What’s in a bottle?

Hotel Amenities are a crucial portion of our business.  Guests impose value on them that goes beyond the basic usefulness of the product.  With TSA regulations and baggage fees on airlines now a staple of business and leisure travel alike, knowing an amenity such as shampoo or lotion is awaiting you at your destination potentially reduces the outward cost of travelling.  Aside from not having to pack additional items for a planned stay, many guests enjoy hotel products that they can “take home” from their trip.  I don’t know about you, but I certainly have amassed quite a collection of bath soaps and shampoos over the years- Each with the insignia of their hotel-of-origin displayed proudly on the front.  There exists a pass along effect of these amenities.  Your brand has the ability to enter the homes of these individuals.  Regardless of the rationale, these items have become expected by our customers.

So, why would anyone want to switch to an amenity dispenser system?  Who would want to potentially affect guest satisfaction by removing those coveted souvenirs from a guest room?  Why would you want to diminish the added value these small tokens of hospitality afford you?  The answer is as simple as the “Complimentary Guest Items” line item on your budget.  We all are in recovery mode from the economic downturn of the recent years.  Where occupancy had been low, we are now seeing growth and gains.  ADR’s are increasing, RevPar is on the rise and many of us are actually in sight of achieving budgets.  In times like these, every single dollar saved can potentially tip the scale.

Not your Father’s Dispenser

Think back to high school.  Do you remember the locker room and its antiquated soap dispensers?  Older dispenser models like this can conjure images of sub-par motels, locker rooms, gyms, or public restrooms.  Obviously, this is not exactly the type of “welcome home” we are aiming to offer our guests.  In recent years though, the amenitydispenser design and style has completely rebounded from its lackluster origins.  Stylish designs and finishes have replaced poorly made pump systems that were messy and difficult to maintain.  The dispensers available today are compact, efficient and incredibly stylish.

Not only has the actual hardware been improved, but the contents have as well.  Brands such as Tommy Bahama have offered high-end, quality products as a dispensable option for hotel brands.  Trends such as this afford a hotel the option to provide an equally luxurious hotel experience while doing so with a more sustainable green technology.  Distributors are becoming wise to the needs of hoteliers to maintain top quality products that are stylish and desirable to guests.  Companies such as Pineapple Hospitality offer a vast selection of products and dispensers to suit the needs of the most discriminating clientele.

Waste not…spend not

Waste is a large portion of the entire guest amenity program within our industry.  Millions of plastic bottles are manufactured each year for these programs.  A large portion of these bottles will never be recycled.  In many cases, the majority of these items are thrown away with product still inside of them.  Once discarded, these items sit in landfills creating a huge amount of non-biodegradable waste.  Put simply, there is a large environmental case for the use of dispensers.

On average, a green hotel can have a daily cost of anywhere from $0.35 to $0.94 per day room amenity cost.  Of the thousands of bottles disposed of each day, fewer than 5% of them ever see a recycling program.  This cycle makes for one scenario: very expensive waste.  Once the initial cost of hardware and product is factored, a dispenser product in a guest room can reduce daily operating costs to less than $0.20 per room!

Any dispenser system in a hotel room will reduce ordering costs, product usage and waste.  Most dispenser products are ordered by the gallon, which can translate into an average savings of 30-70% on annual amenity costs! By condensing the size and quantity of guest amenities in this manner a hotel can conserve labor costs and valuable storage room as well.

Join the club

Though amenity dispensers have had great success in Europe and Canada, US hoteliers have been less apt to adopt this sustainable product idea.  However, some of the newest hotel brands have implemented this as a standard in all of their properties.  Aloft, for instance, offers all of their guest amenities via dispenser.  So do Element, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Drury Hotels and Four Points by Sheraton.  Despite these brands and companies’ efforts, they’re part of the less than 5% of the market that is estimated to be utilizing dispensers.  However, the trend is gaining steam and more brands are piloting “test dispenser” programs in their properties to gauge cost-reductions and guest satisfaction.

Regardless of the speed, the possibility for amenity dispensers to grow toward a more socially accepted standard is completely viable.  Our guests are learning that every choice they make impacts their own carbon footprint, and this includes the choices in hotels.  By offering our customers the option to choose a green hotel with a sustainability initiative in place, we are assisting in changing the mindset and culture of the business.

For more information on EcoGreenHotel’s sustainable solutions for hotels, contact us at info@EcoGreenHotel.com

Since the organization’s founding in 2008, The Philagreen Hospitality Association (PGHA) has worked towards improving the sustainability practices of the Philadelphia area hospitality sector. To accomplish this, PGHA’s mission has been to setup and connect the hospitality managers with environmental professionals. The subsequent established relationship yields results two-fold: economically viable & environmentally beneficial. First, for this to work, any rational industry will examine “the bottom-line” before any project is to be undertaken. Fortunately, today’s “green initiatives” are both cost effective and environmentally beneficial. This “win – win” is exactly how PGHA can cultivate and grow such cooperative relationships. PGHA has around eight meetings a year that feature guest speakers including experts on energy efficiency, recycling and sustainable practices. Membership is open to hoteliers, restaurateurs, and qualifying suppliers. In addition to educational and networking opportunities, association members benefit from information on tax breaks and utility incentives, a bimonthly e-newsletter including information on the latest green products and practices, and public relations assistance through PGHA’s own website.

The Woman Behind The Vision
The secret to Philagreen’s success can be traced back to its founder and Executive Director, Francine Cohen. Her insight into the disconnect between local business’ current practices and the available greener, eco-friendly alternatives gave rise to PGHA. “I have been an eco-conscious citizen for decades,” Cohen says. “I have always been interested in the hospitality industry as a consumer. I saw there was a need in Philadelphia for an organization that would act as a one-stop shop for hotel and restaurant owners and operators interested in saving money and energy.” Cohen says there are 87 properties in the Greater Philadelphia area, eight of which are Energy Star rated (all Marriotts) and only one that is Green Seal certified (Philadelphia Airport Marriott). The potential for growth in a green organization like PGHA is significant.

On Thursday September 15, 2011, Cohen will be hosting one of PGHA’s multiple member events at the Philadelphia Four Season titled “Green RFPs, Restaurants and Range Hoods.” As its title implies, the meeting’s guest speakers will discuss how hoteliers can respond to RFP environmental questions, the efficiency advancements in kitchen ventilation hoods, and green practices for restaurants.

What Makes A Green Hotel, Green?

Carbon footprints, spiral CFL bulbs, eco-design, Energy Star, off-setting, renewable energy… All these “eco-buzz words” can be confusing when it comes to actually defining what it means to “go green.” What all these concepts have in common is the reduction in energy consumption. Therefore, a “Green” hotel is one that simply is able to obtain a reduction in its energy usage to the point at which outside acknowledgment is bestowed.

The biggest opportunities for energy reduction lie in the largest areas of energy consumption. The three major systems for on-site energy consumption in a hotel are lighting, HVAC, and hot water production. Hotels consume around 30% of their electricity costs on lighting alone! By making the latest CFL & LED lighting upgrades in guestroom, common areas and the back of the house, hotels are realizing immediate and consistent savings, without any impact on overall guest experience or installation costs.
Next, occupancy based HVAC energy management systems and building automation systems have proven to save 15-30% of heating and cooling cost. HVACEMS systems can range from under $300 to the most advanced for $1100+ per key. As with lighting, there are rebates and incentives available for EMS. Some utility companies will even cover up to seventy-five percent of the costs. Lastly, the heating of domestic hot water in a hotel is another area for significant savings. Hot water for showers, F&B, and laundry can be up to 50% of the natural gas expense for a hotel! Boiler Energy Cost Management System (BECMS) essentially automates the operation of the hot water recirculation loop in a building. This solution helps minimize the energy expended to constantly heat and reheat the same circulating water throughout a building.

With these sustainable solutions outlined, one might ask how much of an energy reduction is required to be considered green? Simply, there is no magic formula – there are many “green labels” available – like LEED, Energy Star, EcoSuites, & Green Seal Certified to name a few – each with their own criteria. Energy Star’s method ranks the national average of energy consumption at 50 and requires a building to improve up to at least the 75th percentile to receive their certification. LEED utilizes a points system, where every sustainable measure receives a specific amount of points. The total then condones a specific “tier” of LEED certification starting at 49. Regardless of which certification label is sought, each requires quantifiable evidence to prove a reduction in energy consumption has occurred.

Help Along The Way To Sustainability

After a hotel has decided to examine the steps to “go green,” there are many companies, organizations, and incentives that can help achieve this goal. Philagreen is an obvious example that provides a clearinghouse of green services. PGHA’s wealth of knowledge can help provide “green” contacts for project management and implementation, as well as, green information concerning local utility rebates and government grants or loans. Linking up with a “green expert” is invaluable; they help navigate the financial incentives, product claims, and actual utility savings with the end goal of providing a favorable return on investment.

In Pennsylvania, PEPCO and PPL are two of the largest utility providers. Both offer extensive energy efficiency rebate programs. PPL says its rebates were designed to reimburse commercial customers for about 50% of the added cost for buying high efficiency equipment. PPL’s rebates for packaged air conditioners, chillers, occupancy sensors, LED exit signs, and T8 fluorescents are the most popular. To specify, T8 lamp rebates fetch around $5 – $19 each, and $.35 rebate for every watt reduced in power density. Similarly, PEPCO offsets Energy Management Systems’ costs by providing a rebate of $.10 – $.21per square foot the system regulates. Additionally, LED bulbs receive a $15 rebate and fluorescents $1 – $9. Beyond their “approved rebate lists,” both offer customized rebate programs for other upgrades pending a technical analysis study of the upgrade in question. This flexibility should not be surprising as utility providers seek to address the conservation of power in peak areas to prevent service outages. Finally, there are additional financial incentives offered on the state and federal levels. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as “the stimulus,” has allocated over $55 billion for “green initiatives” with $6.3 billion of that going towards state & local grants for energy efficiency programs. The State of Pennsylvania currently offers both grant and loan energy efficiency incentives up to 50% of the project’s cost.

The focus on sustainability is here to stay – government is prioritizing it due to increasing energy costs, companies are including related RFP questions, and individuals are more aware of this issue than ever before. For hotels and all businesses, now is the time to examine efficiency upgrades. With the current levels of local, state and federal incentives, there should be no hesitation in examining the ROIs for such undertakings. Beyond helping the environment, going green is also helping enterprise’s bottom lines!

About Francine Cohen

Francine Cohen is Executive Director of Philagreen Hospitality Association founded the organization in 2008 after recognizing that local hotels and restaurants needed help understanding and implementing sustainability practices. Motivated by her passion for environmental responsibility, Francine consults with hoteliers to lessen their impacts on the environment.

About the Author

Scott Parisi is the founder of EcoGreenHotel, a firm that develops energy and sustainability projects for commercial buildings with a large focus on the hospitality sector. As President of EGH, Scott’s day to day responsibilities include developing and implementation of energy and sustainability strategies into hotels, leveraging federal state and local utility incentives to subsidies projects and building partnerships with like minded companies that add value to EGH’s client base. Additionally, Scott develops and hosts educational workshops, staff trainings and has spoke at national and regional events including AAHOA’s National Convention, Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference, Boston Green Tourism Events, Philagreen Hospitality Association Events, GF Management University Sessions, National Purchasing Network Annual Expo and the Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit.

There have been some positive developments with Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs and hoteliers can now take advantage of this financing alternative.
There is an “A Minus” program for those who have returned to profitability after previous losses and another lending program that enables hoteliers to acquire or build multiple properties even if they are out of SBA eligibility. (Hint: it’s a “green” thing).

“A MINUS” HOTEL LOAN PROGRAM

The “A Minus” SBA 504 Loan is a new portfolio program for hoteliers who have survived the recession. The program is targeted at hoteliers who had previous losses, but turned a profit in 2010 and have continued to do well in 2011. Benefits of the SBA 504 Loan includes:

• Low rates, fixed for 20 years (for second mortgage; rates change monthly, current at 5.63%)
• No balloon payments
• Only 10 percent equity requirement
• 504 Loan can be combined with SBA “Green Loans” for more funding

If you are considering implementing sustainable initiatives such as energy efficiency, sustainable design, or “green retrofit” to your building project or expansion, the combination of the 504 and Green Loan program can increase the amount of your loan dramatically.

Basic SBA 504 hotel loan program details:

• Loan to Value (LTV): Up to 90% combined LTV (50% first mortgage, 40% second).
• Loan amount: $1-12 million
• “Ideal” loan: Limited or full service, flagged hotel (no motels) in primary or secondary market with loan amount in the $2-5 million range.
• STAR reports: Must show positive trends
• Occupancy: No specific minimum occupancy, but transaction must cash flow
• Rates: First mortgage: Three year fixed currently in mid 7’s (adjustable thereafter) with 25-year amortization. Five year fixed also available. Second mortgage is currently 5.63% fixed for 20 years.

*The SBA 504 Refinance program has not been a success since it is currently restrictive, but the “word on the street” is that it will be expanded in the next few months (possibly 30 days) to allow business debt consolidation, property improvements and renovations.

For those who cannot qualify for the 504 Loan program, you may want to consider an SBA 7a Loan that can be used for any legitimate business purpose and has a maximum loan amount of $5 million.

GET MORE ELIGIBILITY BY GOING GREEN

If your are considering on purchasing, constructing, remodeling, refinancing or renovating, adding sustainability solutions into your projects may qualify you for the SBA Green 504 Loan program.

The SBA Green 504 Loan isn’t really a new program, but there is a little known guideline that allows hoteliers (or others) to acquire or build multiple hotel properties regardless of whether they have any remaining SBA eligibility – as long as the new building is at least 10 percent more energy efficient than their current property or properties.

In other words, you can purchase multiple hotel even if you are out of SBA eligibility if you run an energy efficient hotel. This is a big deal in the current tight credit environment given that most lenders will not lend on a hotel without some type of government guarantee. Benefits of the SBA Green lending program include:

• Removes the maximum $5 million SBA eligibility limit per borrower
• Hoteliers can acquire, build or possibly refinance multiple facilities using the maximum amount of SBA financing of $5.5  million for each project (keep in mind, $5.5 million is the amount of the second mortgage guaranteed by SBA)
• The 504 is long term fully amortized financing at below market rates.
• You can use the 504 program to finance renewable and green energy equipment.

How to qualify for the SBA Green Loan

The easiest way to qualify is to acquire or construct a building that uses 10% less energy on a per square foot basis than your existing building. It is important to remember that the 10% reduction is in energy consumption not dollars saved on lower utility bills.

Qualifying examples assuming you currently own or lease:

• You can qualify if you lease or own a building now and finance another building that is 10% more energy efficient than the building you are currently leasing.
• You can qualify if you lease a building now and you decide to purchase it and make energy efficient improvements that cut your energy consumption by 10%. This could be as simple as conducting a thorough Energy Efficiency Analysis.
• You can also qualify if you lease or own a building now and you build a new facility that is 10% more energy efficient.

Qualifying if you do not own or lease a building now:

Another way to qualify for the Green 504 is to acquire or build a new building that produces enough of it’s own renewable energy to cut it’s energy consumption based upon what it would have been without the improvements.

If you do not own a building currently and have no baseline for energy consumption then SBA requires that you produce enough of your own energy to cut your consumption by the required 10% since you do not have an existing building to benchmark against.

You can produce the energy multiple ways using any of the common sources of renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.) and the costs of installation can be included in the loan amount.

About Author

John King is President of Green Commercial Capital. He specializes in educating clients about SBA loan options and connecting them with lenders who are actually lending. You can visit his company’s website at:  www.greencommercialcapital.com and blog www.sba504blog.com.

Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically and making cost-effective improvements to its building. The hotel property scored 43 points higher than the average hotel and 18 points higher than the Energy Star requirements. This achievement ranks the green hotel in the top 7 percent of similar buildings. Additionally, with this score, the Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront has even exceeded the energy efficiency pre requisite for the US Green Building Council’s LEED Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance (EBOM) certification.

The Homewood Suites implemented occupancy based energy management systems in all 132-guest rooms. All HVAC and refrigeration equipment is maintained for optimal efficiency through Kupuna Hospitality’s Preventative Maintenance Planner. The entire building is outfitted with high efficiency lighting. Storage rooms and other areas that are infrequently occupied have timers or occupancy sensors to control lighting when rooms are not in use. With the assistance of EcoGreenHotel, the Homewood Suites is reviewing additional energy conservation measures that include window film to reduce the solar thermal gain, ozone laundry technology as well as a boiler management system to reduce the natural gas usage for the property. As part of the E2A Program (Energy Efficiency Analysis), the property is also evaluating renewable energy options including solar PV, solar thermal and cogeneration.

“We are always looking for ways to reduce energy use by upgrading inefficient equipment and finding ways for existing equipment to run more efficiently,” said Rick Gabrielsen, President and CEO of Kupuna Hospitality.“Through monthly energy monitoring, reporting and comparisons to historical data, we will ensure that the Homewood Suites operates at high energy efficiency and is eligible to earn the Energy Star label each year.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging people to travel green while on the road this summer, and choosing hotels that have earned EPA’s Energy Star is a great place to start. Energy Star labeled hotels are independently verified to meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by EPA. Green hotels that have earned the Energy Star perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nation wide, use at least 35 percent less energy and emit at least 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint) than their peers – making an environmentally friendly lodging choice a snap when planning a summer vacation.

“Hotel’s have historically been huge consumers of natural resources. That’s why it’s important for us [general managers] to recognize the opportunities for conservation and energy savings. Not only are travelers expecting a great experience, but they’re also looking to minimize their carbon footprint,” said the Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront’s General Manager, Jason Olivares.“The Energy Star label for our hotel is just the first reflection of our efforts. Our green team is constantly looking for ways to lesson our impact on the bay area’s resources.”

The green lodging industry spends more than $7.5 billion on energy each year. Reducing energy use by 10 percent across the industry could save $750 million and help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 6 million tons annually. Energy Star partners, such as EcoGreenHotel Energy Solutions,work with hundreds of owners and managers of hotels across the country to help strategically manage energy performance, cut energy use, lower utility bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.²

For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.

About Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront
The Homewood Suites by Hilton® Oakland-Waterfront sustainable hotel is located on the Estuary and Marina in Oakland, CA. 60% of the suites and studios in this lovely three-story designed hotel offer views of the marina. This Green Certified Hotel is located conveniently off I-880, providing excellent access to San Francisco and San Jose at 1103 Embarcadero, Oakland, California. To make hotel reservation, visit http://oaklandgreenhotels.com or call 510-663-2700.About Kupuna Hospitality
Kupuna Hospitality offers complete management services to hotel owners, providing competitive fees with balance in operational quality to enhance profitability. Financial performance of the properties is the barometer for our success. Owners understand that consistently providing guests with an excellent product and exceptional service at a premium price is essential to being profitable.In addition to property management, Kupuna Hospitality provides hotel owners and investors a full complement of hospitality and business services.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213. ]]> http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/homewood-suites-oakland-waterfront-hotel-awarded-prestigious-epa%e2%80%99s-energy-star-certification/feed/ 0 http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/carbon-emission-from-hotel-energy-use-3/ http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/carbon-emission-from-hotel-energy-use-3/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 09:41:41 +0000 admin http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/?p=188 Hotel owners that recognize the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) of the companies that consume room nights in the markets will ultimately shift share. This RFP season will offer even more proof of that. Companies like Deloitte and Johnson & Johnson will continue to blaze the trail. The hotel brands are already recognizing this and have been busy implementing corporate sustainability policies.

One way, for you to determine your CO² emissions is to utilize EPA’s (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) tool, Portfolio Manager, from the Energy Star website. This process requires collection and input of your hotel’s utility data as well as some basic information about the building and its use. Energy Star Portfolio Manager calculates your hotel building’s greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) from on-site fuel combustion and purchased electricity to district heating and cooling. In addition, it enables tracking of avoided emissions from any Renewable Energy Certificates.

Energy Benchmarking can assist management to see how their hotel property’s carbon emissions compare to others in the same region and across the country as well as measure their progress in reducing emissions. These emissions factors are consistent with those used by major greenhouse gas reporting protocols, including theWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This consistency makes it easier for organizations to quantify their carbon inventories and provides a transparent corporate accounting, inventory, and reporting method. Therefore, a very useful tool when it comes time for those carbon emission questions for RFP season.

Although this tool is available at no cost, you should expect to spend about 6 to 10 hours getting everything loaded manually if this is your first time using the tool. The time depends on the number of utility meters and months you’ll be uploading to establish the baseline.[For more information or assistance with registering your hotel in Portfolio Manager contact EcoGreenHotel at info@ecogreenhotel.com or call 888.229.0213 ext. 803].

As an Energy Star Partner, EcoGreenHotel has benchmarked the energy performance for hundreds of thousands of hotel property square footage across the country using Portfolio Manager, LightStay and Green Engage, which help access and strategize for your hotel energysavings. Any hotel property can efficiently track and manage resources through the use of Portfolio Manager. The tool allows you to streamline your portfolio’s energy and water data, and track key consumption, performance, and cost information portfolio-wide.

The methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions in Portfolio Manager was designed to be consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and is compatible with the accounting, inventory and reporting requirements of EPA’s Climate Leaders program, as well as other state and NGO registry and reporting programs.

Resource: Energy Star

About EcoGreenHotel

EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized energy solutions tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry including green hotel certification support from LEED, Green Seal to Energy Star and Green Key. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213. ]]> http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/carbon-emission-from-hotel-energy-use-3/feed/ 0 http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/green-hotel-sustainability-plan-strategies-to-keep-in-mind/ http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/green-hotel-sustainability-plan-strategies-to-keep-in-mind/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 07:37:31 +0000 admin http://www.greenhotelmississippi.net/?p=179 By Chris Lewis

Sustainable this, organic that. The green movement is all the buzz in the hospitality industry. Many hotels and restaurants have embraced the movement, but many are still trying to sort it all out. Too often, being good stewards of the environment is perceived as a bleeding heart issue and the cost conflicts with the financial goals of the hotel property owner and operators. This is not true. In fact, with the right approach, the opposite is true.

As a former hotel operator for over 14 years, I was always looking for opportunities to increase GOP (gross operating profit) and cash flow. It only made sense to sort through innovative energy solutions and operational changes to find the right solutions that improved profitability as well as protect the environment. I came to the conclusion very early on that owners and operators could indeed build a viable business case for integrating sustainability into the operation of individual hotels. However, with countless options from energy management technology to green hotel certifications, the process has become confusing more than ever.

With so many products & certification programs available where should your hotel property start?

Measuring the hotel property’s current consumption of energy, water and production of waste (also commonly known as “benchmarking”) is essential to the start of any sustainability plan.Once the baseline has been established, owners and management companies should work with their investors to identify strategic sustainable goals and objectives. It’s essential to outline specific quantified projects and resources necessary to implement those projects.

Keep in mind there are many rebates, incentives and funding opportunities available through federal, state and local government energy programs as well as utility companies. From my experience, it is very common for operators to overlook these rebates and incentives when implementing changes as part of normal renovations or capital improvements – there by leaving money on the table!

Also, when hoteliers think of sustainability projects they often think of renewable energy, energy management systems, and lighting – but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t forget to explore other hotel incentive programs for various other sustainable initiatives. Take for instance, the backup generation or demand shedding programs, which typically have no participation costs and you can earn energy credits every month while helping to ensure reliable power for the community.

So your hotel property has a sustainability plan and has reduced energy and water consumption and waste production. You’re saving money on utility costs and doing something positive for the environment but you’re not done. Now what?

Your green hotel’s sustainability plan should be proactively marketed. Hotel owners and operators should be aware that CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is an important factor to prospective corporate clients. Communicating your sustainable hotel’s message and green initiatives could ultimately shift your hotel’s room market share in your favor.

This RFP (Request for Proposal) season will offer even more proof of the hospitality industry’s corporate market. Companies like Dolloitte and Johnson & Johnson will continue to blaze the trail. The brands are already recognizing this and have been busy implementing corporate sustainability policies. In fact, brands are even redesigninghotel prototypes to meet USGBC’s (U.S. Green Building Council) LEED requirements. Therefore, strategically marketing and publishing the hotel’s green initiatives in energy, water and waste reduction is critical. Consider executing a green hotel marketing plan to get the word out.

As with any plans and policies, sustainability plans must be continuously reviewed and updated. There is no finish line. It is a perpetual journey. The technologies and incentives are constantly changing so a green hotel project that doesn’t pencil this year might make great business sense next year. For example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamp that was $130 twelve months ago is now $49. And the lamp itself is dimmable and comes in a variety of color temperatures and radiuses, however that wasn’t always the case. It is likely that solar PV and other renewable will have a similar story. The costs will come down dramatically and the technology will improve and a good business case will be made for projects that, in the past, were not feasible.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized energy solutions tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry including green hotel certification support from LEED, Green Seal to Energy Star and Green Key. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

About Author
Chris Lewis, Director of Energy Solutions at EcoGreenHotel. With over 17 years in the hospitality industry, Lewis has managed and directed all departments both in the U.S. and abroad. Lewis’s experience includes full and select service hotels, facility management, property improvement, environmental initiatives, openings and multi-property management to the team. He previously served as Development and Construction Manager at OTO Development. In addition, Lewis’s expertise includes mechanical systems, equipment specs, purchasing habits, standard operating procedures and project management. He was responsible for the “green initiatives” for several properties that successfully qualified to achieve Florida Green Lodging, EcoRooms and EcoSuites, California Green Lodging and Irvine Build Green certifications.

Source: EcoGreenHotel

One way, for you to determine your CO² emissions is to utilize EPA’s (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) tool, Portfolio Manager, from the Energy Star website. This process requires collection and input of your hotel’s utility data as well as some basic information about the building and its use. Energy Star Portfolio Manager calculates your hotel building’s greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) from on-site fuel combustion and purchased electricity to district heating and cooling. In addition, it enables tracking of avoided emissions from any Renewable Energy Certificates.

Energy Benchmarking can assist management to see how their hotel property’s carbon emissions compare to others in the same region and across the country as well as measure their progress in reducing emissions. These emissions factors are consistent with those used by major greenhouse gas reporting protocols, including theWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development Greenhouse Gas Protocol. This consistency makes it easier for organizations to quantify their carbon inventories and provides a transparent corporate accounting, inventory, and reporting method. Therefore, a very useful tool when it comes time for those carbon emission questions for RFP season.

Although this tool is available at no cost, you should expect to spend about 6 to 10 hours getting everything loaded manually if this is your first time using the tool. The time depends on the number of utility meters and months you’ll be uploading to establish the baseline.[For more information or assistance with registering your hotel in Portfolio Manager contact EcoGreenHotel at info@ecogreenhotel.com or call 888.229.0213 ext. 803].

As an Energy Star Partner, EcoGreenHotel has benchmarked the energy performance for hundreds of thousands of hotel property square footage across the country using Portfolio Manager, LightStay and Green Engage, which help access and strategize for your hotel energysavings. Any hotel property can efficiently track and manage resources through the use of Portfolio Manager. The tool allows you to streamline your portfolio’s energy and water data, and track key consumption, performance, and cost information portfolio-wide.

The methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions in Portfolio Manager was designed to be consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and is compatible with the accounting, inventory and reporting requirements of EPA’s Climate Leaders program, as well as other state and NGO registry and reporting programs.

Resource: Energy Star

About EcoGreenHotel

EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized energy solutions tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry including green hotel certification support from LEED, Green Seal to Energy Star and Green Key. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

Last week’s Unwelcomed Guests: Bed Bugs editorial focused how to identify bed bugs and prevention techniques. This week we detail how to fight back with an array of green solutions to eradicate those bed bugs giving you trouble, raising costs and tarnishing your hotel’s image.

In the past, employing high doses of DDT was the preferred method of elimination. This was highly effective, however it came with a price to the indoor environment and still did not completely eradicate the pests. In fact, it can be argued that improper use of traditional chemicals and not fully understanding the pest’s ability to travel has contributedto the current nationwide epidemic.

Reaching for the deadliest poison and spraying everything in the hotel is a thing of the past. Today there are a number of green pest control techniques to eliminate them completely. Often two or three of these sustainable options will be used in conjunction to increase their usefulness. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages in respect to cost, implementation and effectiveness. Finding the proper balance between environmental impacts, cost, and successful elimination is the real challenge.

What environmentally friendly options are available for bed bug eradication?

VACUUMING
If an infestation is discovered in a guestroom, vacuuming the preferred hiding spaces, such as box springs and mattress seams can eliminate the immediate threat by removing the adult bed bugs. This is one of least expensive green options and can be performed by in-house housekeeping staff. However, it is not 100% effective. Bed bug eggs are coated with a sticky surface to keep them where they are laid. It is very difficult to remove them from their hiding places. Vacuuming is a good first step, but it only postpones inevitable reemergence if it is the only option employed.

ALL NATURAL & ESSENTIAL OIL INSECTICIDES
In many instances commercial exterminating agents may contain neurotoxins and other dangerous chemicals that can be harmful to sensitive populations. As an alternative, ask your Pest Management Professional (PMP) about non-toxic exterminating agents. Most botanical insecticides made with essential oils can be just as effective as conventional insecticides. Examples of essential oils are peppermint oil, clove oil, citrus oils, lavender oil, thyme oil, and rosemary oil.

All-natural insecticides are employed as knock down and residual sprays. The knock down sprays kill on contact. The residual sprays are designed to interfere with the lifecycle to kill over a number of days. The costs of all-natural alternatives are in-line with traditional chemicals in most cases. Both applications have minor drawbacks. Knock down sprays are not effective against bugs that are not sprayed directly. Hidden bugs can re-colonize a guest room quick. Due to their natural composition residual sprays evaporate faster than traditional commercially applied chemicals, thus losing killing power. All-natural residuals need more frequent applications by a PMP to maintain effectiveness.

BRING THE HEAT!
Bed bugs are very sensitive to heat in all stages of their development. The thermal death point for the common bedbug is 115°F. There are two common types of heat treatment for bed bug eradication, steam and thermal remediation.

Steam
Steam is very effective at killing bugs on contact and requires no harmful chemicals. A trained hotel staff member, a commercial steam cleaner, or pest management professional can perform the task however, all areas of the infested room need to be cleaned. If hard to reach areas are missed, an infestation can reoccur. The cost per room for steam cleaning can be inexpensive.

The drawbacks: no residual effect, high pressure steam can blow adults and eggs from their hiding places before the heat has had a chance to kill, and steam is not 100% effective if areas are missed.

Thermal Remediation
Propane generated heat or electric heaters are used to raise the temperature inside the room to approximately140°F. The heat is monitored by sensors and circulated within affected guest rooms for several hours. Controlled application of heat ensures there are no cold spots. Higher temperatures do not mean a more effective treatment, but can actually cause damage to the guest room and its contents. If employed correctly, thermal remediation is the only 100% effective solution at eliminating all bed bugs and their eggs.

The drawback: A typical treatment for multiple rooms can be expensive and time consuming (6-8 hours).

Battling these unwelcome guests will be a constant struggle in the near future as they spread throughout the country. Understanding how to eradicate the bed bugs with green technologies will give you the upper hand in keeping your green hotel as green as it can be.

Contact EcoGreenHotel with any questions or comments.

About EcoGreenHotel

EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

About Author

Jeff Kiec, LEED AP and EGH Sustainability Director, is a veteran of the environmental service industry. His experience includes engineering building assessments, operational sustainability audits, and environmental site assessments. He has project experience in a range of property types including industrial, multi-family residential and commercial office buildings. He is particularly proficient in finding local, state and government programs that offer credits and rebates available to owners, developers and operators of hotels.

Their numbers have continued to increase every year since 2000. They have no care for other guest’s satisfaction. They leave a trail of destruction wherever they go causing you to have to replace linens, mattresses and box springs. They travel by planes, trains, and automobiles to come stay with you. They even make connections to their ultimate destination through some of the world’s busiest airports by hitching rides with unsuspecting travelers and luggage. Bed bugs travel and they are always looking for a hot meal and a place to stay. Unfortunately for hoteliers, these little pests are the worst kind of guest, creating tremendous amount of unwanted bad publicity and unexpected expenses.

According to the National Pest Management Association’s 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study, bed bug response calls have increased by 81 percent since 2000. The list of places bed bugs are foundnot only include hotels but also multi-family apartments, long-term care facilities, dormitories, movie theaters, laundries, and office buildings. They have even been found in one of the most prestigious 5-Star hotels in New York City.

WHAT ARE BED BUGS?

“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.”  – Sun-Tzu

The common bed bug (cimexlectularius and sometimes called bedbugs) is a blood sucking wingless insect that feeds upon warm-blooded animals. During its lifecycle, its color ranges from nearly white or a light tan to a deep brown or burnt orange. It can live for a year without feeding; however feeding every five to ten days is most common. It can live in almost any crevice or protected location. The most common place to find them is the bed, however they can live in box springs, bed frames, chairs, and even headboards.

Their rapid spread is attributed to three primary factors: pesticide-resistance, increased travel, and use of new pest-control methods that do not affect bed bugs.Some bed bug populations in New York City have shown 250 times greater resistance to some traditional chemicals than their southern brethren.

Their bites cause a wide variety of reactions in people including: skin infections, rashes, itching or inflammation. Most bed bug bites consist of a raised red bump or flat welt. Often they cannot be felt or seen for hours or up to a week later.

HOW TO PREVENT DISASTER?

In the case of bed bugs, “know yourself and KNOW what people are saying about you” should be added to Sun-Tzu’s words. He did not live in the internet age where livid guests can share their stories of bed bugs in your hotel rooms to the entire world with a couple clicks on a keyboard or smart phone. – but we do.

Trip Advisor, Bed Bug Registry, Bed Bug Database and other websites allow users to upload and track bed bug sightings and encounters online. There is even a Bed Bug iPhone App that was launched late 2010.  Needless to say, if there is an unpleasant bedtime meeting, it is very likely that it will be on the internet for the entire world to know.

If your hotel is lucky enough to have avoided an infestation, there are a number of proactive approaches that can be implemented to lessen their impact on your operations when they arrive. EcoGreenHotel spoke with Michael Merchant, PhD an urban entomologist for the Texas AgriLife Extension in Dallas to discuss ways to reduce your risk.

#1 First and foremost, work with a Pest Management Professional (PMP) that has experience combating Bed bugs. Rely on the PMP’s experience and knowledge to guide you through all of the steps needed to prevent or eradicate an infestation. Bed bugs are complicated pests and are resistant to many traditional chemicals and treatment protocols.  An over-the-counter chemical remedy applied by an untrained hotel staff member could be a recipe for disaster.

#2 Employ good passive monitoring in your guest rooms. Glue or deadfall traps allow hotel owners to identify potential problems quickly and without great expense. If bed bugs are spotted in a trap, a well-trained PMP can quickly identify if the infestation is limited to one room or if it has spread to adjacent rooms. Canine units trained to detect bugs can also be brought in to help identify the extent of the infestation.

#3 A must, develop a bed bug action plan to educate all hotel staff members what to look for in the guestrooms and how to react quickly and effectively if a guest makes a complaint in person or online. Simple visual inspections by trained housekeepers looking at sheets, mattresses and other hiding areas is an inexpensive first line of defense.

#4 Going a step further, denying entry to some of the places bed bugs like to stay is an effective prevention method. Use of mattress, pillow and box-spring encasements effectively eliminates the most common breeding grounds. A typical encasement set for a king bed can be purchased for around $150. It is extremely important that the mattress encasement be placed on both the mattress and the box springs. Encasements can also help eliminate allergens and dust mites that improve indoor air quality in your green hotel.

Until a nationwide eradication strategy is implemented, we will continue to see this epidemic in hotels and other lodging facilities, homes, movie theaters, dormitories, and all of the other uninviting areas they reside nationwide. Hotels will definitely be subjected to bed bugs arriving with guests on a continual basis. The problem will not go away without a fight.

Next week we will focus on Green Solutions for Bed Bug Eradication.

About EcoGreenHotel

EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For further information, email info@EcoGreenHotel.com or call 888-229-0213.

RFP season is a familiar ritual for veteran hoteliers. Each summer it’s the same old song and dance, answering the same old standard questions about room count, location, ratings, taxes, amenities, ADA compliance, etc.

But we at EcoGreenHotel are pleased to see the requests for proposals require even more sustainable information from the past year. Hotels must now outline their environmental initiatives, green certifications. That’s right… your “Green Hotel Checklist” has just become critical ammunition in your NBTA bidding war arsenal!

Knowing the energy and water usage per guest, POR, and PAR is very important as it will be asked more frequently than ever as companies come out with CSR (corporate social responsibility) statements and policies. NBTA’s 2012 RFP’s will also include green questions such as:

* Top environmental programs employed (such as linen reuse, reusable key cards, energy efficiency efforts)
* Environmental certifications your green hotel has earned, with a preference given to certifications that require on-site audits
* Details about hotel’s recycling program
* Use of environmentally responsible cleaners
* Water conservation efforts, such as linen reuse and/or water saving fixtures

Obviously, hotels that can demonstrate strong environmental programs stand to rank higher in the competition than those that can’t. In fact, it’s very clear that not having a sustainability plan in effect might cost your hotel big business next year.
If you want to boost your hotel property’s green profile – and your chances of winning large national accounts in 2012 – contact EcoGreenHotel right now. Our team of seasoned green hospitality specialists can quickly, efficiently and affordably set the wheels in motion to get your environmental program rolling today. Even if you’re on a tight budget, you still need to answer the RFP usage questions. A useful energy-usage measuring tool is ENERGY STAR’s benchmarking platform. Our team can quickly get you prepared to answer those tedious RFP questions.
Don’t put your green initiative off another minute. The planet – and your hotel’s bottom line – depends upon it.

About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotelStore.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star.