Pursue 100% FSC-Certified Paper Products in On-Property Operations
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC), an independent, non-government organization dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests, certifies certain sustainably-sourced or produced paper products.
Completion Timing:
Area of Property:
Capital Investment:
Category:
Expense Savings:
#15:
UN Sus. Dev. Goal:
Explanation:
Getting Started:
No-Cost Initiative
Kitchen / Procurement
Varies
Other
This Month
Ask your suppliers about FSC-certified products. Some hotel brands (e.g., Marriott Int'l) offer brand-standard, FSC-certified products (e.g., Kimberly-Clark) via procurement partners (e.g. Avendra). Visit www.fsc.org to learn more.
Life On Land
Transition to Paperless Guest Administration
100% paperless guest folios, payment, signature and ID collection, and guest experience commentary is supported by many property management systems' built-in tools (e.g., Maestro), which saves paper and related expenses.
Completion Timing:
Area of Property:
Capital Investment:
Category:
Expense Savings:
#12:
UN Sus. Dev. Goal:
Explanation:
Getting Started:
No-Cost Initiative
General
Yes
Waste
This Month
Avoid the habit of printing paper guest folios at both check-in and check-out (or sliding a copy under a door), or train staff to only provide hard copies upon request rather than as part of automatic protocol.
Responsible Consumption & Production
Opt for Xeriscaping of Property Entry and Grounds
Xeriscaping is a set of water-conscious landscaping practices that reduces hotel water use by embracing regionally-appropriate low-water plants, mulches, and ground coverings well-suited to a local climate.
Completion Timing:
Area of Property:
Capital Investment:
Category:
Expense Savings:
#6:
UN Sus. Dev. Goal:
Explanation:
Getting Started:
Up-Front Investment
Exterior / Grounds
Yes
Water
This Year
Local landscapers or nurseries can provide guidance on mixtures of plants that (i) provide year-round beauty, (ii) limit water use, and (iii) require little maintenance. You can also start by reviewing Ecolodgical's downloads.
Clean Water & Sanitation
Replace Urinals with Waterless Units
Waterless urinals help hotels reduce commercial water and sewer charges, avoid costly leaks and maintenance emergencies, and provide a hygienic, quiet, and touch-free guest experience.
Completion Timing:
Area of Property:
Capital Investment:
Category:
Expense Savings:
#6:
UN Sus. Dev. Goal:
Explanation:
Getting Started:
Up-Front Investment
Public Areas
Yes
Water
This Year
In addition to speaking to your property's engineers or asset managers and reviewing any related guest comments, start with Ecolodgical's downloadable resources for detailed information, including our ROI model.
Clean Water & Sanitation
Install Strip Curtains on Walk-In Freezers and Coolers
Plastic strip curtains on doors of walk-in freezers or coolers save energy by mitigating warm air entry while unit doors are open (which can increase temperatures by 0.5⁰C / second), extend mechanical unit life, and help food stay cold.
Completion Timing:
Area of Property:
Capital Investment:
Category:
Expense Savings:
#7:
UN Sus. Dev. Goal:
Explanation:
Getting Started:
Up-Front Investment
Kitchen / Procurement
Yes
Energy
This Month
Many local restaurant supply companies provide these units for < $100. Simple installation can be done via in-house labor. These are especially effective if kitchen staff props doors open during deliveries / high-volume periods.
Affordable & Clean Energy
Curated Materials
In 2020, we reviewed materials from 200+ organizations. We want to shed light on the best ones we found.
Our goal was to find materials that supported actionable, relevant, and well-researched solutions. We reviewed guides, toolkits, fact sheets, manuals, videos, etc. from 200+ (and counting) various entities, including government agencies, local jurisdictions, private companies, building operations consultants, sustainability research groups, national and international tourism organizations, non-profits, and engineering practitioners. We feel the resources listed below are among the best free materials available anywhere online given their level of detail and ability to create momentum on your projects.
Find one you think we're missing? Please feel free to contact us.
National Resources
Ohio-Focused Resources
» Hotel Kitchen [link + description]
» US EPA WaterSense [link + description]
» Foodprint Group [link + description]
» WrapUK [link + description]
» American Electric Power [link + description]
» SWACO [link + description]
» Columbia Gas [link + description]
» GreenSpot Columbus [link + description]
» Columbus Utility Benchmarking [link + description]
Please use the filters below to explore our library of projects, strategies, and resources to help you run a more profitable and eco-friendly hotel. Ecolodgical has created additional resources (ROI models, case studies, detailed explanations, and more) available for download via the button below.
Ecolodgical Library
Downloadable Resources and Tools Available
Ohio Supplemental Information Available
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