Great ‘greening’ tips for the Hospitality industry but can easily be adapted for your office and home to go green.
Behind the Scenes :
- Draft an environmental policy & set of guidelines for your establishment
- Educate your staff and guests about “green” and why it’s important
- Promote your efforts on your website
- Measure your energy and water consumption and benchmark that.
- Analyse your waste management and look for alternatives.
- Get independent consultants to advise you on renewable energy: solar, photovoltaic, hydro, wind turbine, geothermal, biomass all of which exclude fossil fuels.
- Install grey-water systems for your indigenous gardens. Be water-wise.
- Recycling: simply separate wet and dry and have the dry sorted by the unemployed. Ask your local Rotarians or Outreach Programme to help manage
- Change to toxin-free cleaning products
- Use micro fibre cloths to reduce the amount of cleaning liquid.
- Clean carpets with eco-friendly powders.
- Install water-efficient shower roses and taps and dual flush toilets.
- Set geyser thermostats to 60 deg.
- Décor: display local artist’s work and use natural, local materials.
- Furnishings: Use only wood that is sourced from sustainable certified forests.
- Lighting: use energy-saving CFL or LED light bulbs and make better use of daylight.
- Fitness areas: Limit equipment to weight and resistance machines rather than electric
- Heating: Improve with weather-stripping and insulation – install thermostats to save energy.
Kitchen & Dining :
- Convert to energy-efficient appliances, gas or induction cookers.
- Buy fresh food locally and find or grow your own organically without pesticides & using natural compost rather than fertilizers. Mention this on your menus.
- Choose Fair Trade products.
- Choose biodegradable disposable cups, plates and boxes which don’t consume petrochemicals and clog landfills.
- Use unbleached tea bags
Rooms and Baths :
- Invite guests to request towel and linen changes as required.
- Minimize the clutter of brochures etc – one loose-leaf folder is enough.
- Ask guests not to leave appliances on “stand by” – or install a central control system.
- Use good quality airtight containers instead of individually wrapped beverages.
- Place waste-separation bins in the rooms.
- Encourage guests to change their clothes, not the thermostat.
- Use hemp bathrobes and upholstery fabrics. (Cotton is natural, but needs toxic pesticides and chlorine.)
- Try the new knit bed linen: quick drying, non-iron
- Buy soaps and amenities in bulk. Check for toxic ingredients.
- Try poly/cotton towels (poly not green, but they dry fast.)
Written by Lorraine Jenks
Founder owner of Hotelsltuff and Greenstuff
