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Resolving to Be Green Here are 10 ways hotels can be greener in 2010. Thursday, January 14, 2010 Mr. Ray Burger - CHA, MHS

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Start off 2010 by making a resolution - or 10 - on making your hotel a more environmentally friendly place. Here are 10 ways to start.

1. Our hotel will find at least one more application to use energy efficient lighting.
   Consider compact fluorescent light bulbs, linear fluorescent bulbs, cold cathode, or LEDs.
   
   
2. Our hotel will find at least one more application to conserve water.
   Good options are sink aerators, high-performance shower heads, more efficient commodes and grey water systems.
   
   
3. Our hotel will consider executing at least one new energy efficient strategy using renewable resources such as ground source heat, wind or solar.
   
   
4. Our hotel will benchmark our effective use of energy.
   The government's Energy Star program has a kit get started.
   
   
5. Our hotel will implement or significantly improve our recycling and/or composting efforts.
   We will monitor and measure our results. For inspiration read a guide  on recycling from Clemson University and a report on food composting from the EPA.
   
   
6. Our hotel will execute our linen and towel reuse program more effectively.
   The Cornell University Center for Hospitality Research has written about using social psychology to encourage use of such programs.
   
   
7. Our hotel will find a way to provide greener amenities for our guests.
   
   
8. Our hotel will offer an “opt-in” carbon offset program for individual guests and for event planners interested in greener meetings
   
   
9. Our hotel will find a way to reduce or eliminate the amount of bottled water we use.
   
   
10. Our hotel will be involved in and support at least one green community organization and/or event.

Ray Burger is President & CEO (Chief Environmental Officer) of Pineapple Hospitality and Chairman & Founder of EcoRooms & EcoSuites.

 
For more information, visit these sites:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=hospitality.bus_hospitality_bm_starter_kit
• http://www.strom.clemson.edu/publications/Potts/hotel.pdf
• http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/SolidWaste/FoodCompostingforHotelsPresentation.pdf
• http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/pubs/quarterly/featured/execsummary-14827.html