Ecogreen Sustainable Operations

Improving Your Energy Performance at Your Green Hotel

2010-09-01T00:06:00.000-07:00

One Easy Way to Get Started

If you stop to think about it, your hotel is sort of like a machine. It’s got a ton of moving parts – the building and all of its infrastructure, the staff and administrative personnel, the grounds – all of those components have to be in good working order or the whole operation will suffer.

But there’s another moving part to your machine that you might not have considered right off the bat, and that’s the energy that powers your entire hotel engine. If your building, its infrastructure, your personnel and the grounds surrounding the building are not conserving energy like they could be, the machine that is your green hotel will eventually sputter and stop running. It won’t be able to sustain itself, and it won’t be able to compete with all the other green hotel machines that are running at peak efficiency.

Even if you have implemented a green initiative or two at your property, there is still room for improvement, because green lodging is not a destination – it’s a journey. And a journey of a thousand miles begins with… say it with me now… a single step!

Maybe your green team would like to improve your property’s energy efficiency but you’re confused about the next logical step. Or perhaps your hotel has yet to launch a green initiative and you don’t even know where to begin. One easy way to overcome either of those scenarios and kick start the process in a single step is to conduct an energy efficiency analysis.

An energy efficiency analysis is an in-depth study of your property’s energy usage. It shows you – in black and white – how each of your hotel’s moving parts can become more efficient, and how you can save energy and money without disrupting the guest experience (and in many cases, how you can actually enhance the guest experience).

One of the most important things to come out of an energy efficiency analysis is benchmarking, which gives you a starting point from which to measure your green hotel’s progress toward greater efficiency and savings. The most trusted benchmarking tool for hotels is the one developed by Energy Star, which is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Environmental Protection.

Almost 4,000 hotels have used the Energy Star benchmarking tool as part of their energy efficiency analysis. To learn more, visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com and click on “Energy Star” under Our Services section.

Generation Y’s Green Hotel Demands:

2010-07-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

Not what you might expect!

A new study of the workplace preferences of Generation Y (people born between 1981 and 2000) reveals some striking information – and provides an important heads up for green hotels that hope to attract this up-and-coming demographic.

Not surprisingly, Gen Y’ers want their workplace to have the latest technology and to be set up to allow for greater teamwork, creativity and multi-tasking. But an overwhelming number also expect their employers to provide an eco-friendly work environment that not just meets but exceeds minimum compliance standards.

For example, 96% of those surveyed said they demand an “environmentally-aware or friendly workplace,” and close to 60% said they expect their employer to go above and beyond the regulatory requirements. They want more than just strategically-placed recycle bins – they want real water conservation efforts and the highest level of energy efficiency to be standard operations at work.

The report recommends that employers bring their green initiatives front and center, and that they make sustainability policies a meaningful part of day-to-day operations, because the eco-savvy Gen Y’ers are clearly on the lookout for environmental-friendliness in all aspects of their daily lives.

"[Gen Y] preferences for an environmentally focused working environment are very strong; not only in the physical aspects of the workplace, but also in their way of working: flexible working, travel patterns, etc.," said the report.

Are you listening, green hotels?Clearly, if the members of Gen Y are that determined to make eco-friendliness an integral part of their work-lives, they’re probably equally determined to exercise that same level of sensitivity when making travel and lodging decisions.

And there will be no fooling this knowledgeable bunch. They’ve grown up alongside the environmental movement. They know green-washing and lax or phony eco-standards when they see them.

If you’re ready to boost your hotel’s energy efficiency and water conservation efforts to prepare your property to attract a new generation of environmentally-aware consumers – contact EcoGreenHotel today.

From ENERGY STAR benchmarkingof your energy usage to finding rebates and incentives to help pay for energy efficiency upgrades to targeted, industry-specific marketing services, our professional green team has got you covered.

Smart Landscaping Radically Reduces Hotel Water Costs

2010-07-13T00:52:00.000-07:00

Save Money while Maintaining a Beautiful and Healthy Landscape

ROBBINSVILLE, N.J. –

Green Hotels want to make sure their lawn and landscape stays healthy and beautiful for the enjoyment of guests and improved occupancy rates. They must also think about controlling utility rates and being environmentally friendly.

Overwatering of landscape is often the major water waste culprit for a hotel property. But now, you no longer have to “guess” how long each watering zone should be operating thanks to the SmartLine System offered by Weathermatic, a global manufacturer and service provider of water conservation solutions for the outdoors since 1945.

EcoGreenHotel recognizes Weathermatic’s weather based watering technology that has proven to be an economical choice for properties of any size.

George Kenney of Soundview Landscape has installed SmartLine for several properties in Hawaii. “SmartLine has changed the way we irrigate properties,” Kenney states. “[When] we converted the landscaping at a condominium to SmartLine, the water savings have been so dramatic that the resort has asked to convert additional sites. If the next six months are equal to the first six months, the property will realize a savings of six million gallons in the first year of system operation.”

How Does It Work
Simply stated, it is a thermostat for the landscape. The SmartLine System replaces existing sprinkler timers that operate like the old egg timer.

It uses weather readings from a small, on-property weather station to automatically calculate precise run times for the plants in each zone using a proven evapotranspiration formula. It also uses sprinkler precipitation rates, soil type, and slope to apply water in run and soak cycles at a rate the soil can accept to prevent polluted runoff. In addition,” Brodie Bruner, VP Marketing and Sales for Weathermatic, notes, “this technology eliminates the need to have lawn maintenance crews manually adjusting controllers to match ever-changing weather conditions.”

Real Dollar and Water Savings
“More than 200,000 properties in over 80 countries are now using SmartLine,” saidBruner, “with SmartLine water savings ranging from 20 to over 60%.“

“The comforting part about converting existing controllers to SmartLine,” Bruner explains, “is that a typical installation can be accomplished in a few hours without any disturbance to existing landscaping or interruption of property use for your guests. Most importantly, this high efficiency system results in a return on investment of typically 12 months or less.”

You Only Know What You Measure
Weathermatic can provide a SmartLine Water Management Service that includes access to monthly reports detailing site-specific water savings and performance compared to water usage goals considering the actual weather conditions. This service,” Bruner explains, “acts both as a monitoring device and provides analysis to verify the entire irrigation system is working properly.”

Alen Hinckley, Yorkshire West Realty Advisors, saw the payback in less than three months and saved almost 4 million gallons of water after a year. With an effective annual 70% reduction, their group is rolling out SmartLine on all their properties. “It’s a no brainer,” said Alen.

SmartLine controllers are available in sizes for any property with configurations for wall mounting or pedestal installation. They can be wired or wireless for flexibility in mounting locations on any property. Several remote control options are available to insure easy irrigation field maintenance for landscape crews.

Feds and States Link Up for Energy Efficiency:

2010-07-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

Excellent News for Green Hotels

In a move that will undoubtedly benefit green hotels across the country, the Obama administration recently announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have teamed up to create an action group that will assist states in improving energy efficiency in residential, industrial and commercial buildings – including green hotels.

The group, called the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network, will partner with representatives of state and local governments, public utilities, business leaders and associations to assist states with their energy efficiency initiatives, including energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses,funding opportunities to invest in carrying out innovative energy efficiency policies, and improving the availability of energy usage information.

The action network’s goal is to jumpstart the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, which calls for maximum energy efficiency to be achieved in the United States by 2025. SEE’s ambitious mission is to beat that deadline by five years. It aims to do so by providing technical assistance and funding “to states that seek to create new results-based policies and programs that encourage energy efficiency."

For green hotels, we envision a lot of good coming out of this partnership. SEE’s fierce determination to beat the 2025 deadline by five years creates a much-needed sense of urgency that has been sorely lacking over the past few years. The network’s goal of promoting energy efficiency through a web of statewide, regional and nationwide partnerships means there may finally be a coordinated, orchestrated and cohesive effort to get the job done.

And additional funding means that good state and local energy efficiency programs that have great potential to make a lasting difference – those that never received quite enough funding to get off the ground, or those whose funding was slashed – (remember Florida’s outstanding Green Lodging Program that was gutted due to budget shortfalls in 2009?) may once again have a fighting chance.

Thanks to the formation of this new action group, we see a future filled with wonderful possibilities for green hotels to take advantage of energy efficiency programs, rebates and incentives. Members of the network began meeting a few weeks ago, so we should begin to see positive movement very soon.

EcoGreenHotel will be monitoring SEE events as they happen, and we promise to bring you the latest news about how the green hospitality industry – and your green hotel – can benefit.

The Best Business Strategy for Your Green Hotel, Energy Efficiency

2010-07-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

At EcoGreenHotel, clients are always asking for our advice about how to go green in the quickest and most affordable way possible. And our advice is always the same: operating a truly green hotel is not a piecemeal proposition. It’s not about switching a few light bulbs or putting out some recycling bins (although those are all good things to do!).

No, developing and maintaining a green hotel requires a holistic approach that begins with a shift in the way everyone thinks about what it means to own and operate an eco hotel. At the precise moment that everyone from the owner on down starts thinking about environmental sustainability as a business strategy – that’s the moment your hotel begins to go green in a meaningful way.

Formulating a business strategy means that you meticulously choose and apply your business’s resources in a way that you think will bring some sort of competitive advantage in the future. Your team already does this at your hotel. Whenever you make a decision to upgrade the carpeting or offer a new amenity, you’re strategizing. You’re betting that the upgrade and new amenities will pay off in the long run through higher guest satisfaction, which translates into repeat bookings, which means increased revenue for your hotel. You are banking on that strategy.

But have you ever thought about how going green might be an equally good business strategy? Without a doubt, the most strategic way to go green is to increase your hotel’s energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency means using less energy to obtain the same quality of service. Here’s why energy efficiency should be the centerpiece of every hotel’s business strategy:

The hospitality industry spends $3.7 billion a year on energy.

Electricity use accounts for 60-70% of the utility costs of a typical hotel.

Energy-efficient lighting can reduce electricity use up to 75%.1

Clearly, making your green hotel more energy efficient will positively impact more than the environment. It will positively impact your bottom line, and no matter how you slice it, that’s just good business!

EcoGreenHotel’s team of energy efficiency experts can help your green hotel plug energy efficiency into your business strategy, quickly and affordably. Contact us and get started today with our Energy Efficiency Analysis Program.

¹ California Hotel and Lodging Association

The Gulf Oil Spill: What Good May Come

2010-07-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Gulf front resort hotels are taking an economic hit without one drop of oil soiling their pristine beaches

We’ve all watched in horror as the ever-growing BP oil slick reaches shorelines along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Not only did eleven men lose their lives in the Deepwater Horizon disaster, but the spill that resulted from it is now fouling gulf waters in an area the size of some states – water that’s home to sea life including dolphins and sea turtles. It’s destroying precious marshlands that served as safe, healthy nurseries for all kinds of baby birds and fishes, right at the height of nesting and spawning season. It’s also wiping out the livelihoods of fishing families and obliterating the culture of some of the sweetest, hardest working people in America.

And it’s also adversely affecting the hospitality industry. In spite of BP’s multi-million dollar grants to gulf coast states to fund additional tourism advertisement, hoteliers from Texas to the east coast of Florida – many of whom are hundreds of miles from the nearest oil – report that they are dealing with a devastating economic fallout caused by cancellations from nervous travelers.

The director of Mississippi’s lodging association has estimated that beachfront bookings were down 50% with Memorial Day approaching, and the same was reported in the Florida panhandle. This is all in addition to the hit the region took from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the recession that followed right on the storm’s heels.

How much more battering can the hospitality industry take? How much more can any of us take?

If there was ever a wakeup call for America – including those in the hospitality industry – to get on board the energy efficiency and clean energy train, this oil spill is it. At last, it appears that Americans are finally getting the message that we must wean ourselves off foreign oil – and our dependence on fossil fuels in general – and turn our collective attention to developing clean, renewable energy sources for our country as quickly as we possibly can.

Imagine the good we could accomplish if we took all the brain power and resources we’re currently using to try and plug that oil gusher in the Gulf, and applied them to developing cleaner energy!

On a day when we’re all feeling so helpless and frightened at the devastating environmental and economic news we’re hearing today, imagining that kind of good – and vowing to work toward making it our new American reality – may just be the most righteous thing we can do.

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

2010-06-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-06-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

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!

Book: The Responsibility Revolution – How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win-- Review by Susan Patel

2010-05-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

We’ve looked backwards and forwards with our last two book recommendations. Now that we have the foundation set lets take a look at “now.” How to create a company that not only sustains, but surpasses the norm and is an all-around “good” steward - truly.

Seventh Generation’s Jeffrey Hollender and Bill Breen have co-authored a fun read. It serves as a blue print for creating a socially responsible business in this new age. This is Hollender’s push for more responsibility—of the ‘bigger’ kind. Whether you are an owner, leader, executive, general manager, junior employee or staff – this book will show you can green your practices and still make a profit.

Programs both by the government and more so by businesses have been created to bring about the social and environmental change needed in the world and the workplace. Is it really enough?

Using stories and principles from companies who are doing interesting and radical things (Linden Labs, Timberland, Etsy – to name a few), Hollender gives us ideas and methods for sustainable social responsibility. He makes a clear case for Community and Collaboration.

Two points to note are:
1. It’s a competitive advantage for your hotel to be seriously responsible (both as resources dwindle and traveler/guests demand more); and
2. “Sustainability” includes social initiatives. It starts with being green, supply chains and energy efficiency – but there is definitely more to it.

Whether you call it ‘People, Planet, Profit’ or ‘Tripple Bottom Line,’ Profits will follow when we make responsible decisions. We at EcoGreenHotel definitely believe and know the impact of that. This book will get your started, or take you further – either way, you win!

GREEN TEAMS Part 2: Making the Business Case

2010-05-06T01:53:00.000-07:00

Last month we introduced this new GREEN TEAMS series and briefly focused on green teams and the business value. This month, before we go further into the “how” we will be taking a look at “why” first.

One of the key challenges consistenty raised as more and more hotels “go green” is making the business case for investing resources to support green teams. Does it make sense? Businesses in all areas including hotels are just beginning to quantify the benefits from green teams, therefore at this point, the business case is more intuitive and anecdotal in nature.

Based on a review of case studies and interviews with green team leaders, the business value of green teams includes the following:

Cost Savings
Carrie Freeman, a Corporate Sustainability Stretegist at Intel, commented, “When it comes to looking at ways to reduce our footprint, we very much see a direct coorelation between reducing our costs and engaging our employees.” Be it changing light bulbs, turning off the lights or getting your employees to innovate greener solutions in their jobs, engaging your employees to identify easy, low cost efficiency initiatives can result in significant cost savings. For example, Intercontinental Hotels invested $400,000 to change light bulbs on their properties and saved $1.2 million over four months.

Attract & Retain Best Talent
A green team, when part of a broader sustainability strategy, can give employees an outlet for their personal interests, help raise moral, improve loyalty and help attract and retain the best and brightest talent, who are attracted to companies with an authentic green commitment. Losing and replacing a good employee costs companies between 70% to 20% of an employee’s annual salary, according to Engaged!, a new book on employee engagement. And when the economy begins to heat up, the best talent may be looking for greener pastures. Libby Reder, Head of Environmental Initiatives at eBay, believes their Green Team is an important reason why some employees stay at eBay, and according to their recruiters, it also helps them attract the best talent.

Strengthen Brand & Increase Market Share
Hotels can bolster their brand and potentially increase market share by walking the talk and supporting green teams as a strategy for getting their employees and guests behind sustainability. They can also use employees to identify new opportunities to improve their practices and achieve their sustainability goals. “The engaged workforce will find more opportunities to get lean and identify more opportunities to innovate and create products and services that lower customers’ environmental impacts. All of this work will improve the top and bottom lines,” comments sustainable business expert Andrew Winston, in his recent book Green Recovery.

The National Environmental Education Foundation’s (NEEF) recent report The Engaged Organization Corporate Employee Environmental Education Survey and Case Study Findings stresses, “By engaging employees, companies spark innovative changes in everyday business processes that save money and reduce environmental and social impacts while also inspiring employees to make sustainable choices at home and in their communities.”

According to a case study by BSR on Intel’s green teams, “It may seem like a distraction in these times of financial instability to focus on employees’ passion for sustainability, but efforts toward employee engagement will strengthen a company’s employee base – which will be a crucial element in recovering from the recession. And maintaining employee loyalty and high productivity will help companies position themselves for success as the economy revives.”

According to eBay’s volunteer Green Team leader in Omaha, “Having a Green Team gives people something to believe in; something that is tangible, visible representation that we are a company that cares.”

Look out for EcoGreenHotel’s June Eco Newsletter as we bring you: Getting Started and Four Emerging Trends.

Food Waste Management Cost Calculator

2010-05-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Excel Food Waste Management Calculator | The Food Waste Management Calculator (PDF) (13 pp, 97K, about PDF) estimates the cost competitiveness of alternatives to food waste disposal, including source reduction, donation, composting, and recycling of yellow grease. Specifically, the calculator:

Develops an alternative food waste management scenario based on:

Your waste profile;

Availability of diversion methods; and

Preferences, and

Compares cost estimates for a disposal versus an alternative scenario.

The Calculator demonstrates that environmentally and socially responsible food waste management is cost-effective for many facilities, including hotels, and waste streams. The more you know about your current waste management costs, the more accurate the calculator’s estimate will be, but default values are provided for many variables.

Note: You will need to open an Excel file to use the calculator. You will need to enable macros for the calculator to work properly. To ensure that macros are enabled, please go to Tools>Macro>Security and set the security level to Medium. Then close the file. When you open the file again, the software should prompt you to enable macros. Click enable.

CFL Bulbs or Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Energy Savings, Mercury, Recycling and More

2010-04-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

CFL bulbs or compact fluorescent light bulbs: Energy Savings

Commonly referred to as CFLs, compact fluorescent lamps or compact fluorescent light bulbs have become the basic necessity for a green hotel taking action in the modern green movement. These bulbs, which can replace incandescent, halogen and other electric lights, use 60 to 80 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts. This makes CFLs an increasingly popular way to cut energy costs without making any radical changes like replacing lighting fixtures or rewiring which can get pretty expense in many cases.

Dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs

Aside from saving your “green” by using a fraction of the energy, compact fluorescent light bulbs have a much longer usable life than incandescent. Compared to incandescent bulbs that last about 1,000 hours, compact fluorescent light bulbs typically last between 6,000 to15,000 hours. Advancement in technology now has improved CFL bulb’s light quality and versatility by now emitting a more pleasant “soft white” light and functioning in dimmable and three-way fixtures. So what does this mean for the bottom line? Well, you can save upwards of $30 per bulb over its life and save 2000 times its own weight in greenhouse gas emissions (times this by how many bulbs you have at your green hotel – and imagine the savings!!).

How do compact fluorescent light bulbs work?

Instead of a filament lit up with electrical energy, there are two main parts in a compact fluorescent light bulb: a gas-filled tub (also called bulb or burner) and the magnetic or electronic ballast; those with magnetic ballasts tend to flicker more, so electronic ballasts are being used more often. When you flip the switch, electrical energy, in the form of an electrical current from the ballast, flows through the gas, causing it to emit ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light then excites a phosphor coating on the inside of the tub, which then emits visible light. Amazing, isn’t it?

Compact fluorescent light bulbs and mercury

The mercury present in CFLs has been one of the most talked about issues related to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They contain only a small amount of mercury, however, because CFLs use so much less energy than their incandescent counterparts, compact fluorescent light bulbs are responsible for less mercury contamination than the incandescent bulbs they replaced, even though incandescents don’t contain any mercury.

More mercury comes from incandescents than from compact fluorescent light bulbs…how?

The highest source of mercy in America’s air and water results from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, at utilities that supply electricity; incandescents burn way more energy, so, on a macro level, require much more energy to be produced. When that energy comes from fossil fuels, like coal (which most of America’s energy does), it causes more mercury to be emitted. Additionally, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have made a voluntary commitment to cap the amount of mercury used in CFLs: “Under the voluntary commitment, effective April 15, 2007, NEMA members will cap the total mercury content in CFLs of less than 25 watts at 5 milligrams (mg) per unit. The total mercury content of CFLs that use 25 to 40 watts of electricity will be capped at 6 mg per unit.”

Safe mercury disposal from compact fluorescent light bulbs

Still, concerns exist about the mercury escaping from broken CFL bulbs, as safe disposal requires storing the bulbs unbroken until they can be processed. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published guidelines on how to clean up after CFL tub (remember, that’s the bulb) breakage and recommends that, in the absence of more specific local guidelines, CFLs be double-bagged in plastic bags before disposal. To property dispose of the spent bulbs, CFLs need to be recycled by somebody that knows what they’re doing; often, that’s with the retailer or manufacturer from whom the bulb was purchased. If those options aren’t available to you, click on over to EcoGreenHotelStore.com for pre-paid Waste Recycling Package kits that make it very easy for your green hotel to dispose CFLs.

Though the mercury is unlikely to harm you or your hotel guests, let’s be clear about this: do no, we repeat, DO NOT toss your CFLs in the trash. Putting them there greatly increases the chance of the mercury vapor escaping upon breakage, first exposing you and then the air and water around the landfill to the gas, which is bad news. So be careful with the bulbs, please.

Despite their issues with mercury, compact fluorescent light bulbs are still a great way to go greener with your hotel’s lighting needs; keep reading to learn why they’re the future (for now).

Compact fluorescent light bulbs: the future (for now)

Despite their issues with mercury, compact fluorescent light bulbs are still the way to go until LEDs become more common (that’s another article) and less expensive. Manufacturers are improving the quality of light and many more options for dimmable CFLs are becoming available; Environmental Defense and One Billion Bulbs both have lists of the dimmable bulbs.

More CFL bulbs at EcoGreenHotel

We’ve worn ourselves out keeping up with CFLs; evangelizing their use, watching them in the news, working to dispel the mercury myths and providing green hotel user tips is barely the tip of the iceberg. Check out Planet Green’s How to Green Your Lighting guide for more. Whatever you do, don’t be a dim bulb: go with CFLs now and the planet and bottom line will thank you later.

CFLs are just the start for a green hotel to become energy efficient. Click here to find out how you can assess your hotel’s energy efficiency. Maybe you’ve already done the CFL retrofit throughout your hotel and are now taking the initiative to truly go green. You can start with an Energy Efficiency Analysis by one of our EcoGreenHotel Experts. Click here to find out how you can “green” your bottom line.

GREEN TEAMS Part 1

2010-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

The focus on greening operations is evolving and some green teams are beginning to focus the efforts on integrating sustainability into employees’ personal lives, while others are aligning their efforts to support broader corporate sustainability objectives.

The business value of these three levels includs: cost savings by integrating energy efficiency into the workplace and products and services; attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent who want to for companies and hotels with an authentic green commitment; and increased market share and revenues resulting from a stronger brand and new, innovative green products and services.

This GREEN TEAM series will provide a summary of the emerging trends and outlines the best practices for green teams:

• Start with the visible and tangible: focus on internal operations
• Get senior management involved, butdon’t lose the grassroots energy
• Engage employees to capture ideas
• Communicate and share best practices
• Engage employees with their bellies: The low carbon diet campaign
• Engage employees in their personal lives
• Engage guests to be part of the solution
• Use art to raise awareness
• Create a toolkit to support and guide green teams
• Align green teams with corporate and hotel sustainability goals

This is a resource for companies, organizations and individual hotels just getting started and for those who want to take their existing green program to its next level. It is based on interviews with green team leaders, as well as a review of the latest literature and reports on employee engagement and green hotel teams.

GREEN TEAMS: Introduction
Keeping employees engaged, happy and productive has always been a priority for leading companies, organizations and individual hotels.
Today, as green becomes more mainstream, a growing number of employees want to work for a company committed to sustainability and seek a work setting where the green practices they value at home are being implemented at their workplace.

In a survey commissioned by National Geographic magazine, more than 80 percent of U.S. workers polled said they believe it is important to work for a company or organization that makes the environment a top priority. In 2009, many graduating Harvard MBAs signed an “MBA oath” showing their interest for companies that “strive to create sustainable economic, social and environmental prosperity worldwide.”

Green teams – self-organized, grassroots and cross-functional groups of employees who voluntarily come together to educate and build awareness about sustainability issues and to implement programs that encourage employees and hotel guests to take action – are increasing in popularity as a tool for both keeping employees engaged and showing your commitment to sustainability.

This GREEN TEAMS series provides an overview of some of the best green practices companies and hotels are using to support and guide green teams, without squashing their grassroots passion and energy. It is divided into four key sections:

• Making the business case for green teams;
• Getting started;
• Four emerging trends; and
• Green hotel team best practices.

Look out for EcoGreenHotel’s May Eco Newsletter as we bring you: Making the business case for green teams.

Earth Day 2010: Engaging Your Guests & Community

2010-04-14T03:52:00.000-07:00

A new report by, the non-profit research organization, Center for Responsible Travel (formerly Travel Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development) found that responsible tourism has withstood the global recession better than the tourism industry as a whole. Perhaps that’s one reason many hotels are eagerly embracing Earth Day (though we’d like to think that a growing commitment to sustainable practices plays a role).

Celebrate April 22nd - and help raise awareness about environmental concerns with your green hotel guests and community – by hosting one of the following top ten ideas.

Start a Community Garden

With just a little bit of space, raw material, and effort, a community garden within your green hotel’s landscape serves many purposes. It can get guests and the community actively involved in an eco-related activity; produce fresh fruits and vegetables for your restaurant/kitchen or beautiful flowers for scenery. It also helps bring the community closer together at your hotel! It will definitely leave an impression.

Serve Sustainable Food

If you have a restaurant at your green hotel, allow your Chefs to serve sustainable entrees. When the bill comes, diners can donate $1 to a non-profit charitable eco-friendly organization like the National Geographic Society.

“Go Green, Save Green” Package

Offer guests a custom green stay package, which can include room discount, favorable hybrid parking spot, and percent off on organic products and services at your gift shop, spa, restaurant, or bar.

Change the Lights

Being a “green” hotel starts with the basics. Make sure all the lights in the hotel are eco-friendly to help conserve energy. Compact fluorescent light bulbs, halogen light bulbs and LEDs are all good choices.

Earth Day Green Project

Enlist your guests and employees to take part in a community restoration, clean-up or any other environmentally friendly project (even if it’s simply planting trees). Afterwards, they can take advantage of discounts at your bar, restaurant, or on eco-minded spa services.

Replace Disposables

May of the items hotel guests and employees use every day can be improved to be reusable and reduce waste. Replace your drinking cups with these compostable World Art hot & cold cups or how about a refillable water bottle, for starters.

Join a Resource Pledge

Make a pact (or policy) with your employees, guests and others, locally or on a national scale, to help conserve resources. Involve your guests by inviting them to participate in a “Take a short shower” program (give out branded shower timers that guest can take home and use) or “Turn all lights off during daylight hours” or simply purchase recycled paper only from now on; etc.

Attend a Rally

Sheer force of numbers helps to raise awareness about environmental issues. Show your community and guests your commitment to being a green hotel. Be a face in the crowd at a local rally to help tip the scale in favor of eco-friendliness. You can enlist employees and guests to attend. Gather for pre-rally fun and shuttle everyone to the event! Your hotel’s good stewardship will definitely recognized.

Hybrid Parking & Bike Rentals

Offer complimentary, special spot, parking for hybrid vehicles and offer free or discounted bike rentals to guests to explore your city. Don’t forget the bike rack!

Hold a “Green” Wine & Food Event

Celebrate the day with local wineries, restaurants, farms and locally sourced products. You can offer a special Sustainable Wine & Food lunch or dinner to your guests and community or go all out and have a festival right at your green hotel. Either way, you’ll definitely make the local newspaper (make sure you let them know in advance).

Made from Corn, Sugarcane & Plant Starch

2010-03-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

EcoGreenHotel recognizes the importance of using products made from renewable resources in the effort to lessen the impact disposable products have on our environment. By using products made from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane, PLA, Plant Starch and post consumer fibers, carbon footprints can be significantly reduced.

Sugarcane

Eco-Products offers a 100 percent compostable alternative to conventional tree-based paper products. Known as Bagasse, these paper items are made from sugarcane fiber after the sugar ‘juice’ has been extracted. This renewable resource is grown and harvested every year and a half. Typically, sugarcane fiber is a discarded by-product from cane sugar manufacturing, but Eco-Products uses the material, creating an end-user product and completing the circle.

What is PLA?

PLA stands for polylactic acid, or Polylactide, a versatile polymer produced by NatureWorks LLC. PLA is made from lactic acid. Ingeo™ biopolymer is the world's first and only performance plastic made from 100% annually renewable resources. It offers the cost and performance necessary to compete with traditional petroleum-based materials in the packaging and serviceware markets. It’s clear and strong like petroleum-based plastic, but with the crucial benefit of being commercially compostable.

Plant Starch

Plant Starch is the material we use to make our high heat tolerance cutlery. This material is made from a variety of plant starches including corn, potatoes, and other vegetables. It has a heat tolerance of 220 degrees, which makes it optimal for hot foods.

What is PCF (Post Consumer Fiber)?

Post consumer recycled fiber (PCF) is one of the materials we use to make our new Evolution World hot cups. Post consumer waste is material discarded after someone uses it. Post consumer waste has served its intended purpose, passed through the hands of a final consumer, and has been discarded for disposal or recycling.

Our Evolution World hot cups are made with 24% post consumer recycled fiber. That means that 24% of the fiber used to make these cups has already served a purpose as something else (office paper most commonly), was sent through the recycling stream, and was repurposed into foodservice grade paperboard. The FDA for foodservice use certifies this paperboard.

Offering products with post consumer recycled fiber has the added benefit of helping stimulate demand for recycled paper, thus helping support the recycling markets here in the United States.

Carbon Offsets In A Nutshell -By Susan Patel

2010-03-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

I received an email last week with the question, “Do you recommend any particular carbon offset company?” Great question and an even better topic to share since March 27 is all about climate change.

If you follow the news, chances are you’ve come across some sort of reference to carbon offsets. Its become all the rage as events like the winter Olympics and New York Fashion Week to people like Al Gore, Dixie Chicks and actors including George Clooney buy offsets in an effort to become “carbon neutral.” Not to mention, businesses around the world are taking a closer at their contributions to climate change, with an increasing number voluntarily reducing their “carbon footprint” too. What about you and your business?

Before you understand what’s involved, you need to know what it “is.”

Offsetting, in simple terms, is paying someone else to absorb or avoid the release of a ton of CO2 elsewhere so that the purchaser of a carbon offset (or credit) can aim to compensate for or, in concept, “offset” their own emissions.

Carbon offsets are a form of trade. When you buy an offset, you fund projects that reduce GHG emissions. Since GHG emissions circulate freely in the atmosphere and spread around the planet, the projects can be located anywhere in the world and still make an impact.

There are two types of carbon markets: compliance schemes and voluntary programs. Compliance markets are created and regulated by mandatory national, regional and international carbon reduction regimes like Kyoto Protocol (the largest). The voluntary carbon market functions outside of the compliance market. It enables businesses, NGOs and individuals to offset their emissions by purchasing offset independent of the Kyoto Protocol and local regulatory systems.

Why do businesses buy carbon offsets?

Strengthen environmental image

Position to meet upcoming government legislation on emission reductions

Market differentiation by growing sales and brand awareness

Communicate action on climate change to guests, employees, investors and other stakeholders

Starting point of real emission reduction strategy

Hotel businesses buy carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint or build up their green image on a voluntary basis. Here’s what you need to know:

The voluntary market does not have a specific, well-defined regulatory apparatus, and is actually a mix of many different types of activities, providers and standards.

There are numerous standards within the market from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Gold Standard, ISO 14064, VERplus to certification programs as the Green-e Climate Program.

Each provider is different. The company’s operations and project vary tremendously from renewable energy, methane capture, energy efficiency to industrial gases and forest & agriculture.

Since there are endless options and the market certainly isn’t short of players, it can definitely get confusing. This is why you’ll need to keep a scorecard. There are many factors that need to be considered, as:

Offsets should come from a real project that has actually been implemented or will be in the near future (guaranteed)

It’s vital that the offset comes from a project that wouldn’t have happened otherwise (in “addition” to business-as-usual)

Emission reduction from the offset project needs to be accurately quantified (establish baseline and monitoring plan)

Offsets should be independently verified

Provider should be registered with the government or be established as a contractor to avoid double counting (which has been a major issue)

Offsets should be a permanent project making a permanent impact

Offsets should not cause or contribute to adverse effects on human health or environment

Offsets should provide development benefits (sustainability) to host country

Going Carbon Neutral Game Plan

STEP 1: Conserve Resources

There are many strategies to conserve resources from reducing energy usage, water conservation to waste management. Your hotel can easily reduce energy use and save money by installing energy efficient lighting, water conserving fixtures and purchasing efficient electronics and appliances – to name a few. The team at EcoGreenHotel can help you implement an energy efficient strategy.

STEP 2: Buy Green

From clean, renewable energy to green, environmentally friendly products like cleaning supplies, you can find everything you need these days to operate your hotel sustainably. Many local utilities are beginning to generate their own sources of power through small-scale alternative energy projects. Products and services that have earned third-party certifications, contain recycled content, are recyclable and/or biodegradable and contain fewer or no toxins are now easy to find at www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com.

STEP 3: Offset Carbon Emissions

Take a look at the following helpful sites:

www.carbonoffsetlist.org

www.carboncatalog.org

http://cdm.unfccc.int

Lights Out for Climate Change – Earth Hour 2010

2010-03-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time, the largest public demonstration for action on climate change will take place as lights are symbolically turned off for one hour. One billion citizens of the world joined in 2009 and this year won’t be any less than massive.

Since it’s inception three years ago, the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Earth Hour encourages everyone from homes, office buildings, iconic landmarks to universities, cities and municipalities to turn off their lights for an hour – saving some electric energy in the short term while encouraging all to ponder and act on environmental issues in the long term.

Some of the world’s recognized symbols of hope, peace, human endeavor and natural wonder will plunge into darkness including CN Tower in Toronto, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Grand Palace in Bangkok to the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore and the world’s second tallest building Taipei 101.

The Earth Hour 2010 video, provides a powerful message by the world’s most recognized landmarks contributing to the greatest display of civil action the world has ever witnessed.

Show your guests you care and play an active role in your community, the world, by inviting them to participate. Although you can’t turn off all the hotel lights since you operate 24/7, but you can ask your guests to turn the room lights off and join you in the lobby or restaurant to mingle over drinks – maybe even hand out tree or plant seeds at the end or educate them on what your hotel is doing to reduce it’s green house gases and become sustainable. I can just imagine all the creative ways you can get your guests to join in the fun!

With 25 days left, here at EcoGreenHotel, we’ll be planning our own electricity-free activities – and yes, we have signed up! You can find out if your state, city, town, business or organization has signed up to join Earth Hour by visiting www.earthhour.org and clicking on your state.

EcoGreenHotel Case Studies in North Texas and Northwest Arkansas

2010-03-02T02:40:00.000-08:00

EcoGreenHotel’s Director of Sustainability, Jeff Kiec recently completed a series of green hotel case study presentations in Texas and Arkansas. Along with the local Convention and Visitor Bureaus of Bentonville, Arkansas and Plano, Texas and the SBDC for Enterprise Excellence, EcoGreenHotel spread the word about hospitality sustainability initiatives.One of the most attention-grabbing topics addressed was the use of Eco-Labels and the growing importance of third party certification programs to determine the true extent of a green hotel’s sustainability initiatives.

A consensus was reached that there is an immense need for the hospitality industry to determine a clearer definition of a truly “green” hotel. This would help to reward those hotels that implement and maintain robust sustainability programs and marginalize those that overstate or completely green-wash their efforts for short-term gain. During the question and answer sessions, discussions developed on how to differentiate the hard work required to achieve various green hotel certifications and which of those programs garner the most credibility amongst the traveling public and sustainability professionals.

In addition, a common thread was uncovered, the willingness of the municipalities to support hotels in their efforts to operate in a sustainable manor. Christopher Day, Commercial Recycling Supervisor for the City of Plano, provides guidance and training for businesses to develop robust recycling programs of all sizes. Helping create recycling programs is viewed as a win-win situation for both the municipalities and the hotels. By reducing the amount garage sent to land fills, the City wins by reducing long-term re-occurring costs. The hotels win by reducing the number of weekly hauls, reducing total cost of hauling, creating a revenue stream with its recyclable products and creating a culture of environmental responsibility among its employees.

Due to the interest and success of this series of presentations, EcoGreenHotel will be hosting another round of presentations in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio in the coming months. The future case study presentations with cover the role of social media in reputation management, expanded detail on Eco-labels, third party certifications, and additional real world cost savings case studies.

EcoGreenHotel would like to pay special thanks to Wendy Bader of the Bentonville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mark Thompson of the Plano Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Tom Pryor of the Small Business Development Center of Enterprise Excellence. We appreciate your efforts and help!

You can learn more about their organizations at:
http://www.sbdcexcellence.org
http://www.bentonvilleusa.org
http://www.planocvb.com/main/index.php

Green Hotel Event comes to Bentonville Arkansas

2010-02-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Bentonville Convention & Visitors Bureau and EcoGreenHotel have teamed up to bring the local hotel community an educational look inside the Green Hospitality movement. EcoGreenHotel’s Jeff Kiec LEED AP will be presenting real world case studies. Bentonville is the worldwide headquarters of Wal-Mart a global corporate leader in the sustainability movement. Jeff Kiec is the Corporate Director of Sustainability and will present examples of hotel energy efficiency, innovative technologies and green marketing. All case studies are based on real results from around the country. These proven solutions help general managers and building engineers increase their occupancy while lowering their overall costs.

Learn how hotels can quickly and economically stay competitive with leaders in the hospitality industry that are gaining the attention of the green traveler. The case studies will cover:

“Eco labels” for hotels
Swimming pool energy and chemical use reductions
Occupancy Based Energy Management Systems
Guest room and back of the house recycling programs
Operational cost savings
Web-based marketing strategies
And much more…..

There will be no charge for the event and will include a great lunch sponsored by US Energy Solutions. In addition, EcoGreenHotel will provide a free EnergyStar benchmark evaluation to a local hotel as a door prize.

Who should attend? – Hotel Owners, Management Companies, General Managers, Building Engineers, Sales & Marketing Directors

Thursday February 11^th 11:30am -1:00pm

DoubleTree Guest Suites Hotel

301 Southeast Walton Boulevard
Bentonville, AR 72712

Event Limited to 40 participants

Please RSVP to Wendy@bentonville.org

If you cannot make the Bentonville Event you can join us in Arlington TX on Tuesday February 16^th 2010 or Plano TX Thursday February 18^th 2010. Email JKiec@EcoGreenHotel.com for more information. Also contact us if you would like to hold a similar event in your area.

About Jeff Kiec

Jeff Kiec, LEED-AP

Corporate Director of Sustainability-EcoGreenHotel

Mr. Kiec is a veteran in the environmental service industry. His experience includes engineering building assessments, building and operational sustainability audits, and environmental site assessments. As the volunteer Sustainability Director for Deep Ellum, a historic arts and entertainment neighborhood in Dallas, Mr. Kiec is responsible for educating and working with neighborhood businesses and property owners to incorporate sustainable building technologies.

EcoGreenHotel is a valuable resource for hotels dedicated to supporting hospitality sustainability. You can visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com or www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com for more information.

Green: A fad, a trend, or a new way of life?

2009-09-11T21:16:00.000-07:00

Smiley faces like these were a fad in the 1960’s. Photo by Aleksandra P

So I was taking a break from my eco hotel duties the other day and was flipping through cyber-space when I ran across this old article from 2007. In it, an analyst was cited predicting that the green trend was nothing more than a passing fad.

“The consumer is consumed with other things, and very rarely have they ever endorsed and embraced the green endeavors,” he said, apparently with a straight face. “It’s basically a card that a lot of people played while it was hot and trendy. And it got overplayed.”

Hot and trendy? Overplayed? Could the guy have been more wrong?

Generally speaking, the difference between a fad and a trend is time. A fad is fleeting, like pet rocks, smiley faces, parachute pants or leg warmers. It comes and goes relatively quickly (and usually, it’s a relief to see them go!) A trend, on the other hand, has staying power. A trend may start life as a fad, but somehow it manages to take hold and stick around. Think shabby chic home décor, or body art.

I believe that environmentalism goes beyond fad or trend. I think it is becoming a new way of life. And to live that new lifestyle, people are consuming accordingly.

Study after study has shown that offering environmentally sensitive options is a major selling point for consumers across every sector, including hospitality. Today’s consumer is more aware of and cares more about environmental issues than ever before… it’s now a proven fact.

And that awareness and concern impacts the purchasing choices all these consumers make, whether they’re purchasing appliances, cars, electronics, food – or a hotel room.

A study conducted by the National Marketing Institute shows that consumer awareness of the environmental impact of their choices went up significantly between 2004 and 2008. For example, 40% of consumers now say that they recognize the impact their appliances have on the environment. That’s up 12% from 2004. Around 43% understand the impact of their electricity usage on the environment (up 7%) and 41% comprehend the effect of their vehicle.

The study’s conclusion was that manufacturers, retailers and service providers should increase their green offerings even more, because the demand for innovative, sustainable alternatives is definitely out there, and it’s growing.

So the next time someone tells you that green is just a fad, or that it’s not worth the time it takes for your eco hotel to pursue or expand its green initiative, show them all the evidence to the contrary.

Then, squeeze into some bell bottoms, set out a few bean bag chairs, a fondue pot and a lava lamp, spin a few 45’s on the hi-fi and invite them over for a friendly game of Twister.

Maybe then they’ll be able to see the difference between a fad and a lifestyle!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

A Breath of Fresh Air: Eco hotels embrace smoke-free atmosphere

2009-08-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

At EcoGreenHotel, we are working toward the day when every hotel will not only offer its guests a clean, safe and sustainable accommodation, but also offer its employees a healthy place to work. In a nutshell, we support a holistic approach to green lodging, which naturally includes unpolluted air.

That’s why we get more than a little discouraged when we see a hotel implementing a fantastic green initiative yet still allowing its guests to smoke inside the building. After all, one of the most important aspects of a healthy environment is clean air, isn’t it?

And we aren’t the only ones who think that unpolluted air is elemental. According to a 2008 study by J.D. Power and Associates, the vast majority of North American hotel guests agree. A whopping 89% said that they prefer staying in a smoke free hotel environment.

In an effort to support facilities that offer a completely smoke free atmosphere, the fine folks at Pineapple Hospitality created FreshStay®, the world’s leading online directory of 100% smoke free hotels. Recently, FreshStay® celebrated the 4000th property to join its list: the Comfort Suites in St. Charles, Missouri.

Pineapple Hospitality President Ray Burger says the Choice Hotel chain – of which Comfort Suites is a part – has been an industry leader in offering smoke free rooms to its guests.

“In 1984, Comfort Suites was the first hotel company to include non-smoking rooms in every one of its worldwide properties, and it continues its industry leadership today,” Burger said. “In 2007 we listed over 400 Choice Hotels, primarily Comfort Suites and Cambria Suites, as 100% non-smoking on FreshStay®. We now feature over 1250 Choice Hotel branded properties. We also receive regular monthly updates from Hilton and Marriott, and their numbers are growing quickly as well.”

If you’re ready to take your green hotel to the next level and implement a property-wide smoking ban, contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We’ll be happy to guide you through the process.

Then, sign up to be a member of FreshStay®. For a small annual membership fee (but no booking commission!) your property will be featured in FreshStay’s® popular online directory aimed at Frequent Breathers® everywhere.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Green = Greenbacks in 2010: Eco Hotels Hold RFP Advantage in Race for Big Business

2009-08-14T00:17:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again – the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) has put out the coming year’s round of Requests for Proposals, otherwise known as RFP’s. From coast to coast and around the world, hotel staff are sharpening their pencils and filling out select paperwork from a mountain of NBTA forms with the hope of winning business in 2010.

RFP season is a familiar ritual for veteran hoteliers. Each summer it’s the same old song and dance, answering the same old standard questions about room count, location, ratings, taxes, amenities, ADA compliance, etc.

But we at EcoGreenHotel are pleased to see the requests for proposals require some additional new information. Hotels must now outline their environmental initiatives and green certifications. That’s right… your “Green Hotel Checklist” has just become critical ammunition in your NBTA bidding war arsenal!

NBTA’s 2010 RFP’s require that your hotel describe:

the top five environmental programs employed on your property (such as linen reuse, reusable key cards, energy efficiency efforts)

environmental certifications you’ve earned, with a preference given to certifications that require on-site audits

details about your recycling program

your use of environmentally responsible cleaners

your water conservation efforts, such as linen reuse and/or water saving fixtures

Obviously, hotels that can demonstrate strong environmental programs stand to rank higher in the competition than those that can’t. In fact, it’s very clear that not having a sustainability plan in effect might cost your hotel big business next year.

If you want to boost your property’s green profile – and your chances of winning large national accounts in 2010 – contact EcoGreenHotel right now. Our team of seasoned green hospitality specialists can quickly, efficiently and affordably set the wheels in motion to get your environmental program rolling today. We’ll identify the “low hanging fruit” and show you how to make the best use of your current assets, and we’ll also present you with a wide variety of options for implementing a meaningful – and profitable – sustainability plan at your hotel.

Don’t put your green initiative off another minute. The planet – and your hotel’s bottom line – depends upon it.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Good to Know: Report Shows Hotel Guests Prefer Green

2009-07-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

Been feeling a little blue about your eco hotel’s green initiative lately? Been wondering if all the hard work is worth it, or if you’re just spinning your wheels for nothing? Thinking about giving up because no one else seems to care about sustainable hospitality as much as you do?

Pull up a chair, my friend. Have I got some news for you!

A recently released report by those studious folks over at J.D. Power and Associates contained a big shot in the arm for eco hoteliers. The 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study showed, among other things, that green hotels made great strides in awareness, guest satisfaction and participation in sustainable programs since the previous reporting period in 2008.

For their report, J.D. Power surveyed over 66,000 guests who stayed in North American hotels between May of 2008 and June of 2009. Here are some notable findings about green lodging taken directly from the release:

• Guest awareness of their hotel’s green programs increased significantly in 2009. Sixty-six percent of guests said they were aware of their hotel’s conservation efforts, up from 57 percent last year. Good job getting the word out!

• A high percentage of guests took part in their hotel’s sustainability efforts. Among those guests who were aware of the green program, 72 percent said they participated in their hotel’s conservation programs during their stay, meaning they recycled or participated in the property’s linen reuse program, for example. Way to go… you and your staff are doing a terrific job of rallying the troops!

• Awareness of green programs had a strong impact on overall guest satisfaction. On average, satisfaction is more than 160 points higher among guests who report being aware of their hotel’s green programs, compared with guests who are unaware of them. Awesome! You and your team have proven that implementing a green initiative doesn’t mean that the guest experience has to suffer… in fact, it’s just the opposite!

In a nutshell, this study shows that green hospitality has finally taken a firm hold in the industry, and that overall it is being done well. Your eco hotel’s efforts are starting to reap dividends, not only for the environment but also for your property’s bottom line.
So stop feeling blue. Send this blog entry link to your green team members today, and share this good green news!
Has your hotel received good guest feedback about your eco hotel’s green initiative? Tell us about it at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may feature it on our website or in our newsletter!

For more details visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Free Environmental Audits Uncover Major Funding Opportunities for U.S. Hotels to Go Green

2009-06-25T22:48:00.000-07:00

After decades working in the hospitality industry, I’ve seen many trends come and go. But a few years ago when climate change really started to come into focus and people began talking about ways to create a sustainable hospitality industry, I knew that eco-hospitality was not going to be just another passing fad. It was here to stay, and rightfully so.

And these days, with all the attention being paid to the environmental and economic benefits of cutting energy consumption, it’s a rare hotelier who has not at least considered implementing a sustainability initiative at his or her property. But many never get beyond the wishful thinking stage, because the process can seem so daunting – and expensive.

That’s why I started my company, EcoGreenHotel. We help lodging facilities address sustainability issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives. EcoGreenHotel recently partnered with the great folks at Atlantic Energy Solutions Inc. – a leader in assessing the energy demands and usages of municipal, corporate and industrial complexes – to take the concept a step further.

Together we created an innovative new Environmental Support Program that helps hoteliers design, fund and successfully launch their green initiatives. As part of that program, since May we’ve been offering free on-site environmental audits to all U.S. hotels! So far, over 30 properties from across the country have taken advantage of the offer, and the results have been amazing.

I would like to cite the example of one New York City hotel that is affiliated with a major franchise brand, because it really demonstrates what an in-depth environmental audit can reveal.

This particular hotel had already made progress in its sustainability plan, but like most, it still had room for improvement. Atlantic Energy Solutions’ engineers conducted an in-depth analysis of the property and identified several ways to increase its energy efficiency. The engineers recommended a variety of upgrades, including lighting, in-room thermostats, third-party energy procurement, participation in a demand response program, and energy monitoring software.

And the best news? Our team identified rebates, tax breaks, incentives and savings that will not only pay for those upgrades, but will also produce a positive cash flow for the property from Day One!

The amount of rebates and incentives available to that project was incredible gaining a six figure year one positive cash flow effect. We’ve identified ways to give that hotel an exceptionally rapid return on investment and ongoing energy savings of over $44,000 annually. And as we conduct these audits across the country, we’re uncovering tremendous opportunities for properties of all sizes because we’ve got staff totally dedicated to finding rebates and incentives.

I want to reiterate that the no-obligation assessment is totally free of charge. Atlantic Energy Solutions covers the cost of travel and other expenses for its environmental professionals to conduct the on-site audits, which consist of a thorough evaluation of each property’s electric, gas and water consumption.

Then, based upon the engineer’s findings, the team prepares and submits a free, no-obligation report and proposal to each hotel. The comprehensive report and proposal includes concrete steps the hotel can take to increase its energy efficiency, and includes a cost/benefit breakdown and a list of funding streams for which the property might qualify.

Not only are energy efficiency projects like these great for the environment and a hotel’s bottom line, they also form the basis for an entirely new marketing focus. Sustainable travel is a growing segment that the savvy hotelier would be wise to tap into. Our unique program makes it easier than ever for lodging facilities to quickly and cost-effectively go green.

Environmental audits will only be available free for a limited time. I invite property owners and managers to call me personally at (888)229-0213 Ext.801to schedule their hotel’s free on-site audit.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Florida’s Green Lodging Program: Only the good die young…

2009-06-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago in a blog post, I sang the praises of Florida’s outstanding Green Lodging program (FGLP). Established in 2004 by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), FGLP’s small but dedicated staff has helped hundreds of properties statewide implement meaningful green initiatives, and has made their program a model for the country.

That’s why I was so saddened to learn that due to drastic budget cuts, the FGLP as we know it will cease to exist on July 1st. According to a recent article in the Orlando Business Journal, the program’s budget of $337,000 was slashed to $63,000, and three of its four staff positions were eliminated.

You read that correctly – one employee and $63,000 to support the current stable of over 500 designated green properties, in addition to handling hundreds more that have filed their applications and are on the waiting list for FGLP approval.

Beginning July 1, initial site visits to determine compliance with program standards will become a thing of the past. Annual recertification will fall by the wayside, too, as will easily accessible expert advice from live DEP staff.

Instead, there will be occasional webinars, an online application process that will allow a property to assert that it has implemented its green initiative – and be approved – sight unseen, and a watered down renewal process.

FGLP’s official web site optimistically calls the changes “program improvements” and attempts to calm fears that the model project will become nothing more than a rubber stamping mechanism that allows undeserving properties to falsely bill themselves as environmentally responsible. In part, the web site states:

Maintaining environmental excellence in the program is of utmost importance to DEP. While the program will now be administered primarily online, it will not be a self-certification program.

I did not add the bold print in the statement above; DEP did. Publicly declaring that the FGLP will not be a self-certification program sounds brave and decisive, but unfortunately it also sounds like wishful thinking.

The stakes are extremely high for hoteliers in Florida, where approximately half of all the state’s visitors (many of whom are eco-conscious travelers) stay in lodging facilities, and where the Governor has mandated that all state-related conferences and meetings be held in certified green lodges whenever possible.

Yes, there’s big money to be made from earning FGLP’s green certification. Since the program has been so skillfully administered thus far, green certification truly meant something in Florida. The properties that earned it had every reason to be proud, and the ones on the waiting list knew they’d have to tow the line to get certified.

There is now a realistic fear that green lodging designation in Florida will be as easy to come by as a bad sunburn.

I understand that times are hard. Every line item in every state’s budget is on the chopping block, so the gutting of FGLP is not a huge surprise. But it is a huge disappointment, and I sincerely hope that Florida will find a way to restore the program to its previous funding levels – and high standards – post-haste.

Has your city’s or state’s green lodging program also taken a funding hit? Tell us about it at info@ecogreenhotel.com.

About EcoGreenHotel
A valuable resource for green hotels, EcoGreenHotel is dedicated to helping lodging facilities address environmental issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives. The company’s online presence at www.EcoGreenHotel.com offers a marketplace for green hotel products and services and provides a one- stop venue for green hospitality industry news, basic environmental overviews and other tools like green hotel checklists, project ideas, book lists, and valuable links designed to promote a more sustainable hospitality industry.

EcoGreenHotel’s green hotel consulting services guide owners, operators and developers through the journey of developing and/or maintaining a sustainable operation or project.

For more information about EcoGreenHotel, please visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com or send an email me Scott Parisi at sparisi@EcoGreenHotel.com.

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Water, Water Everywhere: Does your green hotel have the stomach for THIS water conservation solution?

2009-05-28T00:46:00.000-07:00

Leave it to those wacky kids at NASA to come up with an innovative way to deal with a potential water shortage…

According to a recent Associated Press article, NASA engineers have perfected a method for transforming urine, sweat and exhaled moisture into safe and delicious drinking water.

Cheers!

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were the first to publicly toss back a few shots of the clear liquid, with a video camera as their witness. One astronaut declared, “The taste is great!” before toasting other crew members and their NASA teammates back on Planet Earth, who responded by raising their own cups full of tasty recycled wee.

If you can stop yourself from shuddering and gagging long enough to really think about it, it becomes clear that this is really a big deal for all of us. Imagine if each of us could quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively recycle our own household’s liquid waste – or that of our eco hotel’s guests – and turn it into potable water. Heck, why not?

Because it’s absolutely disgusting, you say?

Listen, the truth is that we already recycle water from our toilets and convert it into drinking water – it just takes a long time to do and the path from toilet to tap is such a convoluted winding road that we lose track of it. This new technology is fast enough to allow six astronauts to make six gallons of drinking water from their urine in just six hours, according to space station lab manager Marybeth Edeen.

The system takes the crew’s combined urine from the toilet and puts it into a tank where the liquid is boiled off. The machine collects the resulting vapor and discards the nasty urine brine. The vapor is combined with water from air condensation and the resulting liquid is filtered repeatedly until it is clean enough to drink.

This technology will have a huge impact on space travel – especially for long term missions such as a manned trip to Mars. And it has great potential here on Earth, too. Edeen pointed out that the same technology was already used to purify water after the Asian tsunami in 2004, and it saved countless lives.

So belly up to the bar, and let’s drink to our good friends at NASA who have developed a water recycling system that will undoubtedly change the world – and possibly, the Universe – for the better!

Have you heard about a new environmentally-friendly technology? Tell us about it by sending a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We may spotlight it on our website, in our newsletter or on this blog!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Recession-Proof Eco-Events: Five tips for boosting your green hotel’s meeting, convention and wedding bookings in a tough economy

2009-05-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Competition for meeting, convention, event and wedding bookings is stiff these days. Everyone – from the Fortune 500 company CEO to the young couple down the street who just got engaged – is pinching pennies and looking for the best all-around venue for their events.

Your eco hotel wants to attract their business, but so does every other. Here are some tips for setting your green lodging facility apart from the rest:

1. Create a new green initiative focused specifically on meeting and event planning. Get your green team together for a brainstorming session and design a catchy (but meaningful) new program to lure more eco-conscious meeting planners to your facility. For inspiration, check out Plan.It.Green, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s program for offsetting the carbon footprint from meetings and conventions held in its area. You can construct a similar – and still really cool – project on a smaller scale for your green lodging facility.

2. Go paperless. Create mini-websites for each meeting, convention or wedding booked to your property so everyone can interact and stay informed. It’s not hard to do – ask your web guy or gal for guidance in creating a template that you can easily personalize over and over again. You’ll save some trees by communicating electronically with your guests, and your meeting/wedding guests will feel like a million bucks to have their own personalized webpage.

3. Reach out – but not too far! Surveys indicate that people are not traveling too far for meetings, weddings and other events these days, so now is a great time to focus some advertising a little closer to home and perhaps even offer some special deals to “locals” who are based within a certain radius of your green hotel.

4. Make your Reduce, Reuse and Recycle efforts visible. Don’t conceal your recycle bins in a discreet corner! Put them a prominent place so your guests can see them and use them. What’s that you say? Your bins are ugly and they ruin the view? Then order some attractive ones, like these. Or these. Or these! Then, switch your condiments and toiletries from individual packaging to bulk dispensers, and print on both sides of recycled paper using soy ink. Now, publicize how much your recycling numbers have gone up and how much your contributions to the waste stream have gone down, because they most certainly will. Perhaps an environmentally concerned event planner or a bride-to-be will read the newspaper that day and Voila! Another booking!

5. Share the good news. Once you’ve hammered out your new green meeting/convention/wedding initiative, you’ve got to tell the world. To ensure that you deliver the right message to the right audience as quickly and efficiently as possible, get help from a skilled hospitality marketing guru like this one. The investment you make in a professional marketing plan can pay for itself with just one good booking!

Do you have a tried-and-true idea for generating more meeting, convention, event or wedding business for your green hotel? Drop us a line at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may feature it in our newsletter, blog or website!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Great Wolf Resorts – America’s First National Hotel Chain to Have All U.S. Properties Earn Green Seal Certification!

2009-05-15T01:01:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at this one minute EcoPodcast about this amazing achievement!!

If you’ve ever been part of the certification process for a green lodge, you know that it takes a lot of dedication and teamwork. Now, can you imagine what it would take to get twelve properties certified? That’s no small accomplishment!

That’s why EcoGreenHotel salutes Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. for the distinction of being the first national hotel chain to earn Green Seal certification for all its U.S. properties. The Madison, Wisconsin company is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts. Great Wolf spent a year auditing and upgrading all twelve of its facilities to meet Green Seal’s rigorous requirements.

Has it been worth it? Great Wolf thinks so. These resorts are not only decreasing their impact on the environment, but they are also realizing savings and attracting a new guest segment – the eco-tourist. For example, at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania, the company saved nine million gallons of water in one year by changing to low flow plumbing fixtures. Great Wolf is already reporting savings on water and energy costs, and guests are delighted to stay in a resort that places so much emphasis on protecting the environment. It’s a win-win-win situation!

But the company isn’t stopping with Green Seal. It has also launched Project Green Wolf, which will build upon previous efforts by expanding Great Wolf’s water and energy conservation measures, waste minimization, environmentally- and socially-sensitive purchasing practices, and guest education. The guest education component involves a partnership with National Geographic Kids to develop children’s environmental learning programs.

Hats off to Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. – a true pioneer in the green lodging industry!

For more information Visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Intelity’s ICE – the world’s most advanced in-room virtual concierge and back end monitoring system!

2009-05-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

Want to offer your guests an impressive and easy way to check out, access valet and room service, and make spa or restaurant reservations, all from a sleek touch screen installed in their guest rooms?

Would you like to be able to track and measure all of your hotel’s activities, modify prices at a moment’s notice, earn some advertising revenue and send real time, property-wide messages to guests and staff – all with the push of a button?

Meet the Interactive Customer Experience Solution, also known as ICE. ICE was developed by Intelity, an interactive hospitality technology company based in Orlando, Florida. Since its launch in late 2008, the system has garnered a lot of attention for its cutting edge tech and ease of use. ICE’s components are provided by Dell, Adobe, Microsoft and standard open-source providers, making it possible for in-house IT staff to handle the system.

In addition to the cool touch screen, guests can access the multi-lingual system from their PDA or laptop. A virtual concierge guides them through a menu of choices. Real time weather, flight and attraction information can also be accessed. Non-invasive advertising can be incorporated, as well as video messages from the company president, general manager, owners, brides and grooms, meeting planners... the options are endless!

ICE provides real time interfacing between property management, food and beverage, valet, event planning, spa or golf – you can link it all. The system routes guest and service requests to appropriate staff through a handheld device, tracks response time and completion and creates graphs and charts for analysis.

For more information about Intelity’s ICE, visit www.intelityice.com or contact Shawn Dagon, Director of Business Development at Intelity, at 407-965-2205 or 407-267-8711.

Florida’s Green Lodging Program: A model green hotel certification program that continues to grow

2009-05-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever been to Florida – especially to ecologically-sensitive areas like the Everglades and the Florida Keys – you know that the state has incredible natural resources. Stunning beaches, unique and abundant wildlife, fertile land, and of course, all that gin clear water make Florida an extraordinary place to live and a fantastic place to visit.

Key Largo Reef: Florida’s green lodges are helping protect the environment and preserve scenes like this for future generations (photo courtesy Monroe County Tourism Development Council)

And boy, do people ever visit! The state’s tourism marketing agency, VISIT FLORIDA, recently estimated that over 82 million people visited Florida in 2008. Since approximately 50% of Florida’s visitors stay in hotels, the lodging industry has a major impact on the state’s sensitive environment.

That’s why Florida’s Green Lodging Program (FGLP) is so important. Established in 2004 by the state Department of Environmental Protection, FGLP has assisted and recognized hundreds of facilities for their sustainability efforts. From huge properties owned by major chains like Hilton and Hyatt, to funky island B&B’s owned by somebody’s mom and pop, designated green lodges are becoming as common in Florida as flip flops, tiki torches and margarita cocktails!

One thing that has made Florida’s Green Lodging Program so successful is the commitment to the environment demonstrated by Governor Charlie Crist. In 2007, Gov. Crist signed an executive order mandating that all state conventions and meetings be held in certified green lodging facilities whenever possible. With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Crist started a stampede of hoteliers scrambling to green up their properties and get them on the list of approved facilities. Close to 500 properties have met the program’s certification requirements, and hundreds more have filed the paperwork and are in the pipeline to receive their green designation.

We at EcoGreenHotel salute Governor Crist, the Florida Green Lodging Program and all the owners, management and staff of the state’s certified green lodges who have worked so hard to protect and preserve the Great State of Florida for the next generation of visitors to enjoy.

Do you know about a green lodging program that deserves kudos, too? Send a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com and tell us about it. We may feature it in a future edition of our newsletter or on our web site, www.EcoGreenHotel.com!

Global Summit an Eye Opener for Green Hotel Professionals

2009-04-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

At EcoGreenHotel, we eat, sleep and breathe green lodging. Environmentally-friendly hospitality is all we do – and it’s all we’ve done for years. We spend every waking moment reading up on the latest information, studying trends, products and technology, and talking to hoteliers, staff, vendors, guests – heck, anybody associated with lodging – about what’s happening in the industry. It’s a complex specialty, and we know our stuff inside out.

But we can always know more.

That simple truth was brought home to us earlier this month when we participated in the 1^st Annual Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Macungie, PA. Although EcoGreenHotel President Scott Parisi delivered a keynote address at the Summit, he also took time to listen to a host of presentations. One that caught his attention was delivered by Jason Kliwinski, Director of Sustainable Design at Spiezle Architectural Group of Trenton, N.J. Spiezle is an award-winning firm that has designed spaces for companies such as Merrill Lynch, Sirius Satellite Radio and Westin.

Jason’s presentation, entitled “Creating a Culture of Sustainability,” focused on just that – making sustainability a way of life… a philosophy… a custom. He spoke of using a holistic approach to sustainability project design and implementation, and then he said something that really stuck with us:

We are better than Me.

Now, we all know that teamwork is essential to a project’s success, and chances are very good that if you’re working on a project at your eco hotel, you’ve got a team in place. But take a look at that team and assess the following:

Is it diverse? Are all departments and management levels represented? Think too about other diversity markers like gender, race and socio-economic status. Identify gaps and fill them. Diversity is key to success – you never know who is going to have the next great idea!

Is communication open? Is everybody still in the loop or has communication trickled off lately? Ask the team for ideas about how to establish – and maintain – the lines of communication.

What is the level of commitment? Are team members still excited about the project or have they lost interest? Bring them together to hear an inspiring speaker (perhaps a local environmental activist) or to watch a compelling documentary about climate change. Pick an easy-to-implement sustainability project so the team can experience some instant gratification to get them back on track.

How have you inspired your eco hotel’s green team? Drop us a line at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and tell us all about it. We may feature your team in an upcoming issue of our newsletter or on our website at www.EcoGreenHotel.com!

Hospitality virtual-Marketing™ Launches Eco-Friendly Sales & Marketing Products

2009-04-24T04:43:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2009 (Atlanta, Ga.) -- Hospitality v-Marketing™, a leading virtual marketing company in the hospitality industry; in partnership with VIZERGY, JRPG Hospitality Consulting , and EcoGreenHotel; today launches an environmentally-friendly marketing company specializing in virtual sales and marketing products for the hospitality industry. These partnerships marry the expertise of content capture, using HD photography and video, with intelligent marketing and sales solutions complete with top of the line customer service - all specifically designed for the hospitality industry.

“We help capture sales that would not be otherwise possible, said David Cro, executive officer of Hospitality v-Marketing™. “We accomplish this by enhancing the experience of the internet viewer. It is our goal to engage the viewer so they become captivated and emotionally bonded to the property. The bottom line is the viewer makes an emotional decision based on their virtual connection and that experience is what converts into a sale. This connection is not possible without the virtual technologies we create for our clients.”

Hospitality v-Marketing™ (HvM™) offers custom created rich media, hosting, deployment and delivery. An alternative to the a stand-alone website, HvM™ currently offers more than 10 robust deliverables and has more than 18 new products in development. HvM™ core products are designed to capture audience attention using high definition resolution images (HDRI), virtual tours and video along with web application developments. These products offer the industry’s best in high definition photography, allowing hoteliers and venues to uniquely showcase their value proposition to prospective clients. This, along with tracking analytics, brings hoteliers quick returns on their investment.

“Every one of our products has analytics associated with it so all of our clients can see who is intrigued and excited by their products,” said Cro. “Why use a hard copy brochure with a 3-4 year shelf life tops, when virtual is lifetime, environmentally friendly, and instantaneous with updates. And speed to market in today’s environment is key to staying ahead of the competition. ”

Hospitality v-Marketing™ has partnered with Eco-Green Hotel, a company dedicated to helping lodging facilities address environmental issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives, to promote this environmentally-friendly form of marketing in the hospitality industry.
“Hospitality v-Marketing™ brings an amazing solution to the hospitality industry that when implemented can eliminate the use of paper for sales and marketing communications,” said Scott Parisi, president, Eco-Green Hotel. “The solutions offered not only reduce or eliminate the use paper it also gives hotels and resorts a competitive marketing edge through state of the art technologies that provide an incredible presentation that cannot be achieved elsewhere.”
In addition to Eco-Green Hotel, HvM™ has partnered with VIZERGY, an Internet marketing company that empowers hotels and resorts to drive revenue through the Internet. This partnership allows HvM™ to offer extended services in the form of PPC (pay-per click) and SEO (search engine optimization). VIZERGY has a proven track record with PPC & SEO optimization with over 10 years of experience in helping their clients get better rankings. HvM™ has been seamlessly integrated into the VIZERGY workflow process to provide compelling imagery for their clients. To assist in creating an accelerated turn-around, HvM™ does in most cases, return proofs within 2 weeks.

“We’re excited and optimistic about our new affiliation with Hospitality v-Marketing™,” says Joe Hyman, VIZERGY’s Founder and CEO. “As a specialist in hospitality marketing, we know a picture is worth a thousand words. Great photography improves Website conversions and can be optimized in many social media channels, improving the image, visibility and revenue for our clients. Hospitality v-Marketing™’s work is fantastic and we look forward to recommending their services to our clients.”

HvM™ has also teamed up with hospitality marketing partners Pam Grayboff and Julie Reigle of JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC. Experts in the industry, Grayboff and Reigle offer sales & marketing, and revenue management advisory and consulting services. In addition, JRPG Hospitality Consulting offers acquisition & transition services and asset management & development services.

“As part of our vision to partner and consult with creative and environmentally friendly vendors to help with our clients, we have found Hospitality v-Marketing™ to be an innovative hospitality marketing solution offering high quality services and imagery for all hotel sizes,” said Grayboff and Reigle.

Hospitality v-Marketing™ has revolutionized process management and customer service by delivering customer products to market with speed and efficiency to assure top-line sales.
“We are hands down the fastest in the industry with our deliverables,” said Heather Kennedy, project management director for Hospitality v-Marketing™. “Our team ensures the highest standards of quality, speed and delivery. Within 24 hours of an agreement we are in contact with the client. This contact produces results that ensure satisfaction, expedited delivery and that expectations are met.”

Hospitality v-Marketing™ currently operates with four Regional Sales Directors; Jim Mathley, Teresa Rubin, Bill Scull and Allison Parris. Jim Mathley, a 19 year hospitality sales veteran, is the West Coast Regional Sales Director. Mathley is using his diverse hospitality background with Wyndham as regional director of sales and marketing to ensure every HvM™ customer receives the full benefit and maximum revenue return for their investment in using the HvM™ cutting-edge products.

Teresa Rubin is Regional Director of Sales for the Southeast Region for Hospitality v-Marketing™. She has a very strong portfolio in leading hotel sales in various brands that include: Resort, full-service hotels and select service properties including the Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Courtyard by Marriot, and Springhill Suites. She was awarded several industry awards and recognitions throughout her career including Select Service Sales Manager of the Year for Whitelodging Services Corporation and Leader of the Quarter for Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott.

Bill Scull, Regional Director of Sales for the Midwest region, is responsible for creating awareness, developing partnerships and increasing sales between Hospitality v-Marketing™ and the hotel community. Scull has more than 17 years of hotel experience with Marriott International.
Allison Parris, a 13 year veteran in the hospitality industry, serves as the Director of Sales in the Northeast region. As Regional Director of Sales, Ms. Paris has conducted sales training and created marketing plans for a multitude of hotel brands, both chain-affiliated and independent hotels, most of these years with the Hilton brand.

“We have surrounded ourselves with great marketing talents in the industry who understand that hotels are looking for ways to set themselves apart from the others,” said Cro.
Hospitality v-Marketing™ aspires to be the preferred choice for hospitality internet marketing tools and photography among the world’s leading hotel, resort, destination and investment property corporations. To learn more about Hospitality v-Marketing™ products and services, please visit www.hospitalityvmarketing.com or call (404) 975 0597.
Now through June 30, 2009, Hospitality v-Marketing™ is offering a “click and book” to receive 20% off any v-brochure at www.hospitalityvmarketing.com

About Eco-Green Hotel
A valuable resource for green hotels, Eco-Green Hotel is dedicated to helping lodging facilities address environmental issues and implement environmentally sound initiatives. The company’s online presence at www.EcoGreenHotel.com offers a marketplace for green hotel products and services and provides a one- stop venue for green hospitality industry news, basic environmental overviews and other tools like green hotel checklists, project ideas, book lists, and valuable links designed to promote a more sustainable hospitality industry.

About VIZERGY
VIZERGY is an Internet marketing company that empowers hotels and resorts to drive revenue through the Internet. Founded as SECURE-RES in 1998, and rebranded to VIZERGY in 2007 to better reflect the company mission, VIZERGY offers Internet marketing, search engine optimization, Web site design, email marketing, reservation services, and e-commerce strategy development to help hotels and resorts aggressively compete online. For more information on VIZERGY and its services, please visit www.vizergy.com, call Amakeda Ponds at 904.389.1130 Ext. 179 or email Amakeda.p@vizergy.com.

About JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC
JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC is an owner and manager’s solution for lagging performance in today’s challenging economic cycle. Our advantage stems from 53 combined years of hospitality industry expertise within luxury, upper upscale and select service segments, including all hotel types from resorts, to boutiques to convention hotels. We can navigate the path to improvement in an independent realm or branded world while understanding the dynamics of franchise, brand managed and third party management structures. Our vision is to partner and consult regularly with creative and environmentally friendly vendors and providers of hospitality solutions. Our association with these partners allows us to stay current with emerging applications and services to provide the appropriate recommendations. It is our nature to integrate collaboration and integrity in every client and vendor interaction. For more information about JRPG Hospitality Consulting, LLC, email us at: info@jrpghospitalityconsulting.com or visit us soon at www.jrpghospitalityconsulting.com.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Another Green Lodging Certification Program in the Works! Enough already?

2009-04-16T00:38:00.000-07:00

The buzz around Washington D.C. is that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is laying the groundwork for a federal green lodging certification program for U.S. hotels.

The EPA plans to roll out its sustainability guidelines by the end of the year, with the goal of giving facilities an outline of the standards necessary to win federal meeting and convention business in the future.

Is there a need for yet another green lodging certification program? Well, that depends. If the EPA’s program turns out to be a meaningful method for recognizing genuine accomplishments in sustainable lodging, then we’re all for it. But if it’s just another pay-to-play, rubber stamp mechanism for properties to drum up business on the ruse of operating a watered-down green lodge, then we’re wholeheartedly against it.

In other words, only time will tell if there’s really “room at the inn” for a new federal green lodging program. We’ll just have to see it before we can believe in it.

Indications are, however, that this program might actually be a worthwhile addition to the green lodging certification mix. An EPA spokesman said it will be modeled after excellent state-sponsored programs like the ones in Florida and California, and will eventually become as highly regarded and recognizable as the Energy Star ratings for appliances.

Plus, word on the street is that these new guidelines will eventually be the measure by which all federal agencies and departments will award their meeting and convention business in the future – along with price and past performance considerations, of course.

And one can’t help but wonder if a highly publicized, well-funded federal green hotel certification program will eclipse others of questionable quality – especially those in the pay-to-play arena.

So our recommendation is for hospitality properties to watch this process closely, and to plan to apply just as soon as the EPA opens the floodgates. There’s likely to be a stampede of facilities scrambling to align with the federal program and you want yours to be in front of the pack.

Are you satisfied with your facility’s sustainability program? Could your staff use some professional guidance in positioning your property to earn the upcoming federal certification? Send a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com today, and we’ll have you on the road to a meaningful green certification before you know it!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Found objects find new life in San Francisco eco hotel

2009-04-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

I read a story in Hospitality Design magazine last week that made me smile. It was about the aptly named Good Hotel in San Francisco’s trendy SOMA district.

The 117-room property – once the site of a Best Western and a hostel catering to backpackers – has been totally remodeled and decorated largely with reused, everyday objects. The designers called upon area artists to put the finishing touches on everything from the lobby to the guestrooms.

For example, a recent art school graduate fashioned a cool bench from old blankets. A furniture maker built a computer desk from old cabinets, and he constructed a coffee table that included parts from a skateboard. Throw pillows in the guestrooms were covered with bedspread material from the old hotel. Recycled water bottles now form a chic pendant light.

I like this approach for so many reasons. First of all, it’s light hearted and fun. Some of those design elements are so quirky; you can be sure that guests are having blast exploring all the eccentric touches scattered throughout the building.

Next, the hotel employed the work of local artists, providing income for neighborhood folks. Local art immediately establishes a “sense of place” – an ambiance that adds to your guests’ overall experience.

I also like the Good Hotel’s approach to decorating because it’s cheaper than using new items. This design technique helped the hotel keep its costs down, which helped it keep its rates down, which in turn helps keep heads in beds. Enough said on that!

But what appeals to me most is how it promotes the idea that “used” doesn’t necessarily mean “useless” – that just because something has passed its prime in one form doesn’t mean that it’s not perfect for some other purpose.

Now, I’m well aware that this design tactic won’t work for everyone. But I firmly believe that the underlying philosophy will.

Call your green team together to brainstorm about how you can use repurposed items in your eco hotel – or how you can donate your facility’s used items to a worthy cause in your neighborhood. Then drop us a line at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and tell us what you came up with. We’ll post some of the best ideas online and share them with the eco hotel community in our newsletter, too.

Learn more about San Francisco’s Good Hotel here: www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/good.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

LEED-ing green hotels to a sustainable future

2009-04-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

I admit it: I’m not a fan of acronyms. But unfortunately the world is full of them – especially, it seems, the sustainability world. There’s CFL, CFC, HEPA, HFC, LCA, VOC and so many more… not to mention the granddaddy of them all – LEED.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and I suppose that as far as acronyms go, it’s one of the more useful ones. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the most universally accepted building certification program in the country, and its authority is even spreading around the world.

Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, this voluntary program recommends practices and performance criteria to help architects, engineers, construction and facilities managers, interior designers, lenders and government officials design, construct, remodel, operate and maintain sustainable buildings – everything from homes schools and hospitals, to retail establishments, government facilities and yes, even hotels.

The LEED program helps improve five areas critical to human and environmental wellbeing:

• Sustainable site development
• Water conservation
• Energy efficiency
• Material selection
• Indoor environmental quality

Not sure which flooring option is the most sustainable choice for your new hotel? LEED can point you in the right direction. Wondering if you should incorporate solar water heaters into your remodel, or want to tap into tax incentives and government initiatives to help offset costs? LEED has resources to guide you.

Once the U.S. Green Building Council has ensured that the building meets its requirements, it awards the facility its prestigious LEED certification. In the sustainable building world, there’s no more highly-regarded acronym than LEED!

If you’d like to find out how your planned or existing lodging facility can earn LEED certification, send a message to info@EcoGreenHotel.com. We’ll be happy to help you get the process started!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Mood lighting for Mother Nature: Green hotels dim lights for Earth Hour 2009

2009-04-01T05:09:00.000-07:00

Eco-conscious hotels joined millions of other businesses, individuals and government entities around the world in observing Earth Hour 2009 on Saturday, March 28th.
Lights were dimmed or turned off en masse in 88 countries worldwide that night to show support for the fight against global warming, from the Vegas strip to New Zealand to Antarctica to Greece and all points in between. The non-profit World Wildlife Fund organized the event, and on its website called this year’s Earth Hour “the largest of its kind.”
Green hotels found lots of imaginative ways to celebrate and get their guests involved in Earth Hour beyond just dimming the lights. One Boston hotel invited all its guests and staff to a party on the rooftop to watch the lights go out over Beantown. Another offered green martinis in the bar, where the lights were dimmed and supplemented by flameless candles.
In Toronto, guests enjoyed candlelight dinners and a swimming pool filled with floating candles, and guests at one hotel in Australia were treated to eco-friendly foods and “carbon neutral” drinks.
It looks as if Earth Hour has become an annual event, so perhaps now would be a great time to add an Earth Hour Committee to your property’s green team. Participating in the event is an enjoyable and memorable way to highlight your facility’s dedication to conservation. It’s not too early to start thinking about how your facility can celebrate Earth Hour 2010!
Did staff at your property come up with a fun or particularly meaningful way to observe this year’s Earth Hour? Tell us about it at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we may post it on our website!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

All Over the Map: It’s a small (green hotel) world

2009-03-31T02:16:00.000-07:00

Heads up, green hotel owners, managers and marketing departments! There’s a new place on the worldwide web for promoting eco hotels, and it’s making it easier than ever for properties like yours to attract potential guests.

Check this out: www.ecohotelsoftheworld.com. This site has an independent, objective online directory created to assist eco-travelers in finding environmentally friendly lodging all over the world. The U.K.-based site has been adding venues at the rate of three per month since inception and currently lists around 140 properties worldwide.

Site visitors can search the free database for an eco hotel near their destination. They can also submit hotel reviews, recommend hotels for inclusion on the site, and sign up to receive a newsletter full of information and travel-related offers.

And here’s how it works from the lodging facility side. First, hotels study the requirements for inclusion in the directory. The requirements are fairly straightforward and mainly focus on water and energy conservation, waste disposal practices, community involvement and staff training.

Then, the hotel fills out the directory’s simple online form and submits it. An Eco Hotels of the World representative will contact the facility about whether or not the property has made the cut.

And here’s the best part: Hotels are not charged any fees or commissions to be listed on the site!

EcoHotelsoftheWorld.com has been featured in various publications, including Time Out magazine and Panorama. It’s a site that’s destined to pick up speed and grow, so get in on the ground floor and secure your hotel’s free listing soon!

At EcoGreenHotel, we have lots of great ideas for marketing your green hotel effectively and cost-efficiently. Contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com with your marketing questions or concerns, and we’ll be happy to help.

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Three cool tools that no green hotel office should be without

2009-03-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

So, you’ve installed low flow faucets, toilets and showerheads, and started a linen re-use program. You’ve got sparkling new recycle bins strategically placed all around the property. Housekeeping is outfitted with the latest ozone laundry technology to save energy and cut down on chemical use, you’ve got Energy Star appliances around every corner, and your maintenance guy looks like Mr. Universe from climbing all those ladders switching the old-fashioned light bulbs for CFL’s.

Your property has the green thing down pat… or does it? There’s one part of your eco-hotel you might have overlooked when drawing up your sustainability plan – your office.

Here are three new devices that can not only make your life easier, but also make your office – and in turn, your hotel – a little greener:

• SoyPrint laser print cartridges. Soy ink is nothing new, but soy ink in laser print cartridges is. The company that manufactures these cartridges says that the U.S. consumes “more than 100 million cartridges per year. That equates to 100 million pounds or 50,000 tons of material we currently use petroleum to produce.” The cartridges start at $60 and are compatible with many popular printer brands. Visit www.soyprint.net.

• Occupancy Sensors. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average office spends 29% of its energy usage on lighting alone. If you forget to turn off the lights when you leave the office, 100% of that lighting energy is wasted. To prevent that kind of loss, install a simple infrared or ultrasonic motion sensor that cuts the lights when everyone has left the room. Sensors start at $20 and can be purchased online or at most home or hardware stores.

• Solio Hybrid Charger. This little silver doodad can charge your handheld devices using either electric or solar power, and it’s universal – no need to lug around a separate charger for all your devices. One hour of sunlight translates into 20 minutes of talk time or nearly an hour of MP3 music playing. And word on the street is that President Obama has one to charge his trusty Blackberry wherever he goes! Solio models start at $80. Visit www.solio.com.

Got a green office dilemma? EcoGreenHotel is happy to help! Contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com.
For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Why Certify: Is green hotel certification really worth the effort?

2009-03-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

It seems you can’t turn around these days without bumping face-first into something “green.” Eat our farm’s organic berries! Buy our company’s hybrid car! Install our specially-designed low-flow toilet!

Heck, even oil companies are spending millions on ads to convince the public that they’re doing everything in their power to nurture the planet. And now, you can add supposedly-green lodging facilities to the mix.

But how can an eco-conscious traveler be sure that the environmentally-friendly claims of her chosen hotel are factual?

By checking for official certification, that’s how!

From Maine to California and from Florida to Michigan and everywhere in between, state agencies and hotel associations are launching green lodging certification programs. The programs encourage hoteliers to implement measures to save water and energy and protect air quality as well as practices like recycling that reduce contributions to the waste stream.

In exchange for the hotel’s efforts, the program certifies that the property has met – and continues to meet – a set of environmentally-friendly requirements. The program continually monitors the property’s energy and water usage and other factors that indicate responsible practices.

This certification allows the hotel to bill itself as a “green lodging facility,” thereby attracting a new and burgeoning market populated by eco-travelers and eco-meeting planners.

The hospitality industry’s response to these certification programs has been outstanding. Most hoteliers I’ve spoken with say that, although the certification process takes a little extra work, it’s absolutely worth it once you’ve factored in cost savings, increased marketing opportunities, and the property’s reduced environmental impact.

One resort manager expressed it this way: “It’s been worth the initial investment and effort to get certified. Being green means saving money in the long run, and it will make our planet a better place. The world is watching what we’re doing and I get goose bumps just thinking about it. We can do this – we have to do this.”

Want to know if there’s a green lodging certification program in your area? Contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com and we’ll find out for you!

For more information visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Hotelier’s step towards the eco green practices

2009-03-23T00:32:00.000-07:00

In today’s world, environment has a vital role and many are trying out different thing to protect it from getting polluted. Environment and human are interrelated to each other. But human beings only are destroying the environment. They are playing with the environment without thinking of its effects. People around the world want to live a in a friendly environment but they are still finding the answer of how the can do this?

Hotels around the world have started taking steps for the betterment of the environment and to make it pollution free. Many hotels are following the mantra of "Clean & Green" and have started planting a lot of greenery around the hotel. To make the environment more friendly hoteliers have started following eco friendly practices. Many hotels have started using renewable items like reusable bags in place of plastic bags which are most harmful for the environment. Now you can find more colorful flowers around and inside the hotel premises. Instead of napkins they have started offering cloth mats to the customer to reduce the wastage of papers.
For more information, Visit:EcoGreenHotel.com

Coastal tourism

2009-03-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

Many coastal areas have experienced a particular pressure due to growth of lifestyle and growing number of tourists. Coastal environment is limited and consists of only a narrow strip along the edge of the ocean. Coastal areas are the first to experience the adverse impacts of tourism.
Proper planning and management can reduce the adverse impacts on coastal environment and ensures that proper investment into tourism products supports sustainable coastal tourism.
For more information, Visit: EcoGreenHotel.com

This Week's EcoGreenHotel Product EcoFeature

2009-03-13T00:10:00.000-07:00

Rest Easy Bed Bug Killer and Repellant - an affordable environmentally friendly hotel product that quickly and safely eliminates nasty bed bugs. - GUARANTEED!
Unfortunately, bedbug infestation is on the rise in lodging facilities worldwide. Outbreaks have been reported in almost every state in America. In fact, bedbug service calls have gone up 300% in the last five years!

These tiny nocturnal bloodsuckers are not only blamed for ruining many a night's sleep for unwary hotel guests, but they have also ruined many a good hotel's reputation. Some guests have even filed lawsuits against hotels harboring bedbugs.

Eliminating stubborn bedbugs the conventional way - with potentially harmful chemicals - can be time consuming, expensive and dangerous. But Rest Easy Bed Bug Killer and Repellant offers a quick, affordable and safe alternative.

Here's why more and more green hotels are stocking up on Rest Easy:

• It kills 90% of bedbugs within five seconds of exposure, and it destroys the remainder within 30 minutes

• It is made with 100% natural, pleasant-smelling ingredients like lemongrass oil and cinnamon oil

• It's safe to use around children and pets

• It can be applied as a preventative repellant or to eliminate existing bedbugs

• It doesn't require a professional exterminator - it can be applied by your hotel's staff

• It's cost-effective

• It's guaranteed to work!

To learn more about this exciting green hotel product, go to EcoGreenHotel

EcoGreenHotel Newsletter

2009-03-05T23:04:00.000-08:00

“In the current economic climate, hotel operators will focus more of their energies on cost reduction, improving operating efficiencies in their hotels, and strengthening their brands through an emphasis on green principles,”

(Ernst & Young LLP, 2009)

A valuable resource for hoteliers, EcoGreenHotel.com is dedicated to helping hotels address environmental issues and implement environmentally friendly initiatives. It is a marketplace with plentiful amounts of information ranging from green products and services, industry "green" news, basic environmental overview to other tools like checklists, green project ideas, book lists, and resourceful links for a more sustainable hotel.

Are you meeting the minimum green guidelines?
Find AH&LA's 11 minimum guidelines for going green with examples, ROI information and additional resources on AH&LA's Green Resource Center. You'll also find an additional 58 guidelines for hoteliers more advanced in the greening process. AH&LA members also can ask the Green Guru their most pressing questions free of charge.

To view the full Newsletter visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Sustainable Tourism

2009-03-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

It is the kind of approach that maintains the local culture and its tradition and also motivates to conserve the local culture and resources. It involves the local people to maintain their local tradition.

Characteristics of Sustainable Tourism:

• It utmost to maintain the local tradition and local culture.
• It points to conserve the resources where one visited to
• It deeply involves the local people and stress upon the tourist places.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Ecotourism

2009-02-26T21:03:00.000-08:00

Ecotourism is mainly focuses on ecology. It concerns with learning new things about the planet and also learning about personal growth. It involves the travel to destination where flora and fauna are the main attractions.

The Major goal of ecotourism is to promote the recycling of components, water and energy conservation.

For more information, Visit: www.EcoGreenHotel.com

Environmental Management System

2009-02-24T20:44:00.000-08:00

To make your hotel environment friendly what is required is improvement of the facilities provided by the property and its equipments.
The effort required is to improve the standard of operating procedures and training and motivating the staff members for efficient use of resources.
The system that helps you achieve above goals is Environmental Management System.
Environmental Management System (EMS) can be said as a framework that helps the management to assign responsibilities, motivate the staff members, implement the best practices and monitor the performance as a whole.
Other activities included in the Environmental Management System include conducting meetings, training the staff members and monitoring and reporting progress.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Steps towards Environmental Management

2009-02-22T21:00:00.000-08:00

The following steps when followed properly or kept in mind can make you save enormously:
• Adoption of an environmental policy
• Appointment of an environmental officer,
• Establishment of a team known as The Green Team,
• Establishment of a maintenance program,
• Adoption of practices that conserve the environment and minimize the production of waste
• Development of a monitoring program for utilities.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

National Energy Services Company, Inc. Is Named a Recommended "Product" and "Services" Provider by EcoGreenHotel.com.

2009-02-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

For information visit the link below to see a press release about National Energy Services Company, Inc. on CNN.com

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0475466.htm

The price of natural gas has doubled within the past few years. Have you been able to compensate for this blow to your bottom line? For more than 10 years, National Energy Service Company has been helping companies reduce their energy costs and improve profitability.

National Energy Services Company, Inc. offer Ozone Laundry Systems, which reduce energy costs while giving your guests cleaner, softer, brighter linens - and ultimately a better guest experience, as well as wireless Energy Management Systems, which allow you to monitor, control and reduce your energy consumption.

National Energy Services Company, Inc. financing programs allow properties to finance energy-saving improvements over time, using the monthly savings generated to pay for the upgrades themselves. No initial investment is required for you to begin seeing lower energy bills and more satisfied guests.

For more information please visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com or www.EcoGreenHotel.co.uk

Environmental Management: Win-Win situation

2009-02-17T21:04:00.000-08:00

Proper Environmental Management is a win-win situation for both you and your property. It helps to reduce operating costs and improves profitability.

Substantial cost savings can be done with a modest investment.

Apart from cost savings, environmental management guarantees that you will stand out from competition and will be recognized. Environmental Management helps you to get recognized through certification programs, awards and other promotions.

Other benefit is the image of your property gets enhanced with guests that are conscious about environment.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

What does Environmental Management involve?

2009-02-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

Managing all components of the environment: biotic and aboitic is what Environmental Management involves.
Management of all the components of environment becomes necessary because of relationships between the species and their habitats.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

What is Environmental Management?

2009-02-12T20:40:00.000-08:00

The term ‘environmental management’ not only means managing the environment but managing the interaction of human societies with the environment and its impact.

Thus, environmental management is not only for the sake of environment but it is for the sake of mankind.
For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Being a Green Hotel guest

2009-02-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

When staying in a hotel, the following steps help you to become a green hotel guest:
• Ask the hotel staff not to change the sheets and towels on a daily basis.
• Switch off the lights and electrical appliances if any like television, air conditioner and close the drapes when leaving the room.
• Participate in the recycling efforts which the hotel promotes.
• Pass the newspaper provided by the hotel to someone else after you have read and encourage the hotel management to implement recycling.
• Take short showers
• While brushing teeth, don’t let the water run
• Turn off the exercise machines when done
• Place the brochures and other tourist information back in the racks after reading rather than throwing
• If disposable utensils are used in the hotel, bring your own disposable cups etc.
• When having food, if you don’t drink water along, ask the staff not to pour in your glass
• Thank the staff and management- managers and employees for embracing green hotel practices and appreciate their effort

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Go for a Green Hotel

2009-02-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

One can help to reduce the negative impact that hotels have on environment by staying at a green hotel.
Green hotels use energy and resources efficiently thereby implementing recycling of products. Using nonrenewable resources efficiently and utilizing renewable resources is what Green hotels concentrate on.

The staggering figure of guests in the hotels, the meals prepared for them, water consumption, and energy required for lighting, cooling and heating all indicate that there is an enormous need to implement green hotel practices.

While you are at a green hotel, you are sure to receive quality service. Apart from the service quality, you will also be helping the environment.
Adopting green hotel practices helps hotels to realize cost savings which can be used for enhancing services provided to the guests.

For more information visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Requirements for environmentally friendly hotel

2009-02-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

When turning your hotel into an environmentally friendly hotel, what is required is

• Proper education and motivation of the staff members and guests,
• Achieving cost savings, and
• Increasing the market share.

Tools like providing educational material to the staff and guests, proper planning, implementing practices that help in conserving resources and guarantee quality management help you implement proper environmentally friendly practices.

Thus, it can be said that as hotels put their top priority to improve the experience of their guests, being environmentally friendly is important and has to start from within.

Hotels can succeed in ‘Driving business to its properties’ by being environmentally friendly and also offer healthy and sustainable options.

The most important factor why hotels are being environmentally friendly is the social responsibility that has reached a tipping point in the hospitality industry and is spreading awareness significantly.

For more information visit www.ecogreenhotel.com

Benefits of Green Hotel Certification

2009-02-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Green Hotel Certification program helps a property to enjoy various benefits:
• Brand image and reputation of the corporation is enhanced,
• New revenue opportunities are created,
• The operating and maintenance costs are reduced,
• International recognition and opening up of new markets,
• Community connections are strengthened, and
• A healthier work environment.

Apart from the above described benefits, high return, increased profits and positive cash flows are also some of the major benefits that are increasing the popularity of Green Hotel certification.
In a nutshell, it can be said that to protect our environment, to increase competition, to gain profits and to earn recognition, green Hotel certification is a positive step.
For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Share Your Green Hotel Practices

2009-02-01T23:07:00.000-08:00

EcoGreenHotel knows that the best green ideas, the most environmentally friendly practices and the greatest sustainable solutions for hotels and resorts are developed by the individuals that are working in the industry every day.

Help EcoGreenHotel with the mission to "Support Hospitality Sustainability".

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

What is Green Hotel Certification?

2009-02-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

A leading third party certification based on documentation accepted worldwide is Green Hotel Certification. Green Hotel Certification recognizes the sustainability efforts being taken.

Green Hotel Certification can be regarded as a promotional tool which will help you reach a global consumer market aware of the importance of environment.

For more information,Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Benefits of Going Green

2009-01-30T20:33:00.000-08:00

- Reduction in energy bills: when energy saving measures like use of fluorescent bulbs, sensors for rest rooms and meeting areas, there is a reduction in energy bills.
- Reduction in water bills: Introduction of water saving equipments like low-flow showerheads etc. help to reduce water bills.
- Healthier guests, staff and management: Going Green guarantees that there is a healthy environment in the hotel.

Thus, for sustaining longer in the hospitality industry it is necessary to implement the concept of Green Hotels and also Green Hotel Management. Exemplifying the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility in all areas of operation and employing policies and programs that set international standards for sustainability is what Green Hotel Management is all about.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Steps to make your hotel environmentally friendly

2009-01-26T20:26:00.000-08:00

To create environmentally hotel, the design criteria needs to concentrate on the following aspects:
• Creating and managing committees for managing environmental programs,
• Using disposable cups instead of glassware to reduce waste,
• Placing wastebaskets with separate partition for recyclable components in guest rooms,
• Reusing broken or worn resources for other purposes,
• Conserving energy by using high-efficiency lighting,
• Equipping electrical and irrigation systems with timers which helps in conserving water and energy,
• Planting plants in your garden that consume less water i.e. Landscaping should be suited to the local ecosystem to avoid unnecessary use of chemicals,
• Creating areas for recycling and sorting trash from the waste in the hotel.

For more information, visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Managing the Green Hotel

2009-01-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

Saving planet Earth and making it a better place to live is what the hospitality industry focuses on today. This is being done by using and implementing new technologies in such a way so that the creations of today regenerate themselves.
Great ideas are required so that inspiring theories can be implemented in hotels and other places without harming nature/ natural beauty.
Some ideas which can make the place better are:

- Use of water- based paints
- Nailed down carpeting, etc.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Green Hotel

2009-01-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

Green Hotel:

Hotels taking into consideration the environmental aspects with reference to areas related to services provided to the guests, management of the hotel and eating facilities provided are known as Green Hotels.

Essentials of a Green Hotel:

The following areas are to be looked on when considering a green hotel:

- Energy Management with regard to efficiency of the building and measures taken for conservation.
- Preparation of food: A green hotel provides the guests with options of vegetarian and organic food.

Other than the above mentioned areas, another area is Waste Management which should include 3R’s namely: Reduction, Reuse and Recycling.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Eco Hotel

2009-01-18T21:28:00.001-08:00

A hotel that makes important improvements regarding environment in its structure inorder to minimize the impact on environment is known as Eco hotel.
Incorporation of environmental consciousness and environmental considerations in operations and management gives exact meaning to the term Eco-hotel or Green Hotel.
Earlier, these hotels were located in jungles in the natural environment to make people feel that they are living admist natural beauty close to the environment.

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Make your business greener

2009-01-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

Small steps can help you to make your business go green. Few actions that companies can take to go green are:

1. Energy Audit: The first step in going green is to have an energy audit. An Audit helps you find the areas where you can reduce usage and save money.

2. Survey regarding “going green” or “sustainable organization”: Annual surveys with employees should be conducted to find how well the organization is doing by implementing green business practices. This will provide information and suggestions for future actions.

3. Go paperless: Encouraging e-mailing can reduce the usage of paper. Photocopying and printing on both sides can save paper.

4. Recycle: Elementary step towards going green is to start recycling waste. Sustainable supply chain makes the output of waste move into input creating a cycle where wastes turn into raw materials and are no longer wasted. Recycling paper, glass, metal and plastic can help in going green.

5. Green buying: Suppliers should know that you are interested in sustainable products. When purchasing, environment should also be a factor not just price.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Improving the air quality in Hotels

2009-01-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

To have clean and fresh air inside your hotel is good business. Among the Green Ideas to make Environmentally Friendly Hotels is the introduction of fresh air in hotels. A variety of ways help you to introduce fresh air in hotels:

1. Cleaning all the parts of air system: All parts of the heating and the air system including coils, ducts and fans must be cleaned thoroughly.
2. Cleaning the upholstery: Upholstery on the sofas, chairs, carpets etc must be cleaned.
3. High Ozone shock treatment: To kill any remaining bacteria or mold in the room, it is necessary that a high ozone shock treatment is completed.
4. Applying a pure shield to the room: To prevent microorganisms away from getting attached to the surfaces, shielding the room with a spray that forms an electrostatic barrier is a must.
5. Air Purifying System: An air purifying system (filtering system) helps to remove about 98-100% of bacteria and keeps the room allergy free.

Grey Water Recycling

2009-01-08T20:51:00.000-08:00

What is grey water?
Any water that has been used in the hotel, other than water from toilets, is known as grey water.
Grey Water can further be used for other purposes like landscape irrigation.

Benefits of Grey Water Recycling
The benefits of Grey Water recycling are as follows:
1. Plant Growth: Since plants can survive on water that has a certain amount of compost, grey water aids plant growth and helps in making a landscape flourish where enough water may not be available for growth of plants.
2. Reduced fresh water usage: In regions where irrigation is needed, Grey water could replace fresh water that helps in saving money and increasing water supply.
3. Extended life and capacity of septic tank: Grey water puts less strain on the septic tank or the treatment plan and increases its life. Decreased wastewater flow means effectiveness at lower costs.
4. Effective Purification: The region of the soil that is biologically active purifies grey water to a higher degree protecting the quality of natural surface and ground waters.

For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Encourage Hotels to go green

2009-01-06T20:36:00.001-08:00

The hotel in which you are staying may not be implementing the above mentioned practices. Guests can play a major part in making Hotels implement practices that help hotels go green.

The suggestions from the guest side could be:

1. Implementation of linen reuse program

2. Use of fluorescent lighting

3. Use of low flow showerhead

Guests do make a difference to Hotels as the main motto of Hotels is to customer satisfaction. Guests can help hotels to go green every time they travel. Green practices will help in energy and water conservation and make the Earth a better planet to live. Go Green Campaign should be followed even in Homes and not just in Hotels as it will make your homes more energy efficient. Hotels should implement the Go Green Campaign because satisfied hotel guests help to encourage Tourism.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Solid Waste Management

2009-01-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

Solid wastes generated by hotel offices are usually in large quantities and toxic those pollute our environment. Stationery, paper and cartridges of copiers and printers are among the normal wastes. To reduce operating expenses, implementing recycling and waste disposal programs are a must for offices. The recycling program should include categorizing the wastes into recyclable and non-recyclable wastes and treating them differently. These programs help to save resources, reduce pollution and protect both the environment and employee health.

Following are some simple solid waste control ideas:

· Avoiding unnecessary paperwork,

· Canceling junk mail,

· Reusing scrap paper for notes,

· Using electronic mail or voice mail over hard copy mail,

· Solid waste management program,

· Recycling all office paper,

· Double- sided photocopying in order to reduce paper use,

· Using refillable cartridge tones,

· Using white paper rather than colored paper for recycling,

· Using fax machines that use both plain and recyclable paper,

· Awareness and involvement of office employees in all stages of Recycling Program

Ecogreen’s Energy Management

2009-01-01T20:18:00.000-08:00

To save energy and resources, an effective energy management program or system is a must to implement. For example: Lightning control system as people forget to switch off lights very often. Ecogreen provides you with some more energy management ideas that can be implemented:

- Do not use artificial lighting in offices when the natural light is sufficient

- Open draperies and raise shades whenever adequate light from windows is available

- Use energy-saving fluorescent lights and lamps

- Switch off lights and appliances in unoccupied offices
For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Eco-Friendly Hotels Gaining Popularity

2008-12-28T20:09:00.000-08:00

More and more hotels are billing themselves as "eco- friendly," in response to a growing consumer desire to make more ethical purchasing decisions.Read More

For more information,Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Global Hospitality Industry Taking Green Steps

2008-12-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

In Asia, resort brands and boutique hotels are developing green concepts, such as Shanghai-based URBN, which calculates the total amount of energy the hotel consumes and purchases credits to offset its footprint via an agreement with Emissions Zero. Hotel guests can also buy carbon credits from the program to offset their own flights.Read more
For more information, Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Green Movement Grows in Global Hospitality Industry

2008-12-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

Ernst & Young examines the eco-friendly efforts of hotels and resorts in eight regions of the world, finds progress in the greening of the hospitality industry and identifies 10 areas in which the business could do better. Read more
For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

8 Ways to Green Your Winter Travel

2008-12-09T20:21:00.000-08:00

Regardless of economic conditions, travel during November and December increases, often up to 23 percent during the Christmas and New Year’s breaks.

To Read more: Click here

For more information, visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

Warm Springs: How green is my hotel?

2008-12-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

How green can a hotel be? Not the least bit when it's 93 feet tall and 500,000 square feet, insist the dozen local residents who've fought the proposed hotel since it began. But to hear local architect Dale Bates talk about the proposed Warm Springs Ranch Resort, it's simply the right thing to do.

To Read more: Click Here

For more information, Visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com/

Hotels, eateries go green to make green

2008-12-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

More than 300 local hospitality businesses upgraded their facilities with energy-efficient technology, according to the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. The energy savings mean a smaller carbon footprint for local businesses.

To Read more: Click here

For more information Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Local business owners "going green:"

2008-11-30T20:53:00.000-08:00

Local business owners who have environmentally friendly practices or are interested in what they can do to support these practices will gather during a meeting organized by Belle Grae Growing Center, a developing nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide individuals and groups with opportunities to explore natural health and sustainable living practices.

To read more:click here

For more information Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Going GREEN will make you a good corporate citizen

2008-11-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

By running an environmentally responsible operation with cost-effective procedures and facility improvements, hotels and motels can demonstrate leadership in ecological sustainability and enhance competitiveness. The benefits of a green hotel program include: lower operating costs; increased customer and employee satisfaction; reduced environmental impact; and increased marketability as an environmentally friendly business. To read more Click here

For more information Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

"Making the environment green"

2008-11-21T22:37:00.000-08:00

Today, it has become extremely important for businesses to think of being environment friendly. It is must for long term survival, specially in the hotel industry.

For more information Visit:www.ecogreenhotel.com

Ecogreen Sustainable Operations

2008-11-19T00:58:00.000-08:00

To meet today’s needs without compromising the future needs, business demands sustainability in today’s scenario.
The fact that “effective environmental management makes business sense” is now being realized by hotels and resort managers all around the world. People have realized that apart from profitability, future of people and future of planet Earth are also important.
Operation Management is increasingly connected to sustainability, concerning both the operational drivers of profitability and their relationship to people and the planet and gives researchers exciting opportunities.
Ecogreen Hotel is helping hotels to address issues related to environment in a better way and is a leader in sustainable operations program. Sustainability demands business in a way that supports the bottom line as well as the world. Sustainable Operations include the following services:

Sustainability Assessments:- The sustainable assessments include:
· Reviewing all aspects of business operations,
· Auditing to provide a detailed report to set targets and objectives, and
· Developing an environmental policy, purchasing plan and an energy savings program according to the need.

Management Framework: - Educating the management on the new outlined environmental objectives and policy.
Waste and Recycle Consulting: - Implementing recycling programs focusing on easy recycling and driving down the cost associated with waste removal.
Awareness Training: - Conducting environmental workshops and training programs for employees to improve the overall operation.

Sustainable business practices help to enhance customer satisfaction; improve profitability and build strong relationships with local communities.

For more information, Visit: http://www.ecogreenhotel.com/