The lodging business has been considered one of the most wasteful in existence, but this is changing thanks to many hotels making the commitment to being green. Not only do they save money in doing so, but also they have learned discriminating travelers are beginning to search out and stay at the hotels which give less to the consumer and more to the environment.
Hotels have a hefty electrical bill, because they are 24/7 institutions. Lights are always on and heating and cooling systems are constantly running, not to mention the amount of laundry they wash every day.
The first step towards going green is recycling. Something as simple as separating cardboard from other waste material is a big step, but many hotels have taken it a step further by separating plastics from glass.
Water conservation is another factor to consider. Low flow toilets are not only saving water, they are saving on the overall hotel water bill. As homeowners and renters, the savings we get from low-flow toilets may be small, but a hotel, with thousands of flushes per month, saves a tremendous amount.
Converting to CFL and pure florescent lighting can also result in big savings, considering lights remain on 24 hours a day. Not only do CFLs save energy and money, but they also save accidents in the workplace. Maintenance workers change these bulbs four to five times less often, which means less time on ladders and in clinics with related injuries.
Laundry is probably the largest expenditure for hotels in time, energy and money. Many hotels are giving guests the option to keep their linens on the bed for an extra night. This has the potential to add up to big savings, particularly in water and electrical usage for washers and dryers.
Motion sensing light switches will make sure any switched light will always be turned off. Low flow shower heads conserve water, and many hotels are changing their room heating/cooling units to more modern, energy-efficient methods.
Even the hotel business has found going green not only saves money in the short run, but brings in business in the long run. And those are the places where this Green Guy will always stay!
Source: BecauseAction.com
