green hotels association outlines a variety of ways to improve the environment and reduce costs

"Hotel and resort owners and operators are faced with the challenge of controlling costs, increasing productivity, and attracting customers. Waste reduction – which includes waste prevention, reuse, resource conservation, recycling and composting – is a way to help cut costs, achieve bottom line benefits, and satisfy customers.

Actions to take now to save money

Reduce consumption of energy, water and resources – and satisfy customers!

Waste Reduction

• Purchase refillable soap, hair rinse and hand lotion dispensers for guest rooms.
• Donate partially-used products or allow employees to take home.
• Purchase towels and sheets made from 100% natural cotton, containing no chemicals, dyes or bleaches.
• Donate used linens to local shelters, the Salvation Army, or other charities.
• Reduce the frequency of changing and washing linens. Guests who want fresh towels can leave the used ones on the floor, while guests who are willing to reuse their towels hang them for reuse. Leave instructions on towel racks or night stands.
• Donate leftover, untouched food to local shelters or food banks.
• Purchase recycling bins for guest rooms or floors.
• Do not remove "gift amenities" from the room after a guest departs unless the seal on the package is broken. Leave unopened amenities in the room for the next guest.
• Wait to replace half-filled toilet paper rolls and tissue boxes until they are almost completely used. Leave new rolls and tissue boxes in bathrooms for guest to replace.
• Provide guest rooms with unwrapped, reusable drinking glasses and coffee cups. Check with the local health department about storing glasses upside down on trays, rather than using disposable paper covers.
• Replace single-use items with reusable items such as napkins, tablecloths, and hand towels. When they are worn, use them as cleaning rags.
• Buy cleaning products in bulk and in concentrated form. One large container of product uses less packaging per ounce than several smaller containers. Order only what can be used before the product expires.
• Fill smaller reusable containers with cleaning products from larger containers.
• Use refillable pump spray bottles rather than single-use aerosol cans.
• Buy supplies from vendors who accept returned containers used for shipping products.
• To reduce food waste, offer guests the option of ordering half-portions.

Energy Conservation

Electricity accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the utility costs of a typical hotel. Many hotels and resorts have found ways to cut down on these costs without sacrificing guest comfort. Here are some ideas:

• Cover windows, especially west- and south-facing windows, from sunlight with drapes, shades or shutters.
• Turn off all unnecessary lighting. Encourage guests to do the same with signs in the room.
• Set room thermostats to the highest comfortable temperature in summer (at or over 78 degrees) and the lowest comfortable in winter (at or below 68 degrees) – especially in empty rooms.
• Use weather stripping to close air gaps around doors and windows.
• Switch to low-watt bulbs in fixtures where strong lighting is not needed.
• Use fluorescent lighting as much as possible. They are initially more expensive, but use less energy and last longer.
• Place ice and soft drink vending machines in shaded area. Remove lamps from all vending machines.

Water Conservation

• Assuming a 50% occupancy rate, a 200-room hotel uses almost eight million gallons of water in a year. Using water-efficient fixtures could save nearly 2.5 million gallons of water a year.
• Retrofit fixtures in guest rooms and public rest rooms. Use low-flow showerheads, bath and sink faucet aerators, and low-flow toilets.
• Operate clothes and dishwashers only with full loads, and promptly repair all leaks.
• Wash clothes and linens in the coolest water that will do the job; hot water is usually only necessary for heavily soiled loads.
• Restrict lawn watering to evening hours to decrease evaporation and maximize effectiveness.
• Install toilet dams where possible.
• Use soaker hoses instead of sprinklers on your lawns to minimize evaporation.

Environmentally responsible purchasing

• Buy recycled products. Purchase toilet tissue, facial tissues and paper towels made from recycled paper.
• Buy cleaning products that are biodegradable.
• Use recycled paper for letterhead, guest room stationery, etc.

Good Housekeeping

• Store unused chemicals in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place.
• Dispose of chemicals according to label instructions."