The hotel and lodging industry is making great strides in reducing its environmental footprint.  Now it is customary for hotels to offer guests a linen reuse option.  With the advent of compact fluorescent bulbs, hotels are upgrading to more efficient lighting, even in guest rooms.  Yet, significant opportunities still exist for hotels and lodging companies to save money and save resources.

In the Seattle area, hotels now have the opportunity to recycle food waste, experiencing 20-30% savings on their waste bills.  As always, edible foods can easily be donated to local meal programs.

Water savings are easily achievable through high efficiency laundry, cooling, and dishwashing equipment.  High quality showerheads, toilets, and faucet aerators are becoming a standard for hotels and offer rebate possibilities for further savings.

Read a full case study about hospitality services’ green initiatives.

A remodeling cycle for a typical hotel is five years.  Remodels are optimal times to plan for:

• upgrading to more efficient equipment and fixtures
• sourcing high quality, locally-produced and recycled materials
• qualifying for LEED-EB or other green building accreditation

The Kimpton Hotel Group, Westin, and Sheraton are examples of Seattle hotels that are taking advantage of cost-saving conservation opportunities at their facilities.

For more tips on implementing resource conservation practices in the hospitality industry, read the Best Practices for the Hospitality Industry Resource Venture publication.