You can cut your energy costs and carbon emissions by implementing environmentally-friendly practices. Below are some web sites and ideas to help your property go green that will not affect your guests’ brand experience but will help you to become an environmental responsible property.
Below are categories for energy saving tips. Click on the tip you are interested in or scroll below to see all tips.
- Install air filtration in guest rooms.
- Eliminate or limit the number of smoking rooms.
- Check for the presence of carbon monoxide and implement a maintenance program to check air quality.
- Use vacuums with air filters to avoid the spreading of dust.
- Clean air ducts on a monthly basis.
- Limit the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides.
- Use non-toxic cleaning products and low voltaic organic compounds (VOC), such as paint, adhesives, carpeting, and air fresheners.
- Avoid aerosol products.
- Close window coverings and turn off lights after rooms are cleaned.
- Seal air leaks in walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors.
- Clean air ducts monthly.
- Conduct an energy audit and monitor and record energy and water usage to identify energy efficiency opportunities.
- Implement preventative maintenance programs for all energy-related equipment.
- Take advantage of rebates, discounts and incentives offered by utilities.
- Install energy-efficient windows, window film and thermal-glass or double paned windows.
- Use adequate insulation in ceilings, walls, floors and crawl spaces.
- Turn off office equipment and appliances when not in use or when rooms are unoccupied.
- Close drapes, blinds, window coverings and turn off lights when rooms are vacant.
- Install draperies with thermal reflective liners.
- Install solar panels.
- Install energy misers on vending machines.
- Keep aerators on in whirlpools only when needed.
- In swimming pools, keep skimmers and filters clean.
- Investigate available Energy Star programs.
- Recycle cardboard, paper, aluminum, plastic, printing cartridges, batteries, etc.
- Use environmentally safe, non-toxic certified green, cleaning products in guest rooms, public areas, etc.
- Avoid using pesticides, chemical fertilizers and aerosols.
- Use coins or chips for car parking and coat checking instead of paper tickets.
- Make cloth laundry bags from retired sheets.
- Grow organically-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs for restaurants.
- Purchase reusable, recyclable and disposable products.
- Buy organic, biodegradable, locally-made products.
- Buy office equipment with a “sleep” feature when not in use.
- Take advantage of available energy efficiency rebates and tax incentives from local and state utilities and government agencies.
- Convert to electric lawn mowers and leaf blowers.
- Use reclaimed water for watering the grounds.
- Return plant containers that are not biodegradable to growers for recycling.
- Replace mowed landscaping with ground cover.
- Use a mulcher to create mulch from garden clippings.
- Plant drought-tolerant plants.
- Install occupancy sensors and intelligent, programmable thermostats or PTAC controllers in guest rooms, meeting rooms and public spaces to eliminate wasted energy from heating and cooling vacant rooms, lowering energy costs.
- Install HVAC controls in meeting rooms and offices so that only maintenance or engineering staff can adjust the temperature.
- Install sensors on guestroom windows or sliding glass doors so HVAC will not run when they are open.
- Take advantage of available tax incentives and rebates from utilities for installing efficient heating and cooling systems.
- Close doors and windows and keep window coverings closed in guest rooms during hot weather.
- Insulate all heating and cooling lines/vessels to better control heat gains or losses and check for air leaks.
- Install awnings, overhangs, or low e-coated windows with low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.
- Install high-efficiency air conditioning units.
- Install ceiling fans in guest rooms.
- Schedule routine maintenance, including filter changes, coil cleaning, thermostat calibration, and damper adjustments for efficient operation.
- Keep air conditioners out of the sun and away from heat loads.
- Change air handler filters on a quarterly basis.
- Remove obstructions that restrict air flow from heating and cooling units.
- Insulate hot-water-holding tanks, pipes, ducts, wall and roof spaces to reduce heat loss or gain.
- Purchase food from local and organic growers.
- Purchase food in bulk rather than individual packaging.
- Use reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments.
- Recycle cooking/fryer oils into diesel fuel.
- Donate leftover food to local charitable organizations.
- Clean refrigerator condenser coils at least four times a year.
- Check refrigerator and freezer for appropriate temperatures and defrost frequently.
- Clean interior oven walls and elements to optimize heat transfer; clean grease and food particles from exhaust oven hoods.
- Arrange for compost pick-up for food scraps.
- Install humidity control panels in coolers as dry space takes less energy to cool.
- Pre-wash dishes and only run dishwashers when full.
- Purchase appliances rated efficient by the U.S. government’s Energy Star program.
- Use plastic air curtains near walk-in refrigerators and freezers to prevent cool air loss.
- Use steam cookers with the Energy Star for shorter cook times and reduced energy usage.
- Use fragrance-free natural laundry detergent as artificial fragrances are made from petroleum
- Use washing machines and dryers that are rated as energy efficient by the U.S. Energy Star program.
- Implement routinely-scheduled maintenance programs to check efficient operation of machinery.
- Operate washers and dryers during non-peak times.
- Clean out lint screens in dryers after each use.
- Ensure proper ventilation for dryers with enough fresh air flow from outside.
- Wash in cold water and use short cycles as often as possible.
- Use front-loading washers to save on water and electricity usage.
- Avoid under-loading washers and over-drying wash in dryers.
- Convert to energy-efficient fluorescent lamps and fluorescent overhead lighting in place of “conventional” fluorescent lamps. Compared to incandescent bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs consume 75% less electricity, last 4-15 times longer, and generate 74% less heat, according to the AHLA.
- Install compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in place of incandescent lamps.
- Install light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs to replace incandescent signs. According to the AHLA, typical exit signs cost $60 in energy costs per year per sign. Switching to a light-emitting diode (LED) only costs $1 per year.
- Install occupancy sensors that control lighting usage when rooms are vacant.
- Dim the lights. According to the AHLA, dimming the lights by 10% not only saves money, but also more than doubles the life expectancy of a bulb.
- Use solar energy for lighting, signage and heating water where possible.
- Use daylight to optimum use in lobbies, public areas, restaurants, etc. and install skylights for maximum light.
- Use the lowest wattage bulbs possible.
- Turn off lights when not needed.
- Provide nightlights near bathrooms to avoid guests keeping lights on at night as rooms are dark.
- Implement paperless check-in and check-out for guests.
- Use key cards made from recycled corn products.
- Offer water saving options for sheets and towels in guestrooms.
- Convert to organic cotton linens and bathrobes.
- Use low-flow toilets and shower heads.
- Use email for correspondence, such as memos, reports and contracts, rather than printed correspondence.
- With emails, add a footnote asking recipients to only print emails if necessary.
- Format documents with small top and side margins and encourage two-sided printing and copying.
- Turn off lights, computers, etc. in offices when not in use.
- Use recycled-paper, motionless towel dispensers.
- Turn off lights and air conditioning when rooms are not in use.
- Perform routine maintenance inspections of faucets and toilets to prevent water waste, as a faucet dripping at one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons per year, according to the US EPA.
- Use chemical-free, organic products that work with the body.
- Use clean-burning, flameless candles.
- Provide carpool parking.
- Offer free bus passes.
- Provide guests with bicycles, walking maps and information about public transportation.
- Use reusable containers, linens, silverware and dishes.
- Recycle plastic, glass and paper and provide recycling bins.
- Install hand dryers in restrooms rather than using paper towels.
- Install dispensers for soap and shampoo to replace small, disposable bottles.
- Recycle worn linens and towels for cleaning use.
- Donate leftover food to local organization and/or use as compost.
- Use glass or ceramic instead of plastic or Styrofoam cups and eliminate plastic wrappers on glasses.
- Provide bulk food condiments rather than individually packaged container.
- Reuse dry cleaning hangers.
- Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable batteries.
- Recycle cans and bottles, boxes, kitchen grease, printer cartridges.
- Properly dispose of fluorescent light bulbs as they contain mercury.
- Purchase recyclable products, such as carpet and floor coverings.
- Implement paperless guest check out.
- Participate in the EPA’s WasteWise program (http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/about/overview.htm)
- Install solar heating systems and use solar covers on pools and hot tubs.
- Use toilet tank fill diverters in older toilets; can save about 3/4 of a gallon of water per flush.
- Use water coolers instead of water bottles.
- Implement a linen and towel reuse program.
- Implement regular maintenance programs to monitor possible repairs for toilets, faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, etc.
- Repair all leaks.
- Install water-conserving fixtures and appliances, such as dual flush toilets, low-low faucet aerators in kitchen and bathroom sinks, dishwashers, etc.
- Insulate water pipes.
- Limit watering of grass and plants; time watering when evaporation is minimized; use drought-resistant plants; use mulch to minimize evaporation.
- Use groundcover to minimize mowed landscaping.
- Install drip irrigation systems rather than sprinklers.
- Conserve water in restaurants by serving water only when requested.
- Install an instant-water heater in kitchen.
- Offer water saving options for sheets and towels in guestrooms.
- Use low-flow toilets and shower heads.
- Perform routine maintenance inspections of faucets and toilets to prevent water waste, as a faucet dripping at one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons per year, according to the US EPA.
