels Cope With the Oil Spill

In a recent survey of fifty lodging facilities along the Gulf coast from Texas to the Florida Keys – some of them were likely certified green hotels – the Knowland Group found that 42% of hoteliers reported that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off Louisiana has already resulted in cancelled bookings. Even in areas far removed from the spill’s current location, wary travelers are re-thinking their plans to stay in coastal properties.

While there is great uncertainty surrounding where the slick might ultimately end up, there is little doubt it will have a devastating environmental impact along the northern Gulf Coast. And some experts predict the oil could enter a loop current which would carry it like a conveyor belt to the pristine beaches and coral reefs off the Florida Keys, along the sugar white sands of South Beach and up the east coast of Florida and beyond.

According to the Knowland Group, many properties they surveyed are being proactive and implementing plans to deal with the spill’s potential fallout. One idea being batted around the Florida Keys is to request additional funds from BP (in excess of the $25 million the company has already given to Florida and other states to promote tourism in the wake of the spill) to provide free travel insurance to groups and individuals booking within the next several months.

We think this idea has a lot of merit. With summer beach travel about to hit full stride in a matter of weeks, the uncertainty surrounding where the slick might end up warrants a bold approach. Providing free travel insurance would allow consumers to book a beach vacation or conference with confidence, and would allow coastal hoteliers to stay afloat in the event the spill adversely affects their area.

We sincerely hope BP will pony up additional money to fund travel insurance for coastal lodging – green hotels and otherwise. It’s the least they can do under the circumstances.

What are your ideas for how green hotels can respond to the oil spill threat? Send them to us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may publish them in our newsletter!