Green Hotels

What is a “Green Hotel?”

Environment friendly properties taking initiative to implement practices that reduce energy and water usage are known as “Green Hotels”.

Various programs that Green Hotels are participating in include:no Recycling programs,no Linen changing programs, andno Energy efficient lighting.

Why should Hotels go green?

As many hotels are appreciating or rather implementing the concept of going Green, it is important that everybody joins the team. Hotels use enormous amount of energy and so it becomes mandatory that hotels go for environmental friendly practices that conserve water and energy and reduce waste reduction.

Making a Difference

Next time when you go for booking your hotel room, look forward to find a green hotel at your place. A Green hotel can be found by checking the list issued by The Green Hotels Association.

Be a Green Hotel Guest

Going Green refers to using the resources in a conservative way. The following steps will help you be a Green Hotel Guest:
• Carry safety pins of different color when starting to pack for a holiday. Also carry reusable mugs and other items.
• Don’t let the staff change the sheets of your room daily.
• Attach a safety pin of different color to know which towel belongs to which family member.
• Turn off lights and equipments like T.V., air conditioner etc when leaving the room.
• Participate in any recycling effort promoted by the hotel.
• Take short showers and keep taps closed while brushing teeth.
• Turn off the exercising machines when done.
• If the hotel embraces green hotel practices, appreciate managers and employees.

Encourage Hotels to go gree

The hotel in which you are staying may not be implementing the above mentioned practices. Guests can play a major part in making Hotels implement practices that help hotels go green.

The suggestions from the guest side could be:

1. Implementation of linen reuse program

2. Use of fluorescent lighting

3. Use of low flow showerhead

4. Application of window film to reduce heating and cooling loads

5. Installation of thermostats

6. Use of recycled paper

7. Low flow toilets also help save both energy and water

8. Separation of wastes into degradable and non-degradable wastes

9. Use of refillable products like shampoos, cleaning agents also help you save money when brought in bulk

10. Installation of solar water heating system can save a tremendous amount of electricity

11. Use of bicycles instead of cars, taxis etc inside the hotel can reduce pollution to a great extent

12. Educating staff about the Go Green Campaign by offering brochures to spread awareness for Green Hotels

Guests do make a difference to Hotels as the main motto of Hotels is to customer satisfaction. Guests can help hotels to go green every time they travel. Green practices will help in energy and water conservation and make the Earth a better planet to live. Go Green Campaign should be followed even in Homes and not just in Hotels as it will make your homes more energy efficient. Hotels should implement the Go Green Campaign because satisfied hotel guests help to encourage Tourism.