More than half of all U.S. adults say they would be more likely to select an airline, rental car or hotel that uses more environmentally friendly products and processes, according to the results of a Travelhorizons survey by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and Ypartnership.
Eco-awareness has gone beyond the familiar towel re-use program, "Please put the towels you wish changed on the floor and those you wish to re-use on the towel bars." According to the survey, consumers look for properties that actively tried to prevent beach erosion (oceanfront hotels), allowed guests the option to reuse towels and sheets, reduced their energy consumption by using energy efficient lighting/low flow toilets and showers, and supported community environmental causes.
EcoRooms & EcoSuites has tried to codify, quantify and certify a green initiative for hotels. They have developed a green hotel guide by certifying properties that support the following sustainability standards.
Eco-Criteria
- Green Seal certified or equivalent cleaning products are used in guestrooms.
- Green Seal certified or equivalent paper products (facial and bathroom tissue) are used in guestrooms.
- Bathrooms feature amenity dispensers or small, practical amenity sizes with guests encouraged to take the remainder of their bathroom amenities home or donate them to homeless shelters.
- The hotel has implemented a Linen and Towel Reuse Program
- Guests are provided separate and easily identified receptacles and/or bags in which to deposit recyclables.
- Energy-efficient lighting is in place in every applicable area.
- High efficiency plumbing - 1. 6 or less gallons-per-flush for toilets and 1.5 gallons per minute or less for sinks with water-efficient aerators.
- 100% Smoke-Free Hotel
It's a Good First Step
EcoRooms should add U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. These properties should implement waste reduction by having electronic, paperless systems, washing machines and linen facilities that cut down on water and energy use and reducing their carbon footprint (not just buying carbon offsets or energy credits). Additioanl, operators need to consider the little things like turning off the lights in the lobby during the day and offering bicycles to guests for short trips.
Inn By the Sea - An Example
Ray Burger, founder of EcoRooms & EcoSuites, said "...facilities [like Inn By the Sea in Crescent Beach, Maine] have incorporated some of the most-forward thinking eco-friendly designs and programs that the industry has seen. Inn By the Sea just completed a multi-million dollar renovation that enhanced the guest experience as well as its environmental standing. The Inn by the Sea is now a Maine DEP certified Green Lodging, has received a Legislative Sentiment as an Environmental Leader, and was selected one of Tripadvisors Top Ten Green Hotels worldwide.
During its redesign, the Inn worked with a LEED consultant on the spa addition, used recycled rubber for the cardio room floor, low VOC paint, sealants and wall coverings and recycled sheet rock. The salinated pool is heated with solar panels, and an air to air heat exchanger saves energy. Guests are wrapped in bamboo towels, use ‘green' recycled paper key cards and are surrounded by indigenous landscape. The inn's sheet and towel program donates savings to the endangered monarch butterfly.
Don't be duped by "greenwashed" hotels that implement a single, obvious program - such as linen re-use - but say they are sustainable. Don't just rely on outside agency to say a property is "green". Even the best organizations have motives and agendas. Do your own research.
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