The ‘go-green’ trend has motivated many individuals to be more conscious about their actions. The increase in demand for environmentally responsible businesses has even filtered over to the lodging industry, with several eco-friendly hotels cropping up over the last few years. Green hotels as they are so called are hotels that follow business practices which do not deteriorate, but rather, improve the environmental performance of these establishments.
Benefits of Green Hotels
Green hotels enjoy several benefits when compared to standard hotels. These include:
Cost Efficiency
The foremost benefit enjoyed by any green hotel is the cost efficiency when it comes to operating costs. Green hotels employ energy efficient features that reduce their energy costs to a great extent. For instance, a green hotel would make use of eco-friendly lighting options like LED or CFL lights that do not use much power and last longer than conventional lights.
Many green hotels also utilize solar power harnessed from photovoltaic panels to heat up the pool, sauna and other amenities. These would lead to a drastic reduction in electricity bills for the establishment.
Green hotels can gain a lot from smart water consumption practices as well. By opting for low flow showerheads, faucet aerators and dual flush toilets, these establishments can reduce the wastage of water to a great extent. This, in turn, would be reflected in their water utility bill as well.
Proper Waste Management
Hotels that make use of composing and recycling programs can also prevent a lot of waste from ending up in landfills across the world. The massive amounts of paper, plastic and aluminum waste produced by hotels can be recycled at nearby centers while the food wasted in the kitchen can be used to create compost pits for gardening purposes. This would promote the hotel to grow its own food, thus reducing the carbon footprint related to fuel costs, transportation and emissions. Buying locally sourced foods will also allow the hotel to protect the environment while supporting the local economy.
Enhanced Marketing Opportunities
Environmentally friendly practices would surely make hotels be noticed by individuals and businesses with similar interests, thus increasing the marketing opportunities for the former.
Satisfaction of Staff and Guests
With the increasing number of individuals joining the ‘green’ movement, it has become imperative for hotels to follow green standards in order to attract more guests. A green hotel means more satisfied guests as well as more satisfied staff members in the long run.
The Necessities for an Eco-Friendly Hotel
A hotel cannot become eco-friendly merely by claiming to be so. It needs to start following eco-friendly and socially responsible practices in order to earn this title. Accordingly, hotels that aim to achieve the green status should look at several points.
The hotels should set up and manage separate committees that specialize in running environmental programs on a regular basis. They should opt for energy efficient lighting options, and set up timers for electrical/irrigation systems in order to reduce energy/water wastage.
The hotels would need to promote recycling by placing recycling bins in guest rooms as well as staff chambers. It would need to create separate areas for sorting and recycling trash within the premises. It should also focus on reusing worn out or broken resources rather than dumping them in landfills. And it should plant more trees and plants in the garden to consume less water, while using fewer chemicals for landscaping purposes.
The furniture in these green hotels would need to be made from eco-friendly materials, including those that have been resourced from sustainable sources. Good examples would include cork and bamboo. In addition to this, these hotels would need to conduct regular programs on eco-friendly practices in order to educate guests as well as staff members about the importance of saving the environment in the process of leading a healthier lifestyle.
Green hotels are cropping up all over the world. From using energy efficient lighting and water fixtures to promoting recycling programs, eco-friendly hotels have a lot to offer the environment, and gain a lot in the process as well.