Newsletter Lead Articles

Blackouts Are a Fact of Life.
Let'sDeal With Them.

Four steps to making sure that outages
do as little damage as possible

MISSIONS CRITICAL

Some of the ways communities can maintain essential
services when the power goes out

GREEN MEANS GO - Fit traffic lights in critical corridors with battery backups charged by solar panels.

PUMP PRIMING - Make sure a few gas stations have generators so they can pump fuel.

POLICE POWER - Provide backup electricity at all police stations.

KEEP —EM ROLLING - Equip subway trains with stored energy (e.g. batteries or flywheels) so they can proceed slowly to the next station, rather than stranding passengers between stops.

STANDBY SYSTEMS - Install natural-gas generators at schools, hospitals and other critical installations to provide power and run heating and cooling systems.

* * *

All these steps begin with engineers being candid with customers that the system can'tbe made completely reliable within a reasonable future. Then it is up to customers and governments to decide what they should do to protect themselves from outages.

If we think about the problem in this way, then when the wind blows or the earth shakes, many of our essential services will still be provided.

Apt, Jay, —Blackouts Are a Fact of Life,— The Wall Street Journal, September 17, 2012

PRINTABLE Sep/Oct 2012
NEWSLETTER .pdf

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SEP/OCT 2012

PARTNER MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

As usual, this issue focuses on success stories of GHA'sPartner Members. We are sharing these very successful environmental stories with all members. You are all working very hard at being green, and it—ll be easier for all by sharing information on what has worked for some. We know you—ll love reading these stimulating, interesting and very green stories! So, we begin again . . .

CASA MADRONA'sGREENING!

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa, Sausalito, CA, is a 63-room property on a hillside overlooking Richardson Bay that is a hodgepodge of structures dating from 1885 to the 1980—s. Weekend business is mostly high-end leisure with rooms from $300-500 a night. Monday through Thursday is both leisure and corporate. They have garnered a few environmental awards recently, including the coveted Cool California Small Business Award (coolcalifornia.org). Stefan Mühle is now General Manager after serving 10 years greening two prominent boutique hotels in San Francisco.

Renovation changes:
• Toto dual-flush toilets 1.6/0.8 gpf.
• Occupancy sensors in guest bathrooms, 2 lights.
• Low VOC indoor paints, ALLY MEMBER Benjamin Moore and benjaminmoore.com Aura brands.
• Low VOC carpet, Interface and ALLY MEMBER Shaw Hospitality Group brands, both in rolls.
• FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) Custom designed by truexcullins.com to fit spaces with a timeless maritime decor since this is a boating area. Sorrentino Mariani (smfurniture.com) manufactured the furniture which they now call —The Sausalito— line.
• Bathroom counters are Caesar Stone (caesarstoneus.com/about/environment-first), 93% natural quartz aggregates with pigments and polymer resins, very durable, no water rings, manufactured in Israel.
• Bathroom shelves are handmade opaque recycled glass by gleenglass.com.
• Re-used and refurbished existing materials whenever possible, i.e., bamboo flooring was removed, refurbished and replaced; historically significant fireplaces were cleaned; flues replaced.

Ongoing Operations:
• Environmentally-friendly cleaning products - blueeagleclean.com all-in-one product used for floors and general cleaning. orbeco.net products are used on carpet—especially to control moisture. The spa uses an autoclave sterilizer for manicure and pedicure instruments.
• In-Room recycling - viamotif.com 2-section trash and recycling receptacle.
• Refillable bathroom amenity bottles - ALLY MEMBER eoproducts.com.
• Towel and bed linen reuse program - hotel signage offers knowledge as well as an option - a challenge because of the room rates. Sheets changed every 3 days or on request.
• Bodybliss.com products used in spa are cruelty-free, biodegradable and sourced from small farmers not using chemical pesticides, etc.
• Retail body products are packaged in recyclable bottles.
• Bathroom tissue and facial tissue made of biodegradable, recyclable and compostable sugarcane fiber. Activa and Kimberly-Clark'sSurpass brands are obtained via local vendor blueribbonsupply.com.
• Use of Goodwood products for fireplaces (see goodwoodproducts.com/firelogFAQs.html).

Public transport:
• Participation in commutercheck.com/Home.aspx for staff commuting.
• Several staff members carpool from San Francisco to Sausalito via the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Offers an online package to hotel guests including ferry tickets and bicycle rental.

Miscellaneous:
• Local artist consignments featured in hallways (suziebuchholz.com/#1) and spa (studio333.info).
• Working with ericryan.com to streamline energy and utility bills. Cost is $1/mo/rm to determine bill correctness, notification of leaks or aberrations.
• Considering association with EDC Technologies (savegas.com) to lower gas consumption through monitoring hot water temperature via thermometers in boilers at about $2/mo/rm.

Here'sto making a difference! Contact Stefan at 415/332-0502 or Stefan.Muhle@metwestterra.com for further info.

SOFTER SHEETS, LESS ENERGY AT MADDENS!

Madden'sResort on Gull Lake (287 rms, 2 fls) in Brainerd, MN, hosts thousands of visitors each year April until October. In 2009, they started using a nutekinternational.com ozone laundry system. When used in laundry wash water, ozone allows for shorter wash cycles, works best with cold water, attacks most organic soils and kills bacteria much faster than chlorine bleach. Ozone is totally biodegradable and when it completes its function, it reverts rapidly back to oxygen, leaving no chemical residues behind. And because there is no chemical residue, the laundry is much softer.

NuTek units that create the ozone are attached to the washers and inject ozone into each wash cycle.

BENEFITS: • Drying time is significantly less because the laundry is cool. Natural gas and electric bills were cut by almost 9% in 2011.
• Two 100-gal hot water heaters were eliminated because the system uses only cold water creating a huge energy savings.
• Uses 1/3 less water than before. No phosphates from soap are being introduced into the sewer system.
• No detergent or bleach expense, handling, storage, fumes or residue.
• No detergent residue means sheets and all linens are much softer.
• Payback for the system was realized in only 6 months!

Madden'sreceived the Explore Minnesota —Sustainable Tourism Award— in 2009.

Tim Schultz, Resident Manager, Madden Inn, Madden'son Gull Lake, dir 218/855-5941, tschultz@maddens.com will be glad to respond to questions.

CEDAR PASS LODGE'sGREEN RENEWAL!

Newly renovated green cabins at Forever Resorts— Cedar Pass Lodge in the extraordinary region of the 244,000-acre Badlands National Park of South Dakota include features that qualify the property for LEED Gold.

• New one-bedroom cabins feature interior wall and ceiling wood paneling salvaged from Black Hills pine trees felled by beetles. The wood bears the distinctive —beetle-kill— markings on beautiful grey-streaked wood.
• The new cabins are furnished with regionally sourced handcrafted lodge-pole pine furniture felled by beetle kill.
• Furnishings and table tops by Levi Davis at lonepinelodgepole.com were made from repurposed wood from an old grain storage structure built in the 1930s that later became the warehouse (circa 1940-50) used by Owenhouse Hardware, a company in Montana that is still in business today.
• Tempra 24 plus tankless on-demand hot-water heater with expected 50% energy savings installed in each cabin.
• Cool and heat the cabins with 20-SEER mini split energy-efficient units which are quieter than PTACs.
• 90% of the cabin structural wood-based materials are FSC- certified from dakotacraft.com.
• The decra.com roofing system (32% recycled steel) reduces energy consumption and landfill impact. It has a 50-year warranty for 120 mph wind and high impact resistance to hail.
• Windows are hurd.com dual-pane windows.
• Compact-fluorescent lighting is used throughout each cabin for energy efficiency.
• Bamboo towels will be provided for guests— use in each cabin. They should dry quicker and last 3 times as long.
• AquaSource high efficiency 1.28 gpf WaterSense toilets.
• Modular cabins were manufactured locally over last winter inside a large warehouse which kept workers employed during the slow winter season.
• Recycling, reducing the impact on the environment and educating visitors of Cedar Pass Lodge will continue as part of the lodge'sEnvironmental Management System in place since 2002 called Forever Earth™.
• New cabins include custom repurposed-concrete bath slab countertops.
• New cabins have Energy Star Magnavox 32— flat-screen TVs, along with Danby refrigerators, coffee makers and microwaves.
• New cabins were built to meet LEED Gold specifications. However, Forever Resorts chose not to apply for the LEED certification because of the time and expense required. However, the US Park Service wanted the information, so they kept track of the necessary paperwork.

Darla Cook, General Manager (605/433-5460, dcook@foreverresorts.com) would be pleased to answer questions or clarify aspects of the story.

TREE PLANTING WITH LOCAL VILLAGERS

The City of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, was founded in 1610 AD, is a tourist hub and is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a population of one million plus. It is surrounded with many historic monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the Baby Ka Maqbara, a memorial monument similar to the Taj Mahal.

One of the great things about Aurangabad is the presence of hills and hillocks in and around the city. These hills / hillocks are a reason for people to get out of the concrete jungle that Aurangabad has become. It is not only important that we preserve the hills, but we also must increase their green cover so that we can improve the quality of air we breathe. It is clearly recognized that sustainable tree planting cannot succeed without the active involvement of locals and without meeting the trees— development needs.

We at the Keys Hotel The Aures are associated with the Dr. Hedgewar Trust in Aurangabad, which runs a hospital and is a healthcare not-for-profit. This trust has done water conservation work in a nearby village and on the adjacent hill.

They have used the technique of continuous contour trenches (CCTs). CCTs are built around the hill at different heights. Each CCT is made to slightly slope at a particular side, so that the water flowing down the hill is retained and soil erosion is minimized. This is a great example of rainwater harvesting. The water saved / accumulated has ceased many hardships faced by the farmers, especially after monsoons.

To complement the existing work of water conservation, we joined the trust for tree planting. On the occasion of Indian Independence Day (15Aug2012), more than 1,000 trees were planted in the village and on the hill. The Keys Hotel The Aures not only paid for the sapling trees, but 18 to 20 managers and staff worked on the planting. The trees are planted giving enough distance between each other so they don'thamper the growth of neighboring trees. The trees chosen are those found locally such as neem, sal, custard apple, etc.

The neem tree is a fast-growing evergreen tree relatively unknown in the US, a cornerstone of the ancient Ayurvedic healthcare system and is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in the world. In its native India and tropical countries around the globe, neem is called the —village pharmacy— for its incredible healing properties.

Sal is one of the most important sources of hardwood timber in India, and the dry leaves of sal are a major source for the production of leaf plates and leaf bowls. The used leaves/plates are readily eaten by goats and cattle that roam the streets freely. The tree has therefore protected northern India from a flood of Styrofoam and plastic plates that would have caused tremendous pollution.

In India the custard apple tree is cultivated, runs wild in many areas though nowhere is particularly esteemed. A leaf decoction may be given as a vermifuge. Crushed leaves or a paste of the fruit flesh may be poulticed on boils, abscesses and ulcers. The unripe fruit is rich in tannin; is dried, pulverized and employed against diarrhea and dysentery. The bark is very astringent and the decoction is taken as a tonic and also as a remedy for diarrhea and dysentery.

Any tree planting drive will not be successful if the trees are not nurtured by watering, so local villagers are committed to nurture and care for the young trees. Two major challenges facing us are cattle grazing and awareness. The first one is tackled by planting only those trees which cattle do not care to consume. The Hedgewar Trust has taken up the task of creating awareness among the locals of the importance of water conservation and tree planting. Henceforth, Keys Hotel The Aures shall celebrate August 15th every year as a Tree Planting day.

Satyajit Kotwal, Operations Manager, Keys Hotel The Aures, satyajit.kotwal@keyshotels.com, will be pleased to respond to your e-mails.

Farm to Fork & Trawl to Table at Inn by the Sea

61-room Inn by the Sea is located in Cape Elizabeth on sandy Crescent Beach, Maine'spremier beach destination. The luxurious property has both Maine DEP Green Lodging and Silver LEED® certifications, and was selected as one of the 2012 Top 50 US Resorts by Travel & Leisure.

The argument over whether touting sustainable initiatives in business really helps the bottom line continues. Inn by the Sea has had many sustainable initiatives in place for over a decade, and has been successful at marketing the property as both a luxury and a green hotel. Success has come by creating programs that engage the guest in the inn'senvironmental message through fun, food, whimsy and education.

These programs speak volumes about the inn'scommitment to sustainability without being boring or preachy. Unless incredibly eco-minded, most people don'twant to hear about businesses— initiatives around water, waste, energy and chemicals. But happily, the same is not true when it comes to food—a good story around food that'slocal creates a unique and memorable dining experience, and adds great value to a guest stay.

Letting the guest in on a story about the fungi forager who brings locally foraged mushrooms or fiddleheads to your menu, or on the Nubian goats at a neighboring farm that produce the chevre for your velvety cheese cake just makes food taste better. (See menus at innbythesea.com/sea_glass_dining_new/menus/)

Celebrating food that is local, and exposing a sense of your hotel'scommunity, with support for local vendors and growers, is an important part of sustainability. Giving credit to, and adding the names of the farms, foragers, fishermen and vendors to restaurant menus not only adds color and local interest while supporting your community, but assures guests that your food is fresh and nutritious.

Inn by the Sea'sExecutive Chef, Mitchell Kaldrovich, and Rauni Kew, their PR and Green Program Manager, served on the Gulf of Maine Research Institute's(GMRI) steering committee to develop a collaborative effort with local fishermen and area chefs to raise consumer awareness around lesser known and lesser valued seafood. The goal of this GMRI restaurant program, Out of the Blue, is to improve the market for a greater diversity of seafood, give overfished populations a break, help local fishermen get better dock prices for species that are abundant and to support a sustainable seafood industry in Maine.

You won'tfind Cod or Haddock on the menu in Sea Glass restaurant at Inn by the Sea. Chef Kaldrovich only serves up delectable, but lesser known, underutilized seafood in support of Out of the Blue. Guests not only enjoy the delicious menu offerings, but love hearing about the collaboration between fishermen, chefs and research in support of a sustainable seafood industry in Maine.

Reaching out to local agencies and collaborating with competitors can benefit an entire community and have a larger impact on environmental issues than individual initiatives. Out of the Blue has been successful at bringing attention to fish that are abundant in the Gulf of Maine, but previously had little demand, and it has proved to be a delectably compelling and successful —fish story— for guests at Inn by the Sea.

Rauni would be pleased to respond to your questions via rkew@innbythesea.com, 207/799-3134 or C 207/602-8500.

CASTELLI HOTEL'sFERTILIZER

Our optimistic success story has to do with our fertilizer, which we use for the hotel grounds— needs.

We are situated at beautiful Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea of Greece; a green paradise, with very hot weather for about 6 months, and very rainy winters. Our hotel'sgrounds are approximately 12,000 square meters (3 acres), a large part of which are gardens?the botanical garden, our vegetable farm, lemon trees and olive groves.

The island'scharacteristics reflect instantly a holiday paradise. At the same time, we believe our guests will also enjoy learning more about the local community, thus adding more color to their precious leisure time?taking walks around the scenic villages, visiting the Castelli farm and getting acquainted with Greek nature'swealth, taste the fresh fruit, pick olives with our team and see how the local pure extra-virgin olive oil is produced.

First, a few words about our buffet breakfast. It features our home-made breakfast cake, baked with our own fresh, pure ingredients?pure extra-virgin olive oil, eggs from our farm, oranges/grapefruit from the garden.

The olive groves that surround the hotel are not sprayed with toxic chemicals, and the pure virgin olive oil produced is used for baking the home-made cake served at breakfast, and also for salads at the pool snack bar. In other words, our gardens— perfect status is a high priority, and essential for the hotel guests— richer experience. Gardening demands a great deal of laborious hours and has many costs, one of which is fertilizer.

Until last year, the local fertilizer supplier served our needs, but since April, 2011, our composter is creating our fertilizer! We mostly recycled materials we already had on the premises to build the composter, so the cost was very low. All food-preparation staff are involved, so now all vegetable waste is used to create our organic fertilizer. In just 6 months, we produced more than 10 sacks of fertilizer—more than enough for last autumn'sneeds. Since each 50 kg (110 lb) sack would have cost about 50 euros ($62.50), it is a big achievement!

Once the waste is separated and passed to the gardener, the extra time needed is very little. We are actually using waste to create something essential, and we produce this fertilizer as pure as possible, which is very difficult to find in the market.

At the same time our waste volume is reduced, so cleaning ladies need less time to carry the waste to the bins, and fewer plastic bags are used, so more benefits arrive at the same time! This year we have already increased our fertilizer production?great practice of reusing and recycling! And our guests thoroughly embrace it, which makes us even more confident for greater results in the future!

As Castelli celebrates 20 years in business, we also proudly celebrate the award of our third Green Key eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FFE) through The Greek Society for the Protection of Nature (eepf.gr). The Green Key committee evaluates both green management and education actions, taking into consideration sectors such as water and energy-saving policies, recycling and also how the guests and staff are involved in the greening. Castelli also celebrates its second Gold Travelife.org Award (2012) which acknowledges our very high commitment to sustainability.

Contact Maria Lougaris, Managing Director, at info@castellihotel.com for more information on this exciting project.

COMFORT INN & SUITES BOSTON/LOGAN INTL. AIRPORT GREENS!

Built as an environmentally-friendly hotel, the 208-room, 8-floor Comfort Inn and Suites composts leftover food. In 2005, the property began composting with savethatstuff.com. A compost collection drop hole, beautifully aligned with recycling and trash collection drops, is provided in a dining area counter for guests and employees to discard undesired food. In addition to table scraps, all plates, cups and flatware are compostable barebysolo.com products, and can be tossed into the same drop hole. The compost is transported to Brick End Farms, a large composting facility, where it decomposes, and is sold under the —KidzBKidz— brand at Whole Foods.

Diverting as much waste as possible from the trash by composting and recycling is the goal. In 2011, the Boston airport property composted 18 tons of food waste and tableware. Recycling accounts for 28% of total property waste by weight while composting diverts 11% more.

Among the first initiatives at the Comfort Inn and Suites were amenity dispensers which save roughly $40,000 a year. Both the dispensers and liquids are the products of dispenseramenities.com, and the shampoo and shower gels are —WindRiver— Salon products. —WindRiver— products are environmentally-friendly, biodegradable and are purchased in five-gallon containers. The dispensers are designed to provide a sufficient amount of shampoo or soap, and the cost is only for product used. Individual amenity bottles always result in wasted product. Each unit is locked, preventing tampering. Dispensers are refilled daily. To fill the dispensers, housekeepers use refillable squirt bottles that are replenished from a larger bulk supply.

Megan Falkenberry, Environmental Program Coordinator (mfalkenberry@ecological-solutions.net, 781/485-3600) may be contacted for further information.

PRINTABLE Jul/Aug 2012
NEWSLETTER .pdf

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JUL/AUG 2012

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

As our green programs are tweaked, we're reminded more and more that none of us can be really green without the green products and services offered by green vendors. GHA continues to encourage and support our Ally Members, and to bring you news of their successes—new products, new ideas, new techniques, recent awards, new contracts, etc. So, each July/August issue of this newsletter brings you new and refreshing stories about our Ally Members— successes. Here we go . . .

Anderson Chemical Company—s
INTEGRA Program®

ALLY MEMBER Anderson Chemical Company'sINTEGRA Program® continues to add to their line of products that are recognized for safer chemistry by the EPA'sDesign for the Environment (DfE) with the release of the High Performance Green (HPG) Foodservice products in late 2011. Whether it is kitchen, laundry or housekeeping needs, the INTEGRA Program® offers one of the deepest lines of DfE recognized cleaning products on the market. The HPG product family—Auto Dish, Rinse, Oven & Grill, Delimer, Presoak, Pot & Pan and Foaming Hand Soap—joins INTEGRA®'sTotal Impact Program (TIP®)—DfE'sfirst recognized institutional laundry program in 1997—for laundries, along with five DfE recognized housekeeping products.

The INTEGRA Program®'sfocus is not only on green products, but also on providing programs that affect the sustainability of operations, working to reduce the amount of energy, water and waste that is produced from cleaning. The INTEGRA Program® recently received feedback from a hotel general manager, her housekeeping staff as well as hotel guests regarding the use of DfE cleaning products. The general manager prefers to have their staff cleaning with safer products, the housekeeping staff prefers to handle safer products . . . that perform and the guests have indicated that the use of INTEGRA®'sDfE recognized products would positively influence their decision to stay at the same property again.

For more information about the INTEGRA Program®, go to theintegraprogram.com/products, e-mail integra@accomn.com or call 800/366-2477 TODAY!

HOSPITALITY BATTERY HOLDER SAVES!

ALLY MEMBER Hospitality Battery Holder currently offers nine different battery holders designed to fit the different electronic locking systems for SafeLock, Ilco, AD Schlage, SecureLock, TimeLock and Wingfield brands—all of which can be used with alkaline or rechargeable batteries. The goal is to save hoteliers the cost of buying expensive battery packs every year for their electronic door lock systems. The systems no longer require the purchase of expensive battery packs when fitted with these battery holders, and can easily use alkaline or recyclable batteries purchased in volume at a much lower cost. Recent installations include:

• The luxurious Mandarin Oriental Geneva Hotel located on the River Rhone recently purchased battery holders for their 198 guestroom doors— SafeLock 5000 series locks and expects to save more than $2,600 within five years. The decision has also enhanced the staff'spersonal interests in responsible ecology.

• Likewise, the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel has replaced the 452 guestroom SafeLock 6000 series electronic locking systems— battery packs with Hospitality Battery Holders. They expect to save more than $6,238 over five years by not having to purchase battery packs every year. 452 battery packs will no longer be disposed of each year.

• Also, Ramada Philadelphia Airport Hotel has replaced their 294 guestroom SafeLock MT series electronic locking systems with Hospitality Battery Holders using recyclable batteries instead of expensive battery packs.

Check out hospitalitybatteryholder.com or call 407/401-6733 to learn how much your property can save!

BUSCH SYSTEMS RULES!

Proud to be a new ALLY MEMBER of GHA, Busch Systems manufactures the world'slargest, most complete line of recycling, waste and compost containers. As part of their commitment to the community and the environment, they engineer their containers to use fewer natural resources and to ship far more effectively, thereby avoiding large volumes of carbon emissions. All of Busch Systems— products contain recycled content, are 100% recyclable and are proudly made in North America.

Busch Systems develops more new molded recycling, waste and compost containers than all other manufacturers combined, and their recycling systems are specifically manufactured to be easy to use in order to prevent contamination and generate the cleanest possible stream of recyclables. They will also assist and support customers in creating recycling programs in their companies and communities. With over 100 years of combined recycling program experience, the Busch team of recycling consultants will be pleased to share their expertise and make your program a great success. Do not wait; contact your friendly representative today at buschsystems.com or 800/565-9931 TODAY! Busch Systems is Recycling Made Simple.

IMPACT ENTERPRISES WINS TOO!

ALLY MEMBER Impact Enterprises offers custom binder covers, presentation folders, menu covers and other custom products to enhance your business— image.

Congratulations to Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies! Their animated feature movie, Rango, won a 2011 Oscar for —Best Animated Feature.— Impact Enterprises manufactured the binder covers that held the script. Impact is proud to have been asked to produce these environmentally responsible binder covers.

These environmentally responsible binder covers are solid Blue Pine, the —Greenest— of —Green— solid woods. Blue Pine inventory is provided by nature, rather than through man'ssustainable forests programs. Blue Pine is a Lodgepole Pine that has been attacked by the Mountain Pine Beetle. We harvest these trees before they fall, and the processing treatments render these trees free of all beetle infestation. The integrity of the wood is essentially the same as that of solid woods harvested from Verified Sustainable Forests. Blue Pine binder covers and guest directory covers have become favorites for Live Nation Entertainment, Marriott, as well as resorts, fine restaurants and spas. To learn more, visit impactenterprises.com or call 866/370-0340 TODAY!

CASCADES TISSUE GROUP BESTOWS
AWARD TO 27 FIRMS

ALLY MEMBER Cascades Tissue Group announced that 17 US and 10 Canadian distributors have received achievement awards honoring their strong partnerships and dedications to furthering environmentally preferable products. By offering their commercial and industrial customers tissue paper products made from 100% recycled fiber, instead of virgin fiber, these distributors collectively conserved 255,700 trees (the equivalent of 638 American football fields of paper) and avoided emissions of greenhouse gases equivalent to 12,785 cars off the road for one year.

Approximately 20% of the distributors— total greenhouse gas savings were achieved through the sales of Cascades Tissue Group'sNorth River products, which use Green-e certified renewable energy credits to offset 100% of the electricity used in their production. Cascades Tissue Group'sannual 20,000 MWh of wind energy credits are sourced from the Charles City Wind Farm located in northern Iowa.

Cascades Tissue Group, a division of Cascades, ULC, is the fourth largest manufacturer of tissue paper in North America. Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibers. See ctgebiz.cascades.com/BrandsRange.aspx?BrnId=NOR&LanId=2 to learn more.

Colgate Receives Recognition from the US EPA

ALLY MEMBER Colgate has been recognized by the US EPA through their Design for the Environment Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) program for our use of safer surfactants in personal care and home care products. DfE, or Design for the Environment, is a US EPA standards program designed to recognize and encourage industry use of cleaning products that incorporate environmentally preferable chemistry. Through the SDSI, the EPA'sDesign for the Environment Program recognizes environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants in detergents. Safer surfactants break down quickly to non-polluting compounds and help protect aquatic life in both fresh and salt water. Colgate is being recognized as a Champion, the highest level of recognition offered under SDSI.

A sampling of Colgate'sDfE products are Murphy® Oil Soap, Palmolive® Dishwashing Liquid, Softsoap® Brand Green Forest™ Foaming Hand Soap, Ajax® Glass and Multi-Surface Cleaner, Fabuloso® All Purpose Cleaner and Ajax® High Performance Degreaser. To learn more, check out colgatecommercial.com/Solution-Center/DFE-Products.aspx.

CONTINENTAL GIRBAU
CUTS LAUNDRY WATER

The Westin Riverwalk Hotel—located in drought-laden San Antonio, Texas—recently reinvented its on-premise laundry to save 300-350,000 gallons of water per month. The remake involved the removal of water-guzzling washers for more efficient ALLY MEMBER Continental Girbau models and a complementing water reclamation system.

To combat 2011'srecord Texas drought, San Antonio'swater districts dangled water-conservation incentives to commercial businesses. Faced with skyrocketing water costs, the hotel moved to remake its laundry and captured a $29,000 rebate while dramatically cutting water costs.

Water meters were attached to every washer to determine which ones used the most water and reveal accurate numbers regarding water usage per pound. With removal of less efficient washers and installation of Continental Girbau water-conserving models, The Westin'slaundry features two 130-lb. capacity Continental E-Series soft-mount washers; a 55-lb. capacity E-Series soft-mount washer; and three 125-lb. L-Series hard-mount washers. Both the L-Series and E-Series washer models offer superior efficiency, performance and programmable controls. Everything from water temperature, wash action and fill levels, cycle time, delayed start, automatic cycle advance, automatic chemical injection and extract speed are programmable to properly clean a variety of fabrics. The washers are programmable to cut utility costs and bolster laundry productivity, and both models are engineered to use fewer gallons of water per load.

To curb water usage further, a water reclamation system and Continental recovery tank were installed. The system reuses washer rinse water and condensate from the air conditioning system. The Westin'slaundry went from using three gallons of water per laundry pound to just one gallon per laundry pound—an impressive savings! Its Continental washers also deliver a higher quality clean in less time. See continentalgirbau.com to learn more TODAY!

AWARD WINNING
INDIE LEE & CO. BEAUTY PRODUCTS

ALLY MEMBER Indie Lee & Co.'saward-winning, botanically- based luxury skin and hair care products are:

» Enjoyable - your guests will love how the products make them feel
» Safe - Indie Lee uses no parabens, sulfates or synthetic fragrances
» Humane - We never test on animals
» Environmentally friendly - No chemicals down the drain
» Easy to offer in a novel and fun way

And that'swhy we're the proud winners of TWO awards:
Healing Lifestyles & Spas 2012 Beauty Award Winner for Best Body Scrub and
Shecky'sBeauty At Its Best 2011 Beauty Award Winner for Best Body Oil

Let Indie Lee & Co. enhance your property'sother touch points by including our products in your spa, fitness center, restrooms and in-room showers and sinks. For more information about our all-natural products, visit indielee.com TODAY!

PRINTABLE May/Jun 2012
NEWSLETTER .pdf

To download a free copy of
Acrobat Reader, click here.

MAY/JUN 2012

RECYCLING TEXTILES

By Patricia Griffin, President, GHA

I recently attended the —Re-Think Waste— Massachusetts recycling meeting, and was absolutely blown away by a session on textile recycling. I—m sharing with you what I learned, and hope you too will consider making textile recycling as important as we all make paper, aluminum, plastic and glass recycling.

Fleece, flannel, corduroy, cotton, nylon, denim, wool and linen. What can you do with these fibers when you're finished wearing them, sleeping on them or draping them over your windows? One way to benefit both your community and the environment is to donate used textiles to charitable organizations. Most recovered household textiles end up at these organizations which sell or donate the majority of these products. The remainder go to either a textile recovery facility or the landfill.

Textile recycling seems to be forgotten among its more strongly recycled—paper, aluminum, plastic, glass, etc. Yet textiles are at least 95% recyclable. Currently, only about 15% of textiles are being recycled, so we have a lot of work to do in informing the public and businesses (including hotels) about recycling textiles. First of all, textiles are—so that means clothing, accessories, outer wear, underwear, rugs, draperies, bed and bath linens, table linens, placemats, rugs, purses, belts, hats, gloves, boots, shoes, scarves, etc. The tiny percentage of textile materials that are disposed of as trash by repurposers are either wet, mildewed or contaminated with oil, paint or another hazardous material.

The only items that are unacceptable are those that are wet or heavily stained or soiled. Once the item is dry, it may be recycled. This definition means that less than 1% of textile items should be going to the landfill. So, one message here is that if you drop clothing in a curbside collection box, it would be best if it'sdonated in a repurposed dry cleaning or plastic bag, so it won'tget wet inside the collection box.

Again, ANY textile that is not wet, heavily stained or mildewed is acceptable for recycling or repurposing. It doesn'tmatter if a zipper is broken, if it is missing buttons, if it is torn or if it has staining or paint. Repairs and enhancing modifications may be made by vendors in other countries.

—Lightly Worn—: We all know that term, but we all need to forget it because all textiles can be repurposed. Clothing that is suitable for resale in the US will be offered for sale by a charity or resale shop. Clothing not suitable for resale will be sold by the pound to a repurposing company—so your charity will still benefit.

The textile repurposing company will sort items into about 300 categories. The second most important and most valuable of these categories will be clothing to be offered for sale in other countries. So, these are then separated according to categories beginning with gender, age (baby, teen, adult, etc.), type of clothing (men'sshirts, women'sblouses, etc.), type of fabric (wool, cotton, etc.) and season. Each group of these items will be baled very tightly (which makes shipping more efficient) and sold by the ton to vendors around the world. These vendors often have special requests for the textile items they want to offer their customers, and so place specific orders. Some of the most coveted clothing sought are bras and underwear! Who knew? They also desperately want belts, purses, shoes, hats, etc.—and all clothing accessories.

The donation of clothing, shoes, linens and bedding supports a thriving industry across the country. Charities such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, church charities, etc. report that about 15-20% of the clothing and textiles they receive as donations are sold in their retail stores. In some areas, Goodwill has secondary stores where they mark down clothing that hasn'tsold in the other stores. About 45% ends up being sent to developing countries as wearable clothing, another 30% is sent to wiping cloth companies where they are converted into industrial wiping cloths and the remainder are sent to fiber converters where they are broken down into their basic fiber components to be re-manufactured into insulation, carpet padding or sound-proofing materials. The industry is actively seeking other uses for these textile materials.

—Recycling textiles allows charitable organizations to meet their triple bottom line goals: operate successful social enterprises, provide much needed services to communities in which they operate and support environmental efforts,— says a Goodwill Industries representative.

Since the mid-1940—s, US charities and the post-consumer textile recycling industry have repurposed and recycled billions of pounds of clothing, household textiles, shoes and accessories. This ensures your old clothing, footwear and textiles continue to add value to the US economy and beyond. They also help keep people employed here and all over the world. There are some very interesting videos about recycling clothing around the world at smartasn.org/about/videos.cfm.

Post-Consumer Textile Recycling is one of the oldest, most efficient recycling industries in existence. Clothing recyclers add tremendous value through the labor-intensive sorting, separating and recycling of secondhand clothing into 3 main categories: fibers, reclaimed wipers and used clothing.

The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association is working to increase the amount of textile waste that can be recovered while developing new uses, products and markets for products derived from pre-consumer and postconsumer textile waste. Key in your zip code at smartasn.org to learn where you can recycle textiles. Also, you can use earth911.com to determine where in your zip code you can recycle anything.

Textile recovery facilities separate overly worn or stained clothing into a variety of categories. Based on data from the Council for Textile Recycling, it was estimated that 1.3 million tons of clothing textiles were recovered for recycling in 2009. Some recovered textiles become wiping and polishing cloths. Cotton can be made into rags or form a component for new high-quality paper. Knitted or woven woolens and similar materials are —pulled— into a fibrous state for reuse by the textile industry in low-grade applications, such as car insulation or seat stuffing. Other types of fabric can be reprocessed into fibers for upholstery, insulation and even building materials. Buttons and zippers are stripped off for reuse. Very little is left over at the end of the recycling process. The remaining natural materials, such as various grades of cotton, can be composted.

For the first time ever, clothing brands, retailers, consumers, municipalities, charitable organizations, academics and recyclers are joining forces to promote the recycling of clothing and textiles. The Council for Textile Recycling (CTR) recently released its new website aimed at educating the public on the importance of recycling all clothing and textiles, not just those that are —gently worn.—

—Our goal is to have zero post-consumer textile waste going into landfills by 2037,— says Eric Stubin, CTR Chairman of the Board. —In the US the average person discards 70 lbs. of their old clothing, shoes and household textiles in their local landfill each year. We're educating people that clothing and textiles are among the most recyclable items in their lives.—

In the US, the EPA estimates more than 25 billion pounds of clothing and textiles including clothing, linens, belts and shoes are generated annually. The agency also reports more than 21 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste ends up in landfills every year.

Many organizations promote sustainable clothing manufacturing and green initiatives in the apparel industry, and it'sexciting to finally have an organization representing all of the stakeholders as we strive to bring wide scale awareness to a very solvable problem. If consumers, municipalities and the apparel industry implement, promote, and market —Wear. Donate. Recycle,— we will significantly divert more post-consumer textile waste in the years to come. The Council'swebsite, weardonaterecycle.org, will be compiling a resource library for consumers, municipalities, apparel and footwear brands and retailers interested in developing clothing and footwear recycling programs.

Facts:

¦ An estimated 13.1 million tons of textiles were generated in 2010, or 5.3% of total municipal solid waste (MSW) generation.

¦ An estimated 14.0% of textiles in clothing and footwear and 17.1% of items such as sheets and pillowcases was recovered for export or reprocessing in 2010.

¦ The recovery rate for all textiles was 15.0% in 2010, 2.0 million tons.

¦ The US EPA estimates that textile waste occupies nearly 5% of all landfill space.

¦ While the EPA estimates that the textile recycling industry recycles approximately 3.8 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste (PCTW) each year, this only accounts for approximately 15% of all PCTW, leaving 85% in our landfills.

¦ The average US citizen discards 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles annually.

Q&A

Q: If clothing has a stain, a rip, a missing button or broken zipper, I can'tdonate it, can I?

A: Yes, absolutely, you can donate any fabric or textile piece, including shoes, belts, hats, stuffed toys and accessories of any kind. Absolutely everything wearable will all be repurposed or recycled. The only fabric or textile that should go into the landfill are those that are wet, moldy or exceptionally dirty items.

Q: How do I decide whether or not I can donate clothing?

A: Don'ttry to decide. Just donate it if it'sdry, not moldy, mildewy or exceptionally dirty. It'sbest if the item is dry and clean. It doesn'tmatter is it'sstained or has paint spots.

Q: I can'tdecide if I should leave my clothing in a box for the Red Cross or another group?

A: First of all, don'ttry to decide where your item is going. Don'tthink, —Oh, someone is Haiti would really like this item, so I—ll give it to the Red Cross and they—ll send it to some devastated area.— It would not be unusual for a for-profit company to pay the Red Cross or any other charitable entity to use their logo and brand. The company that owns the box will recycle the materials and will probably pay the Red Cross a fee or percentage.

Q: How do I decide to which group to give my clothing and textiles?

A: Remember that what the charity wants is the money earned from selling the items. Of course, they also want to help the community they're assisting. So just choose the charity you want to help most—just as you would decide which group deserves your money. You can look at charitywatch.com or charitynavigator.com for evaluations of charities.

Q: Where will my good used clothing end up?

A: All wearable clothing will first be offered for resale in a second-hand store, perhaps a Goodwill store. If it'snot sold there, Goodwill, for instance, has outlet stores, where the price is reduced considerably. If it'snot sold there, it—ll probably be sold to a textile recycling entity where it will be graded and sorted into one of 75 categories according to the type of fabric, quality and seasonality, and then sold by the ton.

Also, US apparel and accessories are very desired all over the world. They desperately want our used clothing, and textile dealers all over the world order items by the ton from US textile recyclers. Items they especially want are underwear (yes, underwear—especially bras), belts, hats, bathing suits, shoes of any kind (even singles). There'seven a brarecycling.com company! (Bras are extremely important to young girls around the world.) Drapes, curtains, rugs, shower curtains, towels and bed linens are also recyclable textile products.

From there, for instance, blue jean fabric items are chopped up and all hardware is removed, then ground up to take the materials back to its fiber form and possibly made into insulation for homes. Textiles not useful otherwise may be made into wiping or polishing cloths for commercial and industrial applications. Some are chopped and/or ground up and are made into carpet padding. The main thing to remember is that there'slittle reason for any textile to end up in the landfill because there are so many ways it can be repurposed.

Q: What about the fact that we're always told to donate —gently worn— clothing?

A: Ignore it. —Gently worn— clothing will probably be offered for sale as second-hand clothing, but so will many other items that are —well worn.— All other textile items will be recycled in one form or another. So, donate any dry, hopefully clean clothing or accessories or anything made of textiles. It will be recycled and repurposed. Recycling textiles will help and be useful to people all over the world. Recycling textiles will maintain and create jobs. Recycling textiles will keep thousands of tons of textiles out of our landfills.

Q: What should hotels do with retired bed and bath linens? What about clothing items in their —lost and found?—

A: Though locale may be the difference because of the cost of shipping, hotels can sell retired linens directly to textile reprocessors, i.e., wiping cloth companies (see smartasn.org) or they can donate linens and clothing to one or more local charities which accept textiles.

Footnote: Two college students decided that the US was abusing Africa by sending all our old t-shirts there, and set off on a mission to repatriate 500 t-shirts. You can see what they learned in an interesting video related to textile recycling at projectrepat.org/pages/movies, Watch the second video, —I didn'tdance my ass off at Josh'sBar Mitzvah.— It'sa meaningfull 17+ minutes. You—ll love the story, and you—ll love the results.

weardonaterecycle.org/
http://news.yahoo.com/council-textile-recycling-launches-education-initiative-prmoting-clothing-120022479.html, December 31, 2011
http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/press/1111reda.htm
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-7411/T-4318web.pdf

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MAR/APR 2012

UNDER PRESSURE; will California'snew
Green Building Standards Code
leave luxury hotels in hot water?

Now that California'snew Green Building Standards Code (also known as CALGreen) has officially gone into effect, many industry leaders believe the code will eventually affect the design, construction and specification of plumbing material for new hotel projects on a national level. However, questions remain about its long-term impact on business and the guest experience.

Background: Without question, CALGreen is complicated legislation. It requires residential and commercial developers to implement a wide range of sustainability measures in the areas of planning and design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation, resource efficiency and environmental quality. The law only affects newly-constructed residential and low-rise non-residential buildings-including hotels and motels (three stories or less). In the area of water conservation, CALGreen requires a 20% reduction in water consumption and addresses indoor and outdoor water use, as well as wastewater reduction. (This article will only be focusing on indoor water use—one of the more controversial aspects of the law.)

To demonstrate a 20% reduction in water usage, low-rise hotels in California must show a performance calculation with a combined reduction for lavatory faucets, showerheads, water closets and urinals. To achieve a 20% reduction, lavatory faucets are now at 1.5 gpm (gallons per minute), superseding the national requirement of 2.2 gpm; kitchen faucets are now 1.8 gpm, compared to 2.2 gpm nationally; and showerheads and hand showers must now be under 2.0 gpm, compared to 2.5 nationally. All must have a maximum allowable pressure of 60 psi (pounds per square inch). Water closets are 1.28 gallons per flush, while urinals are 0.5 gallons per flush.

Obstacles: The problem for hotel owners begins with the showerhead requirements. Since the combined flow rate of all showerheads cannot exceed 2.2 gpm, the shower must be designed to only allow one showerhead in operation at a time. (The maximum allowable volume is 80 psi).

This portion of the law virtually eliminates volume and redefines the nature of a shower system—a problem for high-end hotels that depend on the bath suite as a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. Jeff Burton of The Bath + Beyond in San Francisco sums it up best: —You can'tgo to a five-star hotel and be expected to take a two-gallon-per-minute shower when you're paying $500 to $1,000 a night.—

Also, if a hotel owner retains a design firm in New York City and a contractor in California, who'sresponsible for ensuring the product is compliant?

—The law is pretty clear about the requirements, but there are still many questions about responsibility,— says Tom LeDuc, a 45-year plumbing industry veteran and Certified Green Plumbers instructor who has been leading CALGreen seminars for the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association (DPHA). —At first, we thought it was the plumber'sresponsibility since we supply the fixtures. But we quickly found out that wasn'tnecessarily the case. The designer should specify the product for their project, but showroom dealers have a responsibility to educate their customer too. They need to make sure they cover themselves.— The last thing a showroom dealer wants to do is sell a luxury shower system to a hospitality specifier that doesn'tpass inspection. —Lawmakers didn'tthink of how it would affect the dealers or customers,— Burton says. —We're advising our customers to check with their local building department code on water allotment. We don'twant the responsibility of recommending shower products to designers, and then they come back to us and say, —You sold it to us, and it didn'tpass inspection.——

The nearly 200-page law also has many gray areas, with some experts calling it —convoluted.— Depending on where your hotel is located in California, a local inspector may interpret the law to your advantage—or disadvantage—for the same reasons. Additionally, what constitutes residential or non-residential? Who defines what —new construction— means?

Hospitality chains that entered into master contracts for large quantities of faucets and showerheads may also be concerned about using their existing inventory. Rather than keep separate stock for California, they will eventually need to make the switch to plumbing product that meet the strictest standards for all of their properties.

However, from my perspective, one of the most troubling aspects of the law is the potential watering down of the luxury bath experience. The exclusivity of that experience may be lost as more hoteliers adapt the code'sshower requirements.

Overcoming obstacles: How can hotel owners avoid the hot water? Even if a new hotel project is not in California, plumbers, inspectors, dealers, mechanical engineers and hospitality designers should start familiarizing themselves with these codes now and establish open communication with their local building department. Since it will take some time for the requirements to trickle down nationwide, it is an opportunity for hoteliers to plan ahead. Why not begin looking for products with modern technology that are designed to meet stricter sustainability measures?

Product-wise, options include installing advanced digital shower systems with water tracking systems or replacing pressure balance valves with thermostatic valves that have built-in volume control and diverter in one. These relatively inexpensive valves not only eliminate varied volume control and reduce flow rates, but also meet CALGreen standards.

Greener future: CALGreen is one of the most significant pieces of water conservation legislation ever passed in the US. It'snot surprising that such a major code change has created confusion and panic. The timing of CALGreen may be unfortunate with the recession, but the challenges it poses are not unlike those we have faced in the past. If anything, we can view it as an opportunity: Future hotel projects will be set up for more advanced green-rating systems like the US Green Building Council'sLEED Rating System.

Abel, Avi, —Under Pressure,— Lodging Magazine, November, 2011, p. 48

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JAN/FEB 2012

GOOGLE WANTS SOLAR PANELS
ON YOUR ROOF

Google is investing $280 million to help private homeowners put solar panels on their rooftops. It'sGoogle'slatest—and largest—investment in clean energy. The money will allow installer SolarCity to offer solar systems to homeowners for no money up front. In exchange, customers agree to pay a set price for the power produced by the panels. Google earns a return on its investment by charging SolarCity interest to use its money and reaping the benefits of federal and local renewable energy tax credits. —It allows us to put our capital to work in a way that is very important to the founders and to Google, and we found a good business model to support,— said Joel Conkling of Google'sGreen Business Operations in an interview before the company announced the investment.

Google co-founder and chief executive Larry Page wants Google'soperations to eventually produce no net greenhouse gas emissions. To this end, Google has invested in wind farms in North Dakota, California and Oregon, solar projects in California and Germany and the early stages of a transmission system off the East Coast meant to foster the construction of offshore wind farms.

A typical rooftop solar system costs $25,000 to $30,000, too much for many homeowners to lay out. Instead, solar providers like SolarCity and competitors SunRun and Sungevity can pay for the system with money borrowed from a bank or a specially-designed fund. The resident then pays a set rate for the power generated. The rate is lower than or roughly the same as the local electricity price.

A typical 5-kilowatt system will generate about 7,000 kilowatt-hours of power in a year, or about 60% of the typical household'sannual use. The homeowner buys whatever remaining electric power he needs from the local utility. The homeowner typically enjoys lower overall power bills and is protected somewhat against potentially higher traditional electricity prices in the future.

These types of programs don'twork well in all states or for all homes. In order for both the solar company to make money and the homeowner to save money, there must be some combination of high local electric rates, state and local subsidies, and low installation costs. And, of course, sunshine. A home needs a roof, preferably facing south, that is not shaded by trees or structures.

Google's$280 million is expected to pay for 10,000 rooftop systems that will be installed over the next 18 months. These types of programs originated in California, by far the nation'slargest solar market, because the state has offered generous incentives, power prices are high and there is ample sunlight.

Google'sinvestment generates returns three ways. Google gets a tax credit from the federal government of 30% of the cost of the solar projects, in this case $84 million. It also can write off the total value of the systems in the year they are built, an accounting benefit called accelerated depreciation. The value of state and local tax credits also flow to Google.

Google—and solar installers—hope that this investment will inspire other corporations to establish similar funds.

Fahey, Jonathan, AP Energy Writer, San Antonio News, September 28, 2011

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NOV/DEC 2011

How to Build A Greener City

Can cities be part of the environmental solution instead of part of the problem? The question isn'tan idle one. Urban populations around the world are expected to soar in the next 20 years, to five billion from more than three billion today. If the current rate of urbanization holds steady, cities will account for nearly three-quarters of the world'senergy demand by 2030.

It wasn'tlong ago that the idea of using —green— and —city— in the same sentence seemed absurd. Cities were considered a blight on the environment: energy-hogging, pollution-spewing, garbage-producing environmental hellholes. But in recent years, they—ve begun to be seen as models of green virtue. City dwellers tend to walk more and drive less than their suburban counterparts and dense urban development encourages transit use. Apartment living generally means lower per-household energy use. Building on these strengths, planners and developers are devising innovative solutions to meet urbanites— energy, water, transportation and sanitation needs.

Some improvements are fairly easy, such as switching to energy-efficient LED lighting in buildings and streetlights, or setting aside bike lanes and widening sidewalks to encourage alternatives to driving. Others are more ambitious, requiring new construction or even an extensive rebuilding of city infrastructure—consider what is needed to add a second set of pipes for a water-reuse system. Some of the most ambitious projects—and the greatest source of innovative ideas—are the dozens of —eco-city— developments in the works or on drawing boards around the world. But green initiatives aren'tjust found on blueprints for new cities. Chicago, for example, has about 350 green-roof projects covering more than 4.5 million square feet. So, how can cities—old or new—take green to a new level? Here'sa look at some of the ways.

DISTRICT HEATING: In a typical office building, heating and cooling account for nearly two-thirds of total energy use. So an alternative to traditional electricity or natural-gas HVAC systems can go a long way toward making cities greener. One solution: tapping the excess heat produced by nearby utilities or industry. A network of pipes distributes the heat, which can be used for hot water, space heating and in absorption chillers to provide air conditioning in the summer. These district heating systems are considerably more efficient—capturing up to 90% of the available energy—than in-building boilers. And they can tap any number of heat sources, including high-efficiency natural-gas turbines, large-scale solar thermal systems, biomass incinerators or furnaces in a steel mill. Common in Europe, high-efficiency district heating systems are being used in South Korea'sSongdo IBD and are in the plans for other eco-city developments.

MICRO WIND TURBINES: The giant windmills that dot the countryside aren'tsuitable for cities, where vibrations can rattle windows and the noise would be annoying. So developers are turning to microturbines. These small generators sit atop commercial or residential buildings and are designed to take advantage of the quirks of big-city wind patterns—lots of turbulence and frequent, sudden shifts in direction. The turbines are generally small, rated at one to three kilowatts each. But when installed in arrays and combined with high-efficiency solar panels, they can generate a large share of a building'senergy needs, especially when the structure is equipped with a full set of energy-saving features. A handful of companies provide micro wind systems around the world, and the devices, while more expensive per kilowatt than bigger systems, have been installed at scores of locations, including PepsiCo Inc.'sChicago office building.

PUMPED HYDRO STORAGE/MICRO HYDROPOWER: Wind and solar power are notoriously fickle, producing more power than needed at some times and less than needed at others. A city that wants to rely on such intermittent sources needs to find a way to bank that power. One technique: pumped hydroelectric storage. When wind or solar power is plentiful, electricity is used to pump water to an upper reservoir. Later, when power is needed, the water is allowed to flow downhill, turning turbines in the process. (The lakes have the added benefit as open-space landscaping.) Large-scale pumped-hydro systems are increasingly used for storing energy, and many isolated towns rely on small-scale micro hydro plants to generate electricity. Adding a pumped-storage capability isn'ttechnically difficult, but it'sexpensive, especially on a small scale, and current technology generally requires a large —drop,— or change in elevation to produce much power—though companies are working on lower-flow hydro turbines that can work in more level settings.

WALKING AND BIKING: When it comes to transportation, dense urban areas like Manhattan already have an advantage over suburbs: By packing people, jobs and services close together, they reduce the need for many car trips and provide the density to support bus and transit services. Green-city planners do even more, designing streets so that walking is safe, convenient and interesting—with wide sidewalks, landscaping and abundant crosswalks—and providing separate designated bicycle lanes. Songdo's1,500 acres are designed so that most shops, parks and transit stops can be reached in less than a 15-minute walk, and the city also has a 15-mile network of bike lanes.

PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT: Not every urban trip can be made on foot, bicycle or public transit. Cities can encourage greener auto choices by providing electric-vehicle charging stations in parking garages. A futuristic solution: personal rapid transit, or PRT—pod-like, self-powered vehicles that can carry as many as six passengers. The vehicles can travel along dedicated roadways, like an automated airport transit system, or on streets equipped with buried magnets. There are no fixed schedules or routes; passengers pick their destinations, and a central computer guides the car without intermediate stops. Although still a novelty, PRTs are operating at Heathrow International Airport near London and at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Masdar City, an eco-city development in Abu Dhabi. Masdar, however, has put on hold plans to deploy the pod cars throughout the entire planned two-square-mile development.

PNEUMATIC GARBAGE COLLECTION: Even the greenest cities produce lots of garbage, which creates two problems: collecting the trash and getting rid of it. On the collection side, a centralized waste system, using an underground network of pneumatic tubes, can replace the fleets of trucks that block traffic, tear up streets and burn fossil fuels. The tubes can collect garbage from both households and outdoor trash bins and carry it to a centralized collection and sorting facility. Though some systems handle only food waste, others are set up to handle separate streams for paper and other recyclable trash. The systems are used in scores of cities world-wide; a pneumatic trash-collection system on New York'sRoosevelt Island has been in operation since 1975.

WASTE TO RESOURCES: Getting to zero waste is as important to cities as getting to zero carbon. This doesn'tmean just encouraging residents to recycle—cities also can deploy technologies to tap the energy and other valuable resources buried in the trash. Advanced anaerobic digesters process organic garbage waste and the sludge left over from treating wastewater to produce biogas, which can be burned for energy; more common in Europe, the technology is just being deployed in the US for handling municipal garbage. High-temperature plasma-arc gasifiers can consume nearly the entire waste stream, making a synthetic gas that is burned to produce electricity; the leftover slag can be used in building materials. One novel approach under consideration by the PlanIT Valley project, an eco-city development planned for northern Portugal: Aluminum cans are processed with water and energy, producing aluminum oxide and hydrogen, which can then be used to power fuel cells. But because aluminum oxide requires tremendous energy to make aluminum, it may be more economically feasible just to recycle aluminum containers.

GREEN ROOFS: Rooftops, which take up a fifth of urban surface area, can be used to support solar panels or wind turbines, but they're otherwise underutilized. Covering the tops of buildings with grasses, shrubs and other plants can deliver a host of benefits. Though often more costly than traditional coverings, green roofs can provide insulation and trim a building'sheating and cooling needs. They absorb rainwater, reducing the load on storm-water systems, and filter what water does run off so it can be used for many domestic needs. They also filter air pollutants.

Totty, Michael, —How to Build a Greener City,— The Wall Street Journal, September 12, 2011

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SEP/OCT 2011

PARTNER MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

This newsletter and each September/October issue in the future, will focus on success stories of GHA'sPartner Members. We want to share your successful and not-so-successful environmental stories with all members. You are all working very hard at being green, and it—ll be easier for all if we share information on what has worked for you as well as what has not. We know you—ll love reading these informative, interesting and very green stories! Here we go . . .

* * * * *

PROTECTING GREECE'sTURTLES

Maria Lougaris, Managing Director, Castelli Hotel, Zakynthos, Greece, castellihotel.com, 2-year GHA member

One of our most successful practices has been embraced by our guests, and involves Archelon, a very important voluntary non-profit organization. Located on the beautiful island of Zakynthos, we have the pleasure of being visited by the protected loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, which choose our island as the place to lay their eggs every year and hatch babies. The turtles are of great interest here, and the first marine park in Greece has been established on Laganas Bay, one of the longest Mediterranean beaches (9 km), to help protect this species. All motorized water sports have been stopped in the park for the last few years. Many newer regulations are also enforced, i.e., no flights over the park are permitted during some nighttime hours, some fantastic parts of the beach cannot be visited at all or only prior to 10 p.m., all sunbeds must be put away at night and no sun umbrellas are allowed to be pushed into the sand—all so the turtles can use the beach.

So, at our first opportunity, we always inform our guests about the Caretta caretta sea turtles and our marine park. It is vital for our island to preserve its nature and the species that choose Zakynthos to lay their eggs and spend their summers. From the beginning, we have been among the first businesses on the island to communicate facts and figures about Greece'ssea turtle protection by holding a weekly slide show for our guests in cooperation with the local non-profit.

In 2010 we began offering a free weekly presentation to our guests during the busiest weeks of the season. The program is very interesting and informs our guests of the marine park'sregulations along with the reasons why the Caretta caretta choose our island. So guests are informed and learn to respect the turtle as well as nature.

It is much easier to protect the species when more visitors know why it is so important. The importance of the marine park regulations are also shared, and thus guests are happier to abide by them. The rules are easier to accept when one understands that because you're at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, you need to follow the rules and leave by 10 p.m. As a result, the guests become very interested and want to learn more about the Caretta caretta.

The Archelon volunteers— presentation is usually in English and German. Hopefully, the Caretta caretta turtles will be —adopted— by the guests. The volunteers answer all the guests— questions, and the guests have an opportunity to buy souvenirs supporting the Caretta caretta.

Prior to this presentation, or before coming to our hotel, guests may not be informed at all. This environmental educational activity is something different for guests in their week'sschedule, and fits in very nicely with our green program. Guests are content to enjoy this presentation on the hotel veranda poolside. The non-profit undoubtedly has much more accurate information than we would have on our own. A donation box and marine park leaflets are always available in our lobby. The guests can enjoy a new and different experience, which is a huge benefit to us, great for the island'ssustainability and benefits the Caretta caretta along with Archelon.

ENERGY AUDIT PAYS OFF

Robert W. Lenz, Innkeeper, Asa Ransom House, Clarence, NY, asaransom.com, 8-year GHA member

NYSEG/RG&E recently offered a free energy audit to small businesses including Bob Lenz—s10-room western NY Asa Ransom House. The audit revealed that the three 4— and one 8— ballasted fluorescent tube fixtures in his kitchen are energy wasters. All the other fixtures in the house already were fitted with CFLs. The utility is not only replacing the outdated fixtures and tubes, they will install the new equipment, remove the old and pay 70% of the cost! The property'sshare of the cost is only $115, and the conversion is expected to save $310 each and every year going forward.

Be sure to contact your electric, gas and water utilities to ask if they're offering help or rebates to reduce usage of resources and lower your bills.

WINDERMERE MANOR CATCHES THE BUZZ

Neil Kellock, General Manager, Windermere Manor, London, ON CN, www.windermeremanor.com, 3-year GHA member

When we learned about bee hives on the roof of an urban hotel, we began to investigate. As a result, we installed eight hives at the manor during 2010. The Windermere bees enjoy the advantages of an urban environment: no pesticides, fewer insecticides, a wider variety of plants and slightly warmer temperatures that give them a longer season. We decided we wanted to share what we were learning, and chose to locate the hives on the ground where visitors can see them. The bees are taking an active educational role at the University of Western Ontario'shospitality services, of which we're a part. They're doing a lot of tours, and have had a number of school classes visit.

We—ve built two-meter square raised beds for herbs and vegetables to be cultivated by staff at the hotel, cafe, research park and graphic services. The food will be used in the cafe; any extra will go to the London Food Bank.

About one-third of the food in grocery stores is directly influenced by bees and another third indirectly. Honey production is one part of Windermere Manor'sshift to produce more food on site. I—m a firm believer in the locavore (local food) movement, and we are now using the manor'sproduce in our restaurant.

The flavor of honey depends in large part on the plants the bees pollinated. Watching them land with large globs of pollen, one can notice the colors depicting the source: almond from trees, black from plums and orange from dandelions—dandelions are like steak for bees. Visitors can sit on a bench and watch as the bees go in and out. It looks like sheer chaos, but each bee has a role, and you can begin to determine who does what as you observe them.

Each hive is named for a section of the university: Research Park, Great Hall, Windermere Hotel, etc. I am proud the Windermere Cafe hive has been the most productive so far. The university administration hive is the slowest—probably too many meetings!

The first Summer of having the bee hives proved to be a great success—we harvested approximately 400 lbs. of honey. We used the honey in our banquet and restaurant kitchens in place of sugar on certain menus. We sold 1 lb. jars of our honey to hotel guests, and we sold out immediately! We replaced VIP guest pillow chocolates with 1.5 oz. jars of honey. At the start of Summer 2011 we have grown from 8 hives to 22 hives. We—ve also added a special viewing hive, where one wall of the hive is see-through allowing all to see what'sgoing on in the hive.

We are now working with a local craft brewery to produce a draft honey ale—using our own honey of course! We expect to have the ale brewed and featured in our restaurant very soon. We are also experimenting with the bee'swax produced in our hives to use as furniture polish in the manor.

GOLDEN ARROW'sGREEN ACHIEVEMENTS

Jennifer Holderied, Owner, Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, Lake Placid, NY, golden-arrow.com, 5-year GHA member

A MAPLE SWEET PARTNERSHIP: Spring was arriving in Lake Placid, NY, and the 166-room Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort partnered with Adirondack Sugarhouse on a unique maple sugar program in conjunction with Cornell University. The maple sugar program brings maple sugar processing on site to the Golden Arrow and its restaurant, Generations. From maple trees that have been tapped throughout Lake Placid, sap is gathered, brought to the maple processing hut at the Golden Arrow and boiled down to syrup. It is one tasty experience, educational and fun for families and people of all ages.

—The on-premise maple syrup program is very unique. People in the community along with hotel guests can join in the process, and experience making maple syrup. —The learning opportunity by having the sugarhouse so accessible is immense. I was lucky enough to tap my first tree the other day. Most people know that maple syrup comes from maple trees, and they may have seen the buckets on trees, but few have tasted the maple water or have ever experienced the process,— said Jenn Holderied. —Today I got to sample some of the amazing menu items that Executive Chef David Hunt has put together at Generations featuring the Adirondack Sugarhouse maple syrup. This is tree-to-table fresh! Talk about reaping the rewards of your labor. This is a way for the Golden Arrow to bring nature and its products to our guests and the community in a sharing partnership,— Jenn said.

Buckets hold 3 gallons of sap each at more than 40 trees tapped around the Golden Arrow and throughout Lake Placid. Through the boiling process, it takes 40 gallons of maple sap to produce one gallon of maple syrup. Maple syrup is a totally natural product. From the time the sap is poured to the end result takes almost three hours. Once the syrup reaches 217°, the syrup is drawn off, filtered and then bottled. Several grades of syrup are produced from clear to dark amber. The darker the color of the syrup, the more intense the taste. The sap in the maple trees will continue to run through most of April. Following the run of the maple sap this year, the Golden Arrow will then tap Birch trees, making birch syrup.

To further promote the maple sugar and have the public sample maple in different forms, Chef David has designed a special maple menu with maple offerings throughout the day. On site people can taste the maple sap or maple water (tastes like sweetened water). Mike Farrell, Director of Cornell University'sMaple Syrup Research Station, said, —The maple water is delicious. I drink about a gallon of it a day.—

John Fremante, Director of Shipman Youth Center, and his team of volunteers help to gather the sap day and night bringing it to the on-site sugarhouse. Proceeds from the maple syrup produced benefits the Shipman Youth Center, which serves 300 children in the Lake Placid region.

LOCAL HARVEST DINING: Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort began a series of Adirondack Harvest Dinners in their Generations Restaurant, which feature only local growers and suppliers, who also attend. Chef David connected in a collaborative effort with local farmers to have them grow extra herbs, spinach and Asian greens such as tot soi to sell exclusively to the restaurant. He also started buying meat from local producers, and half-pound burgers featuring grass-raised beef have been added to the menu.

To make salad dressing, David simply goes to the property'sgreen roof to clip herbs. Creating a local-foods brunch proved to be an easy endeavor for Hunt. A maple chevre blintz featured goat cheese and blueberries from nearby Peru. Asian greens, farm-fresh eggs and chilled melon soup were all sourced locally. Cherries featured in a dessert were picked only hours before becoming part of the meal.

For the producers, local-food events are a great way to get the word out about what they offer. The diner benefits from eating high-quality food. What a winner!

SOLAR SAVES: The newest addition to the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort'sarsenal of green initiatives is the installation of solar thermal panels. Installed in July, these panels should produce enough heat to warm the indoor pool, conserving 31,600 kWh and saving $1,800 in fuel costs annually. Payback is expected in 8 years. Additional heat produced will be diverted to help heat the water for the north wing of the resort.

Since beginning their green initiative in 2005, The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort has been a leader with creating environmentally friendly green programs. The Golden Arrow is the only property in the US to have achieved Audubon International's5-Green Leaf rating.

USING WOOD FOR HEAT SAVES

Charles P. Kinsman, CrystalSpringsMotel.com, 7-year GHA member

In December 2003 we installed a Central Boiler (centralboiler.com) outdoor wood furnace at our Towanda, PA property to be used for heating our entire 10-room motel plus for all of our hot water usage. Wood replaces natural gas as our heating fuel. We have always used only dead or storm-damaged trees on our property that were already down. We do not cut down any good trees. A thermostat on the boiler controls the heat by moving a plate back and forth to release more or less air to the firebox. Wood is added to the firebox about once a day—at most twice a day. Hot water from the outdoor boiler is piped in an underground loop to a boiler inside the property to heat the water that is used every day.

I am happy to report that since 2003 we have used less than 1% of what the average commercial natural gas customer uses measured in ccf'seach month! The boiler cost $8,400, and paid for itself in about 3 years. For eight months of the year, our gas bill averaged about $375/mo, and we now pay only the minimum bill each month. The boiler is used all summer to heat water for the property. Guests are very curious about the boiler, and their comments are always very positive.

We have about 70 acres from which we pull maple, oak, ash, hemlock and pine downed wood. We're able to burn the soft woods such as pine and hemlock because the boiler burns so clean. We're proud and happy that we—ll continue to save about $3,000/yr for many years.

CHARLESTON COLLECTS BAR SOAP

Jenn Salegna, Green Team Leader, Harbourview Inn, Charleston, NC, harbourviewcharleston.com, 3-year GHA member

Harbourview Inn, Charleston, NC'sbiggest success story is our participation in collecting used bars of soap to donate to the Global Soap Project (globalsoap.org/Hotels.html). After learning about their project at a South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance meeting, we started collecting but realized that because we are a small property, it would take quite a while to collect enough to make an impact. Our management company encouraged us to spread the idea throughout all of our properties. During the past year almost all of Charlestowne Hotels— properties have begun the collection process.

In addition to that success, we also started to work with the College of Charleston'sHospitality Club. Through them we had a large group of willing students volunteer to collect soap from hotels from the whole Charleston area. Working with them has greatly expanded the reach of this project and the quantity of soap collected. In April, the founder of the Global Soap Project came to speak at the College of Charleston, and he took about 2,000 pounds of soap back to Atlanta! The soap is processed, recycled and reformed into bars and will be shipped to refugee camps in Africa.

The only downside to the project is our lack of space. Most hotels in Charleston are quite small, and don'thave much space for storage. The biggest issue we have is just finding space to store what we collect until there is enough to be picked up.

Harbourview Inn was recently awarded One Palmetto from the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance.

SOLAR INVESTIGATION . . .

. . . was Raakesh Patel, Owner and General Manager of Super 8 Ukiah'sgoal because he was determined to reduce his $1,700 monthly electric bill. However, solar'shigh cost and his not-so-appropriate roof space instead brought him to induction lighting for his entire parking lot. He learned online that induction self-ballasted 40-watt conversion units could replace his 175- and 250-watt metal halide wall-mounted —wall pack— type fixtures and provide sufficient parking lot lighting along with reducing the electricity bill by 12%. The bulbs have a 20-25 year life. When he learned of his electric utility'savailable rebate, it was a done deal. Apperson Energy Management'slabor and materials conversion proposal for $4,564 and the utility company's(about 60%) $2,500 rebate resulted in his out-of-pocket cost being $2,064 to replace 25 units. Energy savings is $142.50/mo or $1,710/yr and calculates to a 1.17/yr payback, reducing the electricity bill by 15,500 kWh monthly and saving $1,710 every year after that.

Raakesh says, —I did not want to do the installation myself, but it is very easy. The bulbs can be purchased at innovativeinductionlighting.com or many other sites for $49-80 each. Companies selling the induction lighting will guide you as to the type and size to purchase and how to install the equipment. To convert from metal halide, you—d simply open the casing, remove the bulb, capacitor, ballast, transformer, etc., screw in the self-ballasted induction bulb and hook up the one wire. It'svery simple.—

His continued solar investigation next brought him to installing an electric vehicle charging station along with two designated parking places for hybrid and low-emission vehicles. The AeroVironment (evsolutions.com) station cost about $1,500 while other materials, installation and permit fees cost about $1,200.

There is no charge for using the station as long as the driver is a guest at his Super 8. It can take 4 to 8 hours to completely charge a car, and his cost per full charge is about $2.50. Of course, most cars still have a considerable charge when they arrive.

The best part, Raakesh reports, is the excitement about having the station. From the front desk, he can see other guests— excitement as they arrive and stop to look at the station, take photos with their phones, take the handle off and feel it, etc. Then there'slots of conversation when they come inside. The installation has brought lots of media and franchise attention as well. His is the first in the county, the first Super 8 installation and the first in the entire Wyndham Hotel Group of about 7,200 hotels in the portfolio worldwide bringing a —Wyndham Champion of Green— award. The frosting on this fine cake is a 30% tax credit and full depreciation the first year!

Raakesh is using energystar.gov/benchmark to rate the energy use of his building, which is currently 77% efficient. The 1981 54-room exterior-corridor building'selectricity and natural gas usage is 135 kBtu per square foot per year. He had to metal-weather strip all the exterior doors to get to 77%. He'snow hired an engineer to verify his findings, and is working on applying for an Energy Star rating for the building.

One more hint Raakesh has is about timers. The long hours that the coffee brewer, as is in most hotel breakfast areas, is on bothered him, so he bought a $5 timer. Each day the timer turns on the brewer at 6 a.m. and off at 10 a.m. He also put a timer on the spa heater to start at 8:40 a.m., go off at noon, on again at 3:30 p.m. and off at 10 p.m., which very much satisfies the general usage of his guests.

Raakesh is very pleased and proud of his green accomplishments, as he well should be. Call him anytime in Ukiah, CA at 707/468-8181 or visit super8ukiah.com for more information.

BLUE PEARL'sTIMES ARE CHANGING!

Laura Rubio, Owner, Blue Pearl Suites, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, thebluepearl.com.mx

Our family has always recycled, we're vegetarians of many years and we—ve always been involved in greening projects at school and in our community even though it'snot easy in Mexico. I used to carry my recyclables in the car trunk for days to find a place where I knew they would be recycled and not dumped as garbage. We finally found and supported a small women'scooperative, and we paid them to come weekly to our school where the participating families gathered stuff to be recycled. It was a good win-win solution.

Later we moved to Playa del Carmen and built a small and charming apart hotel, the Blue Pearl Suites. It was completely natural for us to offer recycling facilities to our guests, use biodegradable cleaning products and support communities when buying handicrafts like hammocks, baskets and little henequen dolls, as well as organic produce for our gift baskets. No other hotels were doing it, but we were convinced it was necessary.

Again, it was not easy to find a proper way to dispose of the recyclables. Our place is small and things started to pile up. The employees did not understand why they had to do the extra work of sorting, cleaning and keeping all the recyclables which seemed to them to be garbage. When I tried to explain, I realized that it was not a part of their reality. They did not like biodegradable products either. People here are used to cleaning with Clorox and muriatic acid on a daily basis along with liquids having strong smells and colors. It required a lot of supervision and was frustrating for all. It didn'thelp that guests weren'tinterested. A few used the recycling bins, especially if coming from countries where it is a normal practice, but most just disposed of things as always, kept the lights and TV on and sometimes even left a faucet open.

Then two great things happened: I found —Green— Hotels Association® on the web and started reading all I could on how to green a hotel and began to understand the importance of making it a team project. Instead of trying to push everybody to make changes they did not understand, we had to take time to talk about conservation, about what is happening in our area and how it is going to affect us, and to reconnect with our love for nature and beauty. We invited a biologist who came several times and talked about the precious species that live on our coasts and in our oceans, as well as the changes occurring around so much building and with little respect for the environment. We shared videos and stories, and our manager became the leader of the team. Together we wrote our —environmental policies— and mission statement. We decided on a list of short- and long-term actions, one of which was to choose organic amenities. We and our guests are very pleased with yuc-herbal.com'sgreen products. Currently everything is running smoothly.

The other thing that happened is that the local government opened several collection centers that receive all recyclables, even electronics and used batteries! We still have to deliver them once a month, but it'sa start. From what I have learned, the most important step is creating a team, taking the time to listen, share and be inspired.

I was leaving the Blue Pearl the other day, and stopped for a moment because there was a guest standing at the reception area. I was just about to offer help when I realized she was reading our green policies which are posted on the wall. She took the time to read them carefully, and then headed to the beach. Times are changing!

WAIANUHEA EARNS TRIP ADVISOR's2011

Randy Goff, Manager, Honokaa, HI, waianuhea.com, 3-year GHA member

Waianuhea Bed & Breakfast has been awarded TripAdvisor.com's2011 Certificate of Excellence. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement, and recognizes Waianuhea as a leader in its field for service, quality and value. TripAdvisor.com is the world'slargest travel site that assists customers in gathering travel information, posting reviews and opinions of travel related content and engaging in interactive travel forums. Trip Advisor.com awards this certificate to properties which consistently receive excellent ratings.

Waianuhea provides soothing, peaceful and luxurious accommodations with a sense of remote retreat and modern conveniences. Experience alternative energy in a whole new way. Our power is harnessed from the sun and our water is collected from pristine trade-wind showers. Nestled at 2,500— elevation on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii'sBig Island, they offer visitors a different perspective of life in Hawaii.

RELATIONSHIP WITH A GREEN NON-PROFIT

Rob LeVine, General Manager, Antlers at Vail, Vail, CO, antlersvail.com, 4-year GHA member

Most communities are home to at least one organization whose mission is simply to champion the green cause. In Vail, CO, it is the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability (EVAS, eaglevalleyalliance.org). EVAS provides resources and education to a network of hotels, as well as doing a myriad of other things. They promote green building processes, sponsor green seminars on a variety of topics, host recycling events and on and on.

In addition to participating in their hotel-specific efforts, we have struck an additional relationship particular to our property. As the —Official Hotel of EVAS— for the last five years, we—ve hosted all of their speakers or other notable guests at no charge on a space-available basis. We also offer our conference space to them at no charge for any of those events for which space is available.

Organizations like EVAS are notoriously underfunded, and for them to know that they almost always have free hotel rooms and free meeting space for any of their purposes makes their work much simpler.

The property, in turn, gets to promote Antlers at Vail Condominiums & Conference Center as the Official Hotel of EVAS, which brings Antlers some recognition. It also helps keep management and staff dedicated to the cause, which is a reward in itself.

THE TROUBLE WITH CHANGE

Greg Ziccardi, Sustainability Coordinator, Antlers at Vail, Vail, CO, antlersvail.com, 4-year GHA member

I was on the driving range the other day practicing new ideas in order to improve my golf game. —This works,— I thought to myself and I vowed to take it on the golf course. My game improved for the first few holes and then subtly I returned to the old habits. By the end of the day I was right back where I—ve always been. What does this golf analogy have to do with green hotel practices?

Old habits are hard to break, and new ideas, regardless of how fundamentally sound, are difficult to instill. I have found that this is especially true among employees who have been doing things the same way for as long as they have been employed here.

Since the early days, Antlers at Vail has been a leader in our community with regard to environmentally-friendly practices. Even before it was ordinary to recycle aluminum cans, we were doing it. We can all recall that even something as simple as that required a change in habit. Employees and guests considered it easier to just throw it in a trash can rather than put it in a separate plastic bag. The bag would get sticky and smelly. The bees would start hovering around, and then we had to travel to find someone that would take the mess off our hands.

Whether we are collecting recyclable material, turning off computers and monitors, shutting off lights or adjusting thermostats, there is and always will be some resistance from those that are expected to participate. I have realized, however, that with a little bit of determination and a lot of patience, new ideas ultimately become accepted practices. A good example is one of our more recent endeavors that has had better results than we anticipated.

Removing two-ounce amenity tubes that have always been placed in our guest condominiums with push-pump refillable containers meant a new responsibility for our housekeeping staff. We're now buying 5 amenities in 1-gallon containers from readycare.com, and found that we spent $17,000 in 2009 and will spend only $10,000 this year. Better yet, in 2009 we purchased 9,000 ounces of product and this year will purchase only 3,500 ounces—thats huge for the environment!

We introduced the new procedure to staff by changing over only a dozen or so units at first. Refilling the containers with shampoo, hand soap, lotion, etc. when necessary ultimately became part of the routine. The new containers are now located in all of our 90 condominiums and common areas.

We had a bit of trepidation in the beginning with regard to our guests— impression of the new practice. But to our delight, the feedback has been celebrated. Requests to purchase these containers at check-out has caused us to inventory additional containers for resale at the front desk. As far as I know, we are the only property in the Vail Valley that has implemented this environmentally sound business practice. You're welcome to me anytime to discuss this further at 970/476-2471.

Now, if I could only remember to waggle more on the tee box, keep that elbow in, eyes down, back straight, hands soft . . .

BAMBOO VS. ORGANIC COTTON?

Victoria Schomer, Owner, AshevilleGreenCottage.com, Asheville, NC, 6-year GHA member

We—ve had an interesting dilemma in replacing our linens. The first 100% bamboo sheets we bought 5 years ago were such great sheets. We were able to pull them right out of the dryer, put them on the beds and they—d look great. They lasted years, and were the silkiest ones we—ve ever had. But we could never find them again at an affordable price. Replacement bamboo sheets from Bed Bath & Beyond were not good, and I returned them very quickly. We have needed to stay in the $60-70 range for our queen-sized sheets.

Then I found the cotton/bamboo blend at Target, and they have been great. They're sturdy, perfect right out of the dryer, feel great and are wearing really well. They have, however, gone up a bit in price since we bought them a few years back.

Organic cotton is the trickiest for us as they need extra work out of the dryer—some serious smoothing down when folding as the hems and headers get wrinkled and all out of shape, or ironing, which to me means more time and more electricity use. If you can deal with the extra work from some wrinkling, Coyuchi'sorganic cotton sheets are just wonderful . . . soft, wonderful feel. I also discovered that washed organic cotton sheets hold less water, and so dry faster than bamboo sheets, and that'san energy-saving thing!

We—ve used Coyuchi'sorganic cotton towels for our entire 5 years now—still using some of the originals. Without being overly dense, which to me means more time in the dryer, they feel luxurious and wick away moisture off our bodies really well. Coyuchi is a wonderful company . . . longest time in the organic cotton world, and delivering the best organic cotton products . . . and great, green committed people.

And, I love our home cleaning brew of 50% water, 50% vinegar and about 10 drops of tee-tree oil or grapefruit seed extract (also an antiseptic). It works well, leaves a fresh scent in the air and is usually well tolerated by our chemically-sensitive guests.

MADDEN'sGREENS GOLF

Kathy Reichenbach, Marketing Director, Madden'son Gull Lake, maddens.com, 4-year GHA member

Madden'son Gull Lake, Brainerd, MN, is a 287-room golf resort and conference facility with one 9-hole and three 18-hole golf courses located on 1,000 acres and a mile of Gull Lake shoreline. Madden'shas turned back the clock on golf course management in an effort to promote better environmental practices. —Our goal is to mimic the conditions of the sandy Scottish links land where golf began and bent grasses naturally thrived where crops would not. Our turf maintenance is a collection of older ideas, newer techniques and basic scientific principles that produce a playing surface and not a crop,— says Golf & Grounds Superintendent Scott Hoffman.

The Pine Beach East Golf Course now includes more naturalized areas where we let the fescues grow naturally. This includes our grass bunker mounds, some tee banks and some out-of-play rough areas. The total acreage will be approximately 5-7 acres. These areas are not mowed or fertilized and will receive minimal irrigation. We will save approximately 4-5 man-hours/week and about 4-5 gallons of fuel/week as well as cut down our irrigation window. We think it will help add character and definition to the golf course as well. Savings to date (April-August) is approximately $5,000.

74 acres of land was donated to the City of East Gull Lake for the East Gull Lake Airport and easements for miles of bike trails.

Madden'swas awarded the Minnesota Office of Tourism'sSustainable Tourism Award for their development and implementation of their Green Program. To date Madden'sGreen Program has realized a 10% savings resort-wide in gas, electric and garbage fees.

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PRINTABLE Jul/Aug 2011
NEWSLETTER .pdf

To download a free copy of
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JUL/AUG 2011

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

It'sa fact that none of us can be really green without the green products and services offered by green vendors. GHA works hard to encourage and support our Ally Members, and to bring you news of their successes—new products, new ideas, new techniques, recent awards, new contracts, etc. So, each July/August issue of this newsletter brings you interesting stories about our Ally Members. So, let'sbegin . . .

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Design Honors Awarded to
Impact Enterprises, Inc.

ALLY MEMBER Impact Enterprises recently was awarded recognition from Design Journal Magazine for their Environmentally Responsible Presentation Products. The ADEX PLATINUM Award for Design Excellence was presented to Impact for its creative and uniquely designed Surfboard Menu Cover. This menu cover design is solid wood-cherry from a Verified Sustainable Forest, and has the unique shape of an authentic surfboard. This menu —board— comes with its own solid wood base which allows the board to stand vertically on a tabletop, and be removed and reinserted easily. A unique and flawlessly designed wood frame was created for the —interior— side of the surfboard that allows for easy insertion and removal of printed inserts. The decoration is laser engraved. All of Impact'swoods are harvested from Verified Sustainable Forests.

Impact Enterprises has produced environmentally responsible presentation products and accessories for Live Nation Entertainment, Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Primland and GAIA (both internationally respected eco-resorts), Trump International, Banyan Tree Resorts, One & Only Resorts, Ferrari and others. For more information, visit impactenterprises.com, or call 866/370-0340.

EYEPOWER® Solution Helps Customer Win
Asia-Pacific's—Most-Sustainable Hotel— Title

The Crowne Plaza Alice Springs won unanimous recognition as Asia-Pacific'smost environmentally-sustainable hotel after installing an ALLY MEMBER Energy Eye guestroom energy management system. —It'sexciting to see our environmental sustainability initiatives validated and recognized,— said Investnorth principal and hotel owner Lloyd Berger. Berger accepted the award, along with Intercontinental Hotel Group'sChief Development Officer for Asia Pacific, Tony South.

—We are so pleased that the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs was recognized in such a prestigious way,— said Peter Cohen, Chief Operating Officer of Energy Eye, Inc. —While we are just one part of the property'soverall sustainability program, the EYEPOWER® Solution provides a critical leaping-off point for projects of this magnitude. The Energy Eye part—while representing a tiny fraction of the overall investment required—has generated compelling results. Savings of more than 264,475 kilowatt hours can be tied directly to the EYEPOWER® Solution in this project.

The EYEPOWER® solution, independently tested and certified to save 15-35% on HVAC energy usage, delivers its results via the application of occupancy, door and window sensors, plus thermostat control. And because the EYEPOWER® solution is thermostat-neutral, hotel owners can easily integrate the system into their existing HVAC systems. For more information, visit energy-eye.com or call 866/463-3135.

Kimberly-Clark Eyes Bigger Sales
of Lower-Impact Products

ALLY MEMBER Kimberly-Clark (kcprofessional.com) has announced a new set of environmental and social goals, putting a deadline on when all of its fiber will be certified sustainable and emphasizing products and packaging with less impact. The company behind Kleenex, Scott, Huggies and other paper products aims to reduce water use by 25%, reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 5%, purchase only certified sustainable fiber and send no manufacturing waste to a landfill. The goals are all for 2015.

Concurrently, Kimberly-Clark is pushing to have 40% of the tissue fiber it uses in North America to be FSC certified or recycled by the end of this year. In addition to strictly environmental goals, Kimberly-Clark set other new targets. Kimberly-Clark plans to reduce the carbon footprint of its packaging by 20%.

The company also wants —environmentally innovative products— to account for 25% of net sales. Spokesperson Kay Jackson said that includes items like the Scott Naturals line of products, which are made with at least 40% recycled content; the tubeless Scott toilet paper rolls being tested in the northeast US; and products that are designed to use less resources. Kimberly-Clark also plans to establish social programs in all the communities it operates in; and have all contract manufacturers and top suppliers comply with its social standards.

Bardelline, Jonathan, greenbiz.com/print/43003, June 7, 2011

INNCOM'sEARTH-MINDED AWARD

ALLY MEMBER INNCOM'sGlass Series Guest Interface Device Suite, an eco-friendly lighting and thermostat central control system won Hospitality Design (HD) magazine and ASID'sEarth-Minded Award for Hospitality. Made from recyclable glass and plastics, all models are capable of simultaneously controlling lighting, fans, drapes, privacy, notifications and thermostat settings. A standout feature, the —green button,— allows guests to opt into the hotel'sconservation program with the touch of a button. From a design standpoint, the glass touch surface offers a blank canvas for the designer wishing to customize a look with colors, fonts, images and functionality.

Judging criteria included 1) efforts to create a product or space that is environmentally innovative and aesthetically pleasing, 2) products that promote sustainability, including energy savings, lighting, flooring, fabric, wallcovering, seating, case goods, etc. and 3) resource efficiency and recycling and waste management within the development and manufacturing process. To learn more, call 860/739-4468 or visit inncom.com TODAY!

NATIONAL ALLERGY ASSISTS TV PROGRAM

National Allergy has been in business for more than 20 years providing doctors and individuals with eco-friendly allergy solutions for sufferers of severe asthma and allergy to make home and office environments as allergen-free as possible.

During its second season, —Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,— the hit TV show, contacted National Allergy to provide allergy products for a family whose daughter suffered from many breathing and heart issues. Without hesitation National Allergy provided Quality Protective Bedding for her mattress and box spring, an air purification system for her bedroom, and many of the environmental controls she needed to live in an allergen-free home. We believe that rewarding experiences such as this can translate to the hospitality industry, and we are excited to give hoteliers and guests the opportunity for healthier living on their journeys.

With 16 years of OEM experience designing and manufacturing encasings and our close relationships with top asthma programs, our encasings have been used in numerous clinical trials around the country. Recently, the US Army contacted National Allergy to supply various facilities with protective bedding in preparation of a potential bed bug attack. Learn more by calling 877/627-8775 or visiting nationalallergy.com/cs.

CHEMICAL-FREE CLEANING
THE ACTIVEION WAY

Ramada'sbusy London Gatwick hotel successfully uses award-winning Activeion technology following extensive trials of the Activeion Ionator EXP™ cleaning device. General Manager Tony Fletcher was enthusiastic. —We would recommend the Ionator for use in hotels. We have used the ionized water from the Ionator to clean washroom ceramic surfaces, to remove stains from carpets and upholstery and to clean work surfaces in the bar. Our experience suggests that the Ionator would also be good for cleaning in health clubs, particularly tile and floor surfaces,— states Fletcher.

For a hotel whose core values include environmental responsibility, the Ionator fits in perfectly. Conserving resources, preserving natural habitats and preventing pollution are key goals within the Wyndham Worldwide organization. Reducing energy consumption, water and energy usage, improving air quality, minimizing waste and implementing sustainable procurement practices are main areas of focus across the brand. With the Ionator, the Ramada London Gatwick is well on its way. See activeion.com or call 866/950-4667 to learn more.

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PRINTABLE May/Jun 2011
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MAY/JUN 2011

THE SECRET TO
TURNING CONSUMERS GREEN

It isn'tfinancial incentives. It isn'tmore information. It'sguilt.

A real-life experiment in engineering green behavior unfolded last year in the nation'scapital. Washington, DC, imposed a five-cent tax on every disposable bag, paper or plastic, handed out at any retail outlet in the city that sells food, candy or liquor. But more important than the extra cost was something more subtle: No one got bags automatically anymore. Instead, shoppers had to ask for them—right in front of their fellow customers.

The result? Retail outlets that typically use 68 million disposable bags per quarter handed out 11 million bags in the first quarter of 2010 and fewer than 13 million bags in the second quarter, according to the district'sOffice of Tax and Revenue. That may help explain why volunteers for the city'sannual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup day in mid-April pulled 66% fewer plastic bags from the Anacostia River than they did in 2009.

District Councilman Tommy Wells doesn'tbelieve it is the nominal cost that'skeeping shoppers from using bags, but rather the expectation-made clear in a very public way in every transaction that they could make do without. —It'smore important,— he concludes, —to get in their heads than in their pocketbooks.— Studies dating back at least three decades clearly show the power of social norms. We tend to ascribe our actions to more high-minded motives, or to practical concerns about money. But at its core, our behavior often boils down to that old mantra: Monkey see, monkey do.

Researchers are now learning how to harness that instinct to nudge us to go green. It'snot easy. Though about two-thirds of Americans tell pollsters they are active in or sympathetic with the environmental movement, it has proved tough to get the average consumer to make even relatively simple changes, like using energy-efficient light bulbs or caulking drafty windows.

Government agencies, private utilities and nonprofit groups have tried changing behavior by giving people more information or by dangling financial incentives, such as rebates. And these approaches work for some households. But psychologists and behavioral economists are increasingly concluding that for the masses, a simpler, cheaper approach may be in order. It can include new laws and taxes, as in DC, but it doesn'thave to. The magic ingredient: Peer pressure.

Telltale Towels: Consider two papers published in peer-reviewed journals in 2008.

The first described a study involving those placards in hotel bathrooms that urge guests to reuse towels. Over a three-month period, researchers tested two different placards in a 190-room, midprice chain hotel.

One card was headlined —Help Save the Environment— and urged visitors to —show your respect for nature— by reusing towels. The second read, —Join Your Fellow Guests in Helping to Save the Environment— and noted that 75% of guests participated in the towel-reuse program. The guests who were exposed to the peer pressure—the fact that so many of their fellow travelers were doing it—were 25% more likely to reuse towels. A follow-up study found that tweaking the wording on the placard so it was specific to the guest'sroom (as in: nearly 75% of guests who stayed here in Room 331 reused their towels) yielded even better compliance.

The second paper described a study involving public-service messages hung on the doorknobs of several hundred middle-class homes. All urged residents to use fans instead of air conditioning, but they gave different reasons for doing so. Some residents learned they could save $54 a month on their utility bill. Others, that they could prevent the release of 262 pounds of greenhouse gases per month. A third group was told it was the socially responsible thing to do. And a fourth group was informed that 77% of their neighbors already used fans instead of air conditioning, a decision described as —your community'spopular choice!—

Meter readings found that those presented with the —everyone'sdoing it— argument reduced their energy consumption by 10% compared with a control group. No other group reduced energy use by more than 3% compared with the control group. All four of the non-control groups slipped in the long run, conserving less as time went on, but those exposed to peer pressure continued to record the lowest average daily energy use. —People don'trecognize how powerful the pull of the crowd is on them,— says Robert Cialdini, a psychologist at Arizona State University and co-author of both the hotel and doorknob studies. —It'sa fundamental cue as to what we should be doing.—

Influence Without Borders: Social scientists are just beginning to study whether this type of peer pressure works in Europe and Asia as well as in the US. The answer, so far, is yes.

For instance, researchers at Michigan State University found that paying Chinese farmers to adopt environmentally friendly techniques didn'twork as well as telling them that their neighbors were already farming that way. And a recent study in India found that publishing a ranked list of the worst-polluting paper factories prodded the biggest offenders to make dramatic improvements. Promoting a particular behavior as the social norm proves —equally influential across cultures.—

The problem, from a conservationist'sperspective, is that much of the environmentally friendly behavior we engage in doesn'thelp set social norms because it'sinvisible to others. We have no way of knowing that everyone else on the block has installed a programmable thermostat or insulated the attic or switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs. What we tend to see, and perhaps envy, is the more profligate behavior: the gleaming Hummer in the driveway, the huge flat-screen TV in the family room, the emerald lawn made lush by daily water ing. (One exception: the recycling bin at the curb, which is now ubiquitous in many neighborhoods.)

—I would bet that if you went into a residential neighborhood and put a red, green or yellow light on peoples— mailboxes to show who'san energy hog and who'snot, people would start to change their behavior,— says Paul Hamilton, a senior VP in Andover, MA, at Schneider Electric, a global energy consulting firm.

Subtle Cues: That system might not sit well with homeowners. But the private and public sectors are both experimenting with more subtle ways to achieve the same result.

Microsoft Corp. has calculated energy-efficiency ratings for 60 million homes in the US, using data including public records about housing stock, weather patterns and utility bills, as well as information provided by residents. The ratings can be viewed free of charge online, at microsoft-hohm.com. Homeowners can input data about their utility bills, appliances and habits to refine their score—or they can simply snoop, comparing their score with those of their friends and neighbors. Visitors to the site can also exchange energy-saving tips.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District tries to leverage peer pressure with TV and radio ads that depict neighbors chatting about their conservation habits. One recent campaign talked up the virtue of watering only every other week in winter. The result: A 19% jump in homes practicing —skip a week— irrigation.

Smiley Faces: Perhaps the most familiar social-mobilization tactic is the Home Energy Report produced by OPower, a consulting firm based in Arlington, VA, that works with nearly three dozen utilities around the US. The report, packaged with utility bills, graphs a household'senergy use, compares it with prior months and years-and matches it against peers. Customers can see at a glance how they rank compared with both the average and the most efficient homes in their neighborhood. Those doing exceptionally well are rewarded with a smiley face on their bill.

Utilities say homes that get the report show a consistent, sustained reduction in energy use of about 2% on average, compared with similar homes that don'treceive the reports. Two percent doesn'tsound like much, but advocates say that when scaled to millions of homes, it'squite meaningful, especially since the savings are achieved without costly rebates, tax credits or mass-media ad campaigns.

The Competition Trap: Paul Stern, who studies climate change at the National Academy of Sciences, cautions that peer pressure so far has proved effective with —relatively low-impact behaviors— that don'trequire individuals to make big sacrifices. Mr. Stern argues that financial incentives and saturation marketing are often needed to inspire more significant change, as in last year's—cash for clunkers— program, which induced many people to purchase more fuel-efficient cars.

Efforts to exploit our keeping-up-with-the-Joneses instinct can also backfire if there'stoo much emphasis on competition. It has become popular on college campuses to stage energy-efficiency contests between dorms, prompting some students to take extreme measures like forgoing hot water. And the Environmental Protection Agency is now running a National Building Competition modeled on the TV show —The Biggest Loser,— with a school, a hotel and a dozen other buildings vying to notch the biggest reductions in energy use. The EPA says it hopes the contest will inspire other building owners.

Such competitions, however, present conservation measures not as the norm, undertaken by average people every day, but as an extreme sport, done by fanatics trying to win a contest. That doesn'ttrigger our instinct to conform, social scientists say, and thus has little impact on behavior.

Shower Power: It'sfar more effective, experts say, to model desirable habits as a matter of routine. Psychologist Doug McKenzie-Mohr describes one such study in his book —Fostering Sustainable Behavior.— A college gym'sshower room displayed a prominent sign urging students to conserve water by turning off the shower while they soaped up. Only 6% did so initially. But when researchers planted an accomplice who shut off his water mid-shower, 49% of students followed suit. When there were two accomplices, compliance jumped to 67%, even though the accomplices didn'tdiscuss their actions or make eye contact with other students.

Traditional conservation campaigns have been —based on the premise that if we simply provide people with information, they will make changes in their lives,— Mr. McKenzie-Mohr says. —We know pretty conclusively that'snot true.— The most powerful aspect of social mobilization, researchers say, is that it tends to work on a subconscious level. Americans routinely tell pollsters that they would conserve energy to save the environment or to save money. Ask them if they—d conserve because their neighbors are doing it, and they scoff. They have it backward. —We can move people to environmentally friendly behavior,— says Mr. Cialdini, the psychologist, —by simply telling them what those around them are doing.—

Simon, Stephanie, —The Secret to Turning Consumers Green,— The Wall Street Journal, October 18, 2010

PRINTABLE Mar/Apr 2011
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MAR/APR 2011

BIRD-SAFE BUILDINGS

Gleaming by day and glittering by night, glazed buildings that make up modern city skylines and suburban settings present serious hazards for birds. Bird populations, already in decline from loss of habitat, are seriously threatened by the relatively recent incursion of man-made structures into avian air space. In the US, an estimated 100 million to one billion birds perish each year from encounters with buildings.

Bird injury or death is largely attributable to two factors: birds, it would appear, are unable to detect and avoid glass, either during the daytime or night. Moreover, buildings— artificial night lighting confounds night-migrating species. Today, preventive actions mindful of these hazards are emerging in building practice. With bird-safe measures at hand, we can avoid the adverse consequences that until recently seemed inevitable though unintended.

The Bird-Safe Buildings Guidelines examine the apparent causes of bird mortality in the built environment; convey the ecological, economic, ethical and legal justifications for bird conservation; advocate a series of preventative and rehabilitative strategies and describe precedents for regulatory initiatives. They strive to stimulate the development of new glazing technologies while creating a market for all bird-safe building systems.

THE FACTS: Birds do not understand that reflections are false. Birds do not understand that glass is a solid barrier. Birds are easily trapped in niches, courtyards and other recessed areas. Birds are attracted to light, and try to fly into lit spaces. Birds are attracted to vegetation indoors or reflected in buildings.

MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING BUILDINGS
TO REDUCE BIRD COLLISIONS

Retrofit problematic windows and glass facades to reduce bird collisions:

• Consider installing transparent or perforated patterned, non-reflective window films that make glass visible to birds such as Scotchprint or CollideEscape.

• Consider painting, etching or temporarily coating collision-prone windows to make them visible to birds

• Install louvers, awnings, sunshades, light shelves or other shading/shielding devices at large expanses of glass to reduce reflection and to signal the existence of a barrier.

• Install and operate reflective blinds, shades or curtains to reduce glazing reflectivity and indicate the presence of a barrier to flight. Close curtains or blinds during the evenings if the interior is illuminated.

• Consider re-glazing existing windows that experience high rates of bird collisions with low-reflectivity, etched, frosted or fritted glass. Also, consider replacing large existing windows with multiple smaller units, divided lights or opaque sections.

Undertake strategies to create a physical barrier to the glass:

• Install exterior coverings, nettings, insect screens, latticework, artwork, shading or shielding devices at notably hazardous windows to deter birds or otherwise reduce the momentum of their impact.

• Consider planting trees and shrubs close to the building within a maximum of three feet from a problematic facade or curtain wall. This planting strategy will block access to habitat reflections, and birds alighting in these trees will not have the distance to build momentum if they move towards the glass. This planting strategy also provides beneficial summertime shading and reduces cooling loads.

Remove or relocate features attractive to bird populations to reduce the frequency of collisions:

• Relocate interior plantings, water sources or other features that are causing birds to crash into glass windows.

• Consider relocating or altering landscapes to minimize reflection in glass facades.

Develop Lights-Out programs during peak migration periods:

• Encourage building owners and managers to extinguish all unnecessary exterior and interior lights from 11 pm to sunrise during the spring migration, from mid-March to early June, and the fall migration, from late August to late October.

• Utilize gradual, —staggered switching— to turn on building lights at sunrise rather than instant light-up of the entire building.

• Dim lights in lobbies, perimeter circulation areas and atria.

• Monitor the effectiveness of lights-out programs by tracking bird collisions.

• Contact local bird conservation organizations for support and to share the results of the Lights-Out program.

Reduce light trespass from interior sources:

• Turn off unnecessary interior lighting by 11 pm until sunrise, especially during the fall and spring migration seasons.

• Utilize automatic controls, including photo-sensors, infrared and motion detectors, to shut off lights automatically in the evening when no occupants are present.

• Encourage the use of localized task lighting to reduce the need for extensive overhead lighting.

• Schedule nightly maintenance activities to conclude before 11 pm.

• Educate building users about the dangers of light trespass for birds.

• Encourage voluntary light-closing in the evenings.

Reduce light trespass from exterior sources:

• Reduce perimeter lighting wherever possible.

• Attach cutoff shields to street lights and external lights to prevent unnecessary upward lighting.

• Install motion-sensor lighting wherever possible.

• Utilize minimum wattage fixtures to achieve required lighting levels.

• To comply with federal aviation and marine safety regulations in large buildings, install minimum intensity white strobe lighting with a three-second flash interval instead of continuous flood lighting, rotating lights or red lighting.

• Ensure that all exterior light fixtures are properly installed to prevent unintended light trespass.

Implement daily bird-collision monitoring:

• Encourage building management or maintenance crews to conduct a daily sweep of the building perimeter, setbacks and roof to inspect for injured or dead bird species.

• Encourage volunteer participation in bird-collision monitoring.

• Instruct workers and volunteers in methods of temporarily caring for injured birds before transporting them to certified wildlife rehabilitators.

• Document all bird deaths. Donate specimens to authorized local bird conservation organization or museum to aid in species identification and for use in scientific studies, as per the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

• Partner with other buildings in the area as well as local bird conservation groups to develop a district-wide monitoring program and corresponding Lights-Out strategies.

• Undertake retrofits and other strategies to reduce bird collisions.

Much more information is available online in the following .pdf. The Guidelines promote measures to protect bird life in the planning, design and operation stages of all types of buildings, in all settings. They are intended for use by architects, landscape architects, engineers, glass technicians, environmentalists, building owners and operators, construction industry stakeholders, city planners, civic officials, state and federal agencies and the general public.

http://www.nycaudubon.org/home/BirdSafeBuildingGuidelines.pdf

BIRD-SAFE WINDOW FILM

INSTALLED AT THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO

American Bird Conservancy is continuing to lead the way in finding and promoting methods to keep migratory birds safe from deadly collisions with glass windows. In 2009, the Philadelphia Zoo contacted ABC for assistance in making the exhibits at the zoo more bird-friendly. ABC'sDr. Christine Sheppard toured the zoo with personnel and discussed different options for improving bird safety at its exhibits.

The Bear Country exhibit in particular was one of the worst at the zoo for bird strikes; over a two-year period where collisions were monitored, the windows around this exhibit accounted for almost half of all bird/glass collisions in the zoo. —When I walked up to the Bear Country exhibit, there was a dead Yellow-throated Warbler lying in front of one of the windows,— said Sheppard. —Obviously this exhibit was a prime target for bird safety modifications.— Dr. Sheppard set to work to find a window film that would deter birds and appeal to visitors. They settled on a custom-made clear film produced by SurfaceCareLLC, striped with thin, horizontal black lines. The film was installed on three large glass windows fronting the exhibit, and have proven an effective bird deterrent. No bird deaths were noted at these once-deadly windows throughout both the recent spring and fall migrations.

http://www.nycaudubon.org/home/BirdSafeBuildingGuidelines.pdf

PRINTABLE Jan/Feb 2011
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JAN/FEB 2011

THE BEST IDEAS IN GREEN BUSINESS

20 innovative variations on the theme of sustainability, including business models watching the triple-bottom line and school districts working to transform our most valuable natural resource into well-informed stewards follow:

No. 1 Detoxifying Paper Junkies

Conventional Wisdom: Bank employees are addicted to wasting paper.

New Take: With the support of the CEO and key leadership personnel, the power of the “go green” suggestion goes a long way in the banking world. Setting guidelines to prevent waste can lead to employees coming up with their own initiatives to further decrease the bank‘s carbon footprint.

No. 2 Resolutionary Thinking

Conventional Wisdom: When discussing a topic with a colleague, it is best to speak over the phone or in person, allowing tone, expression and inflection to be a part of the conversation so that nothing is misunderstood. However, if that colleague is in another country, it is often most convenient to contact him/her via e-mail or another method of virtual communication. This method of communication is also more environmentally friendly than flying to meet that person or mailing them printed materials.

New Take: In the virtual world, the potential for conflict and strong emotional reaction is greatly increased. This is due to the absence of visual and vocal cues—making it much harder to get beyond a breakdown. For that reason, it is especially important that, when communicating through the virtual world, we carry an attitude that‘s more open, accepting, tolerant and collaborative in nature—it‘s called “resolutionary thinking.”

No. 3 Innovative Financing for Green Retrofits

Conventional Wisdom: Building owners and managers must be able to front large initial costs associated with the purchase and installation of new, energy-efficient equipment to retrofit their building.

New Take: Financiers nationwide are creating low-cost loans for the energy-efficiency improvements of buildings. One example is the GreenFinanceSF Program, described as the largest retrofit loan program of its kind in the US. In February 2010, GreenFinanceSF secured nearly $3 million in federal funding from the Recovery Act, supporting the low-cost loan program that eases the upfront costs of installing energy-efficient insulation, windows, heating, water fixtures and renewable-energy systems by attaching the financing to the property and enabling the owners to pay the debt through future taxes.

No. 4 The Farm System for Architecture

Conventional Wisdom: Businesses hire and train employees through the standard resume-review and interview process, then market their companies through advertisements and local event sponsorships.

New Take: Randall-Paulson Architects (RPA) and Hoefer Wysocki Architects (HWA) create brand recognition and implement their own version of major league baseball‘s farm system by running programs for young architects including: RPA‘s Essay Scholarship Competition for architecture students at Georgia Tech and the University of Tennessee. HWA is involved in and runs numerous events that give the firm‘s young architects real-life experience, i.e., working with carpenters and instructors.

No. 5 Living Laboratory Learning

Conventional Wisdom: Students gain knowledge through textbooks, minor experiments and projects and local field trips.

New Take: Hands-on learning is taken to a new level with RBUSD‘s new student-services center, featuring a vegetative roof as well as demonstration photovoltaic panels—all of which have been designed so that they are accessible to students eager to learn about sustainable design principles.

No. 6 Sustainability is More Than Green

Conventional Wisdom: Sustainable is a synonym for environmentally friendly.

New Take: With the Halifax Seaport Farmers‘ Market project, Archineers (together with Lydon Lynch Architects) integrated several sustainability ideas into one inspiring project. Not only is the farmers market a sustainable building project, it is also sustaining the community of Halifax by giving local business the opportunity to prosper and giving area residents the offerings of local crops, reducing their dependence on foods shipped in from other regions and reducing the community‘s carbon footprint. The impact of this project is much bigger than the building itself.

No. 7 Sustaining American Business

Conventional Wisdom: American-based manufacturing companies utilize overseas facilities and employees from foreign countries to cut costs, which is a factor in the high levels of unemployment in the US.

New Take: March Industries, Inc. is proud to attest that all of its products are made in the US and represented by select distributors who are local, community businessmen. In a time when the manufacturing industry is prone to doing business overseas, March conducts its entire business in the US, employing Americans.

No. 8 The Resurgence of Playgrounds

Conventional Wisdom: Greening urban environments are achieved though the planting of trees and other greenery along streets and sidewalks and on roofs, along with increasing the number of parks.

New Take: Healthful urban environments can also be part of the green movement through the development of new community playgrounds for schools and neighborhoods underserved by parks. Such is the mission of City Spaces, the NYC program Mark K. Morrison Landscape Architecture created with the Trust for Public Land.

No. 9 Store in a Box

Conventional Wisdom: Franchisees spend a great deal of time finding and customizing space for their business venture.

New Take: In January 2010, BrandPartners launched its new Store in a Box division, the company‘s second endeavor in less than a year to diversify revenue by leveraging core business strength. Serving the American franchise industry—an industry of more than 900,000 businesses providing 20 million jobs and $2.3 trillion in economic activity—Store in a Box offers turnkey retail-environment solutions, including initial store design, millwork, graphics, point-of-sale, merchandising, signage, carpeting, space planning, contract furniture and general-contracting services. The ability to open quickly and efficiently is undeniable. Costs are decreased significantly, implementation time can be driven from months to weeks and complete store installations are done in a day and a half.

No. 10 A Green Co-op

Conventional Wisdom: School districts work individually to provide the educational services each can afford.

New Take: Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) help school districts save money by pooling resources and sharing costs. Programs they undertake are those that individual school districts might not have a high need for, but collective school districts do. The Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES school has really become a jewel in the center of the community. Not only is it an educational institution by day; but, in the evening, community groups are using it.

No. 11 Increase a Building‘s IQ

Conventional Wisdom: The most eco-friendly and intelligent buildings are new structures.

New Take: For San Diego‘s Columbia Center, which was built in 1982, SENTRE Partners recently implemented water-use-reduction plumbing elements, waste-production-pattern analysis, indoor-air quality assessments, environmentally friendly pest-control measures and green-cleaning and -maintenance practices. As a result of the firm‘s efforts, the building received LEED Gold certification in March 2009. Additionally, it received an Energy Star rating of 95 and the designation of “California‘s Most Intelligent Building” by RealComm. The Building Owners and Managers Association also honored it as San Diego‘s “Office Building of the Year.”

No. 12 Inverted Truss Roof

Conventional Wisdom: Rainwater-collection systems utilize gutters and downspouts to direct water to cisterns.

New Take: For Hays+Ewing Design Studio‘s Stony Point House project, the firm utilized an innovative inverted-truss-roof design that serves not only as a unique architectural element complementing the tree canopy, but also as a functional design, collecting rainwater for irrigation. With primary views facing west, the roof also offers large overhangs to protect from unwanted afternoon solar penetration.

No.13 Recycling as a Design Customization

Conventional Wisdom: Décor made from recycled materials consists of various waste matter that has been broken down and molded into a new product.

New Take: Two LPAS projects illustrate the firm‘s creative abilities in recycling meaningful items to use as décor for new spaces: For its California Highway Patrol headquarters project, the firm took the organization‘s confiscated-weapons collection, melted it down and formed it into rebar used to reinforce the structural foundations in the new building. In its design of the California Lottery headquarters, LPAS shredded recycled Lottery Scratchers tickets and embedded them into Plexiglas as a design element for accent windows throughout the building.

No. 14 Office as Test Space

Conventional Wisdom: Building and architecture firms try new products and practices when the client is ready and willing.

New Take: Housing the Scarano Architect offices on three of its floors, the York Street Project serves as an instructional laboratory on structure and design for the firm‘s staff. As stated on the firm‘s website, “the entire staff is involved in the construction process, from procurements to crane placement and site safety. All materials and systems are presented to the staff prior to installation and then applied in the field. It is the ultimate, hands-on, learn-design-build experience.”

No. 15 Sustaining a Sustainable Business

Conventional Wisdom: Making a business green increases its popularity and viability

New Take: The first definition of sustainability is “to be upheld,” which Newton Vineyard interprets as “to stay in business.” Chris Millard, the winemaker at Newton Vineyard, explains, “If you go out of business—say, trying to maintain your organic certification—it doesn‘t do your employees any good, and it doesn‘t do the land any good to sit idle.”

No. 16 The Eco Chic Project

Conventional Wisdom: Vineyards go green by utilizing all-natural, organic, locally-sourced products and practices in developing and maintaining its land and in creating and packaging its wine.

New Take: Newton Vineyard is developing multi-faceted green-movement efforts. Aside from its vineyard‘s own products and practices, in 2009, the winery launched the Eco Chic project, commissioning artists to create products out of recycled materials for sale at the winery. This year‘s Eco Chic product is John Pomp‘s The Touch, a limited-edition, hand-blown glass wine decanter. 10% of he proceeds from sales of The Touch will go towards sponsorship of environmental-advocacy group Global Green USA.

No. 17: Turn Right

Conventional Wisdom: Driving the shortest routes with the least amount of stopping possible will maximize a vehicle‘s fuel efficiency.

New Take: In 2004, UPS deployed a new route-planning technology that automates the process for minimizing left-hand turns. Between 2004 and 2009, the technology not only eliminated millions of miles from delivery routes, it saved 10 million gallons of gas and reduced CO2 emissions by 100,000 metric tons, equivalent to taking 5,300 passenger cars off the road for an entire year.

No. 18: Revitalizing Manufacturing Plants

Conventional Wisdom: When the market for an industry is no longer booming, such as the automobile industry, manufacturing plants shut down, acting as a couch potato on the real-estate sofa for years.

New Take: Michigan effectively is drawing on the strengths of its legacy as a major player in the automobile sector—the state has excellent research universities, the most engineering graduates per capita and more research-and-development-technology centers than any other state—to become a player in the clean-energy revolution. A manufacturing infrastructure already exists that can be repurposed to produce clean energy products, and much of the workforce has related experience.

No. 19: Carbon-Free Biomass Utilization

Conventional Wisdom: In the thinning of biomass density to improve forest and rangeland health, the woody biomass waste is most often utilized for renewable-energy production.

New Take: Further decrease the carbon footprint by creating products out of woody biomass in its natural state. “Carbon emission and sequestration is important to us,” says Chris McCurry, cofounder of Bark House by Highland Craftsman, Inc. “We are an important part of the biomass-utilization mix because, whereas most biomass is burned for fuel, we harvest biomass waste and use it in its original form so there is no combustion-released carbon.”

No. 20: A Living Building

Conventional Wisdom: Sustainable and eco-friendly design, finishes and furnishings are utilized in the building of a structure in order to lessen that structure‘s impact on the environment.

New Take: A living building, formalized by the Cascadia Chapter of the USGBC, goes beyond LEED Platinum standards—the design will “move beyond doing less damage to doing something regenerative and positive,” says Bob Berkebile, principal of BNIM Architects. According to a new financial study by the Living Building Institute, the cost of achieving living-building status—in a realm beyond the LEED rating system—varies greatly by climate and building type. In some cases, however, constructing a living building can cost as little as 7% more than LEED Gold and pay for itself within five years or less.

Bad Green Ideas

With the good, comes the bad. Showing that behind every good idea is a number of failed attempts, the following are four of the most notable soiled endeavors to improve the Earth‘s environment in recent years.

BAD IDEA #1: Choosing the Color Green:

Conventional Wisdom: The color green evokes the Earth—despite the fact that the majority of it is blue and a good portion brown—and standard operating procedure for creating a global movement is to first create a brand: images, catchphrases and ideas. By infusing sustainability with the term “green,” the color was always sure to follow: on packaging, products and promotional materials. It did. And the revolution seems a mounting success.

Failed Attempt: Too bad, then, that materials dyed green almost always are forever contaminated. In a New York Times article, Alice Rawsthorn talked to Michael Braungart, co-author of renowned design book Cradle to Cradle, who comments on the irony of the situation we‘ve put ourselves in. “The color green can never be green because of the way it is made,” he says. “It‘s impossible to dye plastic green or to print green ink on paper without contaminating them.” The reason for this is that green is difficult to manufacture and often requires semi-toxic substances to stabilize it. Billions of dollars of marketing and manufacturing have been spent to convince the world that “green” is the way to go. How many more billions will be spent to change it to blue? Even if someone tried, they would probably find that it‘s too late. It can‘t be undone.

BAD IDEA #2: A Premature Reliance on Biodiesel

Conventional Wisdom: For years, biofuels were looked to as a method for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and alleviating our reliance on natural resources like oil. Investors and innovators alike raced—and continue to race—to develop alternative fuels. One of the earliest contenders has been biodiesel.

Failed Attempt: At least one type of biodiesel is a really bad idea: the biofuel made from soybeans actually can produce up to four times as many climate-warming emissions, states an EU document that remained hidden from the public until April. The higher carbon footprint is the result of indirect linkages, such as the destruction of rainforest land—often by burning—to access arable land. Like other infamous biofuel failures, such as ethanol, any biodiesel that relies on a potential food source and mass cultivation seems to run into a slew of unintended future consequences. The EU has taken a hit from this report, since its plan to use renewable-energy sources—mostly biodiesel—for 10% of its energy by the end of the year now faces an enormous speed bump.

BAD IDEA #3: Lackadaisical Energy Star Approval

Conventional Wisdom: A consumer culture needs a quick, easy way to differentiate between the tens, if not hundreds, of choices before them, and the government should provide some level of consumer protection. Hence, the Energy Star rating system caught on like wildfire and became an easily identifiable icon of an eco-friendly product. By all accounts, it was a success.

Failed Attempt: The bad part of the idea was how the approval system worked. Automated and with very little oversight, the system allowed fictional products to be certified and did nothing to prevent companies from slapping the blue Energy Star logo on unapproved products. After audits by the Government Accountability Office, the program—a joint effort through the EPA and the Department of Energy—was found to have serious failings in its labeling of refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters and room air-conditioners. In an effort to restore its credibility, the program promises that an individual employee now will review each product submission. In addition, energy testing will be performed by independent, third-party laboratories. It will take time before people trust the Energy Star label again, which only hurts the makers of the truly green products even more.

BAD IDEA #4: Peddling the Promise of Clean Coal

Conventional Wisdom: Coal-fired plants produce necessary electricity and unnecessary C02 products. So scientists developed a way to isolate carbon from the emitted gases and bury it in the ground. It was a near miracle: the world could burn coal and help the environment at the same time.

Failed Attempt: Though the theory was stable, the movement that had environmentalists, politicians and energy companies salivating at the possibilities hit a wall that was built from a number of failings: it hadn‘t fully been tested, the amount of carbon being saved was minimal, it hadn‘t proven economically feasible, the process required even more energy than it saved. The list goes on. Even now—despite US President Obama‘s belief in the potential of clean coal and numerous other countries‘ investments in the latest carbon-capture technology—the premise of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a wobbly one, as activist author Tim Flannery tackles in one part of his environmental book, The Weather Makers. As a result of its early herald, there was an instant backlash against the notion of clean coal, irrevocably sifting renewable energies to the forefront of the worldwide environmental debate.

The Ideas Issue, Green Business Quarterly, Sept/Oct 2010, Vol. 4, no. 24, p. 3, 8, 20, 21 23, 28, 30, 34, 37, 39, 42, 46, 48, 53, 55, 58, 62, 64, 68, 76, 78, 80

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NOV/DEC 2010

THE WATER-ENERGY CONNECTION

Nationally, roughly 4% of total electricity used in the United States is for pumping and treating potable water and wastewater. The figure is a lot higher if you include energy use for the things we do with water, such as heating it. For example, 19% of California electricity use is dedicated to water when water heating is included.

The farther we have to pump water, the greater the energy use—especially if we have to pump it over mountain ranges, as in California. For many cities and towns in the US, water pumping and sewage treatment use more electricity than anything else. On a per-capita basis, this energy use for water pumping and treatment varies from about 350 kWh/year in the South Atlantic states to over 750 kWh/year in the Mountain states, according to a 2002 Electric Power Research Institute report—about as much annual use as a refrigerator.

Just as it takes energy to provide water, it also takes water to provide energy. Roughly 89% of US electricity is produced in thermoelectric plants—plants that use a heat source such as coal or nuclear fission to produce steam, which spins a turbine that generates electricity. Water is used to create the steam, and then more water is used to cool that steam and condense it back into water. Averaged nationally, thermoelectric plants use 0.47 gallons of water for each kWh of electricity produced, according to a 2003 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) paper (see —Save Energy to Save Water,— EBN Oct. 2002).

Hydropower, which accounts for 9% of US generation, consumes a lot more water because of evaporation from reservoirs. The same NREL study examined evaporation from 120 of our largest reservoirs and extrapolated that to all 2,300 of our power-generation reservoirs, calculating a national average water-intensity of 18 gallons/kWh for hydropower—with much higher consumption in some states: 65 gallons/kWh in Arizona and 137 gallons/kWh in Oklahoma, for example. By weighting the thermoelectric and hydropower values, NREL found a national average of 2.0 gallons of water per kWh.

Water intensity is highly variable for fossil fuels. According to a 2006 Department of Energy report to Congress, conventional onshore oil extraction consumes 0.12-0.31 gallons of water per gallon of oil, but some oil extraction techniques can dramatically increase that. Canadian tar sands require 140–360 gallons of water per gallon of oil, according to data from the Pacific Institute. Another 1.0-2.5 gallons of water are required to process and transport each gallon of oil. With natural gas, conventional onshore extraction uses negligible water but processing and transport averages 3 gallons of water per million Btu.

On the renewable fuel side, corn-based ethanol is highly water-intensive. A 2008 paper in Environmental Science and Technology reported that a light-duty vehicle driven on an E85 ethanol mix (85% ethanol) —consumes— 28 gallons of water per mile! By conserving water we save energy, and by conserving energy we save water. It'sa win-win!

—The Water-Energy Connection,— Environmental Building News, Vol. 19 No. 10, October 1, 2010

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SEP/OCT 2010

Is Brown the New Green for Golf Courses?

When Jim Hyler was inaugurated as president of the U.S. Golf Association this year, he surprised many by speaking out more forcibly than USGA presidents are wont to do on a controversial subject—water usage and the misguided perception that golf courses need to be lush, green and perfect to be good. It is the issue, he said, —that is perhaps of greatest concern to golf'sfuture.—

With recent heavy flooding in Nashville and a pesky 17th green surrounded by water at the Players Championship in Florida all over TV, the shortage of water may not be at the top of every golfer'smind. But for many golf courses in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and the dry Southwest, it'san existential threat. For others, even when water is abundant, maintaining wall-to-wall greensward in impeccable shape is creating a heavy and unnecessary financial burden. Verdant courses require more mowing, more chemicals to prevent weeds and disease, more general tweaking and fluffing and more days of those dreaded words —cart path only.—

—In my opinion, many of the standards by which we construct and maintain our courses have become, quite simply, unsustainable,— Mr. Hyler said. —With the recent economic downturn, focus on these critical issues has sharpened. If we are not careful, high construction costs, soaring maintenance budgets and declining membership rosters will threaten the survival of many courses and clubs.— He called for a —reset— in the way golfers look at and think about courses, with —playability— replacing aesthetics as the primary consideration. Playability, he said, —should include concepts of firm, fast, and yes, even brown, and allow the running game to flourish. We need to understand how brown can become the new green.—

Brown isn'ta popular concept in most clubhouses, but fun certainly is. One of the main points Mr. Hyler made in an interview was that firm, fast courses are more fun to play than soft, overwatered ones. Drives roll out farther. Approach shots into greens can, at the player'soption, scoot along the ground and bank off contours designed by the architects.

Green looks great on television, Mr. Hyler acknowledged, but that'sa major cause of the problem?televised golf distorts expectations. —Most people don'trealize that the courses on TV are manicured to peak for that one week. Even they don'tlook that way all the time,— he said. —There'snothing wrong with a little brownish tint to the fairways or some less-than-pristine conditioning. The last 20% of the maintenance budget at most clubs goes for appearance only.—

Starting last summer, viewers saw a change at some of the tournaments the USGA sponsors. In preparing Pebble Beach for the US Open in June, crews carefully limited the amount of water the turf received to create firmer, faster fairways than in previous Opens there. The course appeared notably browner and less manicured.

Chambers Bay, a county-owned course on the shore of Puget Sound near Tacoma, is in many ways a poster child for sustainable golf. Routed through dunes on the site of a former sand and gravel mine, it encompasses 250 acres—but thanks to large buffer areas and forced carries, only 85 of those acres are maintained as turfgrass, compared to 110 acres to 150 acres at typical courses. Moreover, all the grass on both greens and fairways is fine fescue, a tough, drought-tolerant strain widely found on links courses in the British Isles (but different from the devilish taller fescue strains US golfers are familiar with in the rough at some courses). Its roots reach, and sip water, eight inches to 12 inches below ground. Traditional cool-weather golf-course grasses (the most common are rye and Kentucky bluegrass) dip only two inches to five inches deep and thus have to receive water almost daily.

—We—ve gone as long as 15 days without watering the fairways,— said David Wienecke, the course superintendent. He estimates that the water bill at Chambers Bay is one-third to one-half what the bill at a nearby course planted in traditional grasses would be.

Fine fescue has its drawbacks. It doesn'tgrow well in many places (the Bandon Dunes golf resort down the coast in Oregon may be the only other all-fescue facility in the US), and it loses density under lots of foot and cart traffic. But fescue also makes a terrific playing surface. —The ball sits up beautifully in the fairway and I can make the greens as fast as the USGA needs them,— Mr. Wienecke said.

The firm conditions at Chambers Bay allow golfers to engage their imagination. Roughly half the greens have possible hole locations that require players to land their approach shots off the putting surface, if they hope to get the ball close. —That'swhere the fun begins,— said Bruce Charlton, part of the Robert Trent Jones II team that designed the course. A front left pin on the downhill, par-three ninth, for example, is best reached by caroming the tee shot off a high kicker slope to the left.

But as a demonstration of what'spossible with limited water and a minimalist maintenance philosophy, Chambers Bay is a welcome counter-example to the fake-green alternate reality portrayed weekly on PGA Tour broadcasts and each year at the Masters. This model is particularly important for communities in the Southwest that will have to make many tough decisions about golf in the years ahead.

—Areas facing severe water pressure have to constantly ask themselves what'sthe best economic use of every gallon of water,— said Greg Lyman, head of the Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic arm of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Golf has a continuing role to play. It creates jobs and wealth. Increasingly it will have to compete for every ounce of water it uses, and avoid becoming a whipping boy for environmentalists.

—The more that non-golfers understand golf is environmentally responsible and is being managed for the long-term, the brighter its future will be,— Mr. Lyman said. That'strue in the Southwest, but also in areas where water isn'tsuch an urgent issue. Chambers Bay doesn‘t lack for rainfall. But using less of everything—water, fertilizers, fuel and man-hours for maintenance—plays well pretty much anywhere.

Newport, John Paul, Golf Journal, —Is Brown the New Green?,— The Wall Street Journal, May 8-9, 2010

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JUL/AUG 2010

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

As we all well know, none of us can be green without the green products and services offered by green vendors. GHA does all it can to encourage and support our Ally Members, and to bring you news of their successes—new products, new ideas, new techniques, recent awards, new contracts, etc. So, each July/August issue of this newsletter brings you interesting stories about our Ally Members. So, let'sbegin again . . .

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ENERGY EYE EYEPOWER SOLUTION WINS
2009 EDITORS— CHOICE AWARD

The votes have been cast, and the EYEPOWER Solution of ALLY MEMBER Energy Eye was selected the winner of the “Editors— Choice” Green Technology Award at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show.

The EYEPOWER Solution, certified to save 15-35% on HVAC energy usage, delivers its results via the application of occupancy, door and window sensors, plus thermostat control. Because the EYEPOWER Solution is thermostat-neutral, hotel owners can easily integrate the system into their existing HVAC systems.

Founded in 2001, Energy Eye'sHVAC energy management systems have been successfully used to control all types heating and air conditioning systems?driving immediate, day-one cash-flow-positive investments to hoteliers worldwide. Energy Eye'smission is to help hospitality clients increase the value, performance and prestige of their properties by providing them with high-performance, economical energy management solutions that will universally integrate with their existing and new hotel systems. For more information, visit energy-eye.com or call 866/463-3135.

SUNHEAT SOLAR ENERGIZES EFP

Sunnier days are forecast for the energy bills of an Earth Friendly Products— (EFP) plant in Addison, IL, which has invested in a solar power collection system. The rooftop installation by GHA ALLY MEMBER SunHeat Solar Inc. includes 312 solar electric PV panels for supplying electricity to the building. Solar energy is expected to provide 60-70% of the plant'soverall electricity requirements. The plant operates four side-by-side packaging lines for the 150 environmentally-friendly cleaning products that EFP distributes globally.

Based on average sun hours daily in the Chicago area, the panels will generate 100,000 kW of power annually. Aided by rebates and tax credits through state and Federal incentives, the overall investment payback is calculated to be four years. —The move to solar power is the right thing to do,— says EFP vp Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks

The 104,000 sq.ft. headquarters plant is the second of five EFP plants that plan to use solar power?a total investment of $2 million. The use of sun power is a natural extension of the company'ssustainable focus in the products— formulations using plant-based, nontoxic ingredients, packaging and now production operations for the 43-year old company. EFP plans to market its sun-powered capability through packaging graphics in 2011, after all five facilities have made the upgrade to photovoltaic power. “The EFP solar installation is the largest rooftop solar array in Illinois,” say Shari Walsh of SunHeat Solar.

SunHeat Solar designs and installs solar energy systems. For more information on solar energy, go to sunheatsolar.com.

Continental-Girbau Saves
Tennessee Hotel $12K Annually

The first LEED-certified hotel in Tennessee is the 118-room Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg. Every system was examined in order to heighten hotel sustainability, especially the in-house laundry. ALLY MEMBER Continental-Girbau'sequipment came complete with an ozone system, soft-mount, high-speed washer extractors and high-efficiency dryers. In five years, the laundry is expected to save the hotel $60,196. The total cost of the laundry with the ozone system was $48,000, and the laundry will pay for itself in 48 months.

The hotel is located in the Smoky Mountain National Park. So, making this property a Silver LEED-certified hotel was the right thing to do.

Of top concern during the hotel'sdevelopment was maintaining the consistency of the Hilton Garden Inn brand, according to GM Kris Reagan. “The landscape uses less water and pesticides; the pavers in the parking lot are porous to improve drainage; and the hotel features recycled wallpaper, granite counter tops and a chemical-free saltwater pool and hot tub, as well as in-room recycling,” says Reagan. The property also boasts low-flow showerheads and faucets, dual toilet flushing, as well as the super efficient laundry.

The laundry is outfitted with two Continental 55-lb. capacity soft-mount washer-extractors, and three Continental 75-lb. capacity high-efficiency drying tumblers. The soft-mount washers were selected for a number of reasons, including efficiency, laundry productivity, ease-of-use and ease of installation. The free-standing design of the washers eliminates the requirement of bolting the machines onto a re-bar reinforced concrete foundation. The suspension systems are designed to absorb up to 95% of the vibration during extract. Because there'sless stress on machine components, soft-mount washers typically outlast hard-mount models and operate quietly.

By combining the high-efficiency washers with ozone technology, utility savings and productivity catapult further. Altogether, the ozone-equipped laundry will save an estimated 205,860 gallons of water and 3,886 ($6,413) therms of natural gas per year. In the wash, ozone breaks down organic materials using only cold water, dramatically reducing hot water usage along with the natural gas used to heat the water. It also reduces a laundry'soverall water and chemical needs. Because ozone effectively loosens material from linen fibers, it can eliminate the need for a pre-wash cycle. Therefore, the washers consume less water and complete cycles faster. Using a soft-mount washer in combination with ozone, a load of high-quality cotton towels will dry in about 26 minutes, while a hard-mount washer without ozone will dry in 40-45 minutes. By using ozone with a high speed washer, dryers run less often, productivity increases, labor decreases and bottlenecks at the dryer are eliminated.

To simplify things further, the washers at the Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg are programmed to automatically adjust water levels, cycle times, number of rinses, water temperature and chemical injection according to linen type. That way, towels, duvets, sheets, rags and shower liners, which each have separate programs, are washed properly and consistently every time. Attendants simply input a program number and press start. Linens also last longer, thanks to less dryer wear-and-tear, shorter wash cycles and the use of fewer chemicals.

Call 800/256-1073 or visit continentalgirbau.com to learn more NOW!

INNCOM Debuts Wireless Bedside Controls

ALLY MEMBER INNCOM'snew, affordable, customizable radio-frequency touch-screen controller puts ALL guest services at arms— reach, from accessing the Internet to turning off lights, controlling room temperature, setting wake-up alarms and more.

INNCOM International'snew Radio Frequency (RF) Tabletop/Bedside Controller, as part of its Integrated Room Automation System (IRAS), is completely customizable. It is a multi-purpose device that provides the ultimate in convenience, and features customizable touch screen guest control of room temperature, lighting, drapes and alarm clock. The Internet-enabled TBL-80LCD can also display guest services information and online communications, automated CRM information delivery and easy staff reporting functions. INNCOM'sPrivacy/Make-up Room, its patented ecoMODE® and in room/outdoor temperature also are part of the branded and customized display.

Also available is the MODEVA™, INNCOM'snext generation of guestroom controls that takes its popular “Glass Series” to new levels. With an unprecedented MODular design, the guest-facing DEVice boasts heightened functionality and customization to accommodate new construction and retrofit hotel projects with equal ease.

“Our customers have pushed us to deliver products and systems that give guests memorable, positive experiences without confusing technology,” said Rick Quirino, INNCOM President and COO. “We—ve been inundated with requests from customers in the luxury segment to integrate even more controls into our IRAS family.

A light touch on any of the functions displayed on the screen will provide an instant response from the controlled device, as well as the feedback displayed on the TBL-80LCD. Because the system is wireless and uses low voltage, it is very energy- efficient and eco-friendly.

Also making its debut is a new, advanced room interface device called MODEVA. The guestroom control system provides endless control features and options that interoperate seamlessly with INNCOM'sIRAS. Inncom had already elevated the look, feel and customization of guest-facing room devices to blend with the décor. Now there'sa whole new way to think about light switches and thermostats.

MODEVA consists of customizable user interfaces, low- and line-voltage interfaces, wired and wireless communications, dimmers and wall box switches designed to operate within INNCOM'sIRAS. The guest-facing devices can be replaced during a renovation while the load assemblies stay intact in the wall, offering a fresh look to the room at a fraction of the cost of a total replacement.

INNCOM Assists in Bardessono—s
LEED Certification

ALLY MEMBER INNCOM International Inc.'swork as ambassador of eco-luxury to the worldwide hospitality industry is now attached to serious recognition?LEED Platinum certification awarded to PARTNER MEMBER Bardessono Hotel, Restaurant and Spa. The 62-room Yountville, CA, hotel is the third in the world to receive the Platinum certification.

John Tavares, vice president marketing and sales, said, “We're providing a superior guest experience using energy that is managed appropriately and not wastefully.” INNCOM provided three vital parts of guestroom energy management. It controls the lights and the thermostat in the room, and introduces automated solar shades?highly technical Venetian-like blinds placed on the exterior of guestroom windows to keep heat in or out.

Each guestroom has an entrance space, living area and bathroom. INNCOM'sautomated guestroom system features a magnetic switch at the guestroom door, which signals entrance and exit activity. In the entrance corridor is the thermostat, which senses motion and signals when a guest is in the room. There also are motion detectors in the living and bath areas. When occupied, the system sets the lights and thermostat to predetermined levels. At this juncture, the solar shades outside the windows automatically are lifted.

An occupied but empty room is detected when the door‘s magnetic switch detects door activity, but no motion in the room. The lights are then turned off, the temperature is set to conservation levels, and the solar shades are dropped to enhance energy management. Finally, the system recognizes check-in and check-out status.

Founded in 1986, INNCOM develops, manufactures, and markets advanced guestroom control systems for the global lodging industry. The company‘s product line ranges from programmable digital thermostats to fully integrated energy management, lighting control and communication systems. INNCOM systems are installed in more than 750,000 guestrooms in hotels in 42 countries. For more information, visit inncom.com.

Kimberly-Clark Professional'sHeadquarters Building
LEED Certified housekeeping eco-friendly

Kimberly-Clark Corporation achieved LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its ALLY MEMBER Kimberly-Clark Professional headquarters building in Roswell, GA, under the LEED for Existing Buildings designation. Green enhancements include:

¦ Improving the building'sEPA Energy Star rating from 72 to 79 after changes which reduced energy use by 548,084 kilowatt hours per year, resulting in an energy and maintenance cost savings of over $42,000.

¦ Changing one gallon-per-flush urinals to one pint-per-flush urinals helping reduce water use by 99,140 gallons per year.

¦ Ramping up the recycling of office materials to include aluminum, glass and plastic, thus diverting 5,300 pounds of waste from the landfill.

The education program the company developed to present the project‘s sustainable design practices to occupants and visitors to the facility gained special attention. Kimberly-Clark Professional is also committed to reducing environmental impact at every stage in a product‘s life cycle with its Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow program.

Kimberly-Clark Professional
Gains FSC Certification

ALLY MEMBER Kimberly-Clark Professional has received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certification for a broad range of its North American tissue and towel products, making it the first away-from-home tissue products provider in North America to receive this distinction. FSC standards are globally recognized as the highest social and environmental standards in forestry, and this certification enables KCP to support forest stewardship.

The certification applies to a variety of Kleenex and Scott brand products for the away-from-home market which will feature the FSC label on their packaging. FSC chain-of-custody procedures provide a link between the forest where the fiber originated and the product into which it is manufactured. Possession and transfer of wood fiber from the FSC-certified forest are tracked through every stage of manufacture.

In addition to its FSC-certified products, Kimberly-Clark Professional uses FSC-certified paper for its catalogs, brochures and other printed materials. All catalogs and many other printed materials are also available online, which helps reduce the number of paper copies. See kcprofessional.com/us/Resource-Center/environment.asp.

T2 Site Amenities Helps
InterContinental San Francisco Recycle

Opened in 2008, the InterContinental San Francisco, has embarked on a “green triple bottom line” program of Social Responsibility, Eco Responsibility and Fiscal Responsibility. According to Harry Hobbs, Director of Engineering, recycling was the first step. Mr. Hobbs said, “The light bulb really went off when I received a guest letter stating they couldn'tbelieve a new hotel in San Francisco in 2008 could open its doors without recycling bins in the guest rooms. Our housekeeping staff was picking up recyclables in the rooms, but that was invisible to guests. The guests needed to see what we were doing. So that was the turning point.—

Plans were first put in place to work with the waste hauler to bring in a compactor and blue cardboard recycling containers. The hotel originally budgeted $264,000 annually for waste removal based on zero recycling. Since the recycling program began, over $120,000 has been saved annually in waste removal fees because they:

1) Teamed up with the City of San Francisco to implement the city‘s recycling and composting programs.

2) Linked recycling efforts with the waste hauler.

3) Introduced 2- and 3-stream Metro recycling receptacles from ALLY MEMBER T2 Site Amenities in public spaces (trash, co-mingled recycling and compost streams).

4) Installed Treela Recycling containers from T2 Site Amenities in guestrooms.

Hobbs said he‘s amazed at the popularity of the Metro recyclers. “They are in very public areas and look terrific. We have 5 units that get constant use, and we even collect compost. The Metro Recyclers have also been a big part in winning green meetings. When meeting planners ask about recycling, we are totally ready to meet their needs.— For additional information, contact Lori Tilkin of T2 Site Amenities at 847/579-9003 or visit t2-sa.com.

ACTIVEION'sIONATOR EXP WINS ITALIAN
AFIDAMP GREEN CLEAN AWARD 2010

ALLY MEMBER Activeion won AFIDAMP's(Italian Association of Manufacturers, Equipment, Machines and Products) Green Clean Award 2010 for Ecodesign and Innovation for environmental sustainability. Activeion (Europe) GmbH distributes and markets the ionator EXP throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Activeion'sionator EXP is a handheld, on-demand, cleaner that converts tap water into ionized water, a powerful dirt-removing and bacteria-killing agent.

The Clean Green Award is AFIDAMP'sannual prize recognizing cleaning industry companies for their innovative environmental products. Activeion took the winning award for the cleaning tool category. —We are proud to be recognized for our innovative approach to cleaning, our remarkable cost-savings benefits and our reduction of environmentally damaging measures,” says Andre— G. Krell, General Manager, Activeion (Europe) GmbH, located in Baden, Switzerland, and the European operation of Activeion Cleaning Solutions, LLC.

IONATOR EXP WINS
—KITCHEN INNOVATIONS— AWARD

The National Restaurant Association awarded their prestigious Kitchen Innovations(KI) Award to the ionator EXP from ALLY MEMBER Activeion Cleaning Solutions. The awards program recognizes the most innovative and revolutionary commercial kitchen equipment from around the world.

—Products like the ionator EXP from Activeion make restaurants run faster, smoother and more efficiently, which results in better customer service and higher quality food,— says Ira Cohn, convention chair for NRA Show 2010 and president of ARAMARK Business and Industry Group. “The ionator EXP is great for restaurants and food service operations.— When applied to a surface, the ionized water cleans and kills harmful bacteria without chemicals, even H1N1, while leaving nothing behind—zero residue. Call 612/296-8786 or visit activeion.com for further information.

Atlas Paper Mills Wins
2010 Sustainable Florida Award

ALLY MEMBER Atlas Paper Mills, Florida'sonly Green Seal-certified manufacturer of 100% recycled bathroom tissue and paper towel rolls, was awarded the 2010 Sustainable Florida Best Practice Award for the Large Business Category. The award honors businesses, organizations and individuals whose work demonstrates that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are mutually supportive.

In 2009, Miami-based Atlas Paper Mills received Green Seal certification, becoming the only Green Seal-certified manufacturer of tissue and paper products in the state. Atlas has never cut down a tree to create its paper, saving an estimated 18 million trees over its 28-year history. By using only recycled wastepaper, Atlas saves 19,000 gallons of oil and 150,000 cubic yards of landfill space each year. It removes 100 million pounds of paper from the waste stream annually by recycling the paper in its mill and saves 230 million gallons of water each year by recycling the water in its manufacturing operations.

Atlas Paper Mills recently planted 25,000 longleaf pine trees in three Florida State Forests as a gesture of community service.

Atlas Green Heritage bathroom tissue and kitchen roll towel are Green Seal-Certified and qualify for LEED Certification points. Atlas Green Seal-certified products are made from 100% recycled paper fiber, are 100% chlorine free, produced using eco-friendly manufacturing processes and made in the USA. For more information, call 800/562-2860 or visit AtlasPaperMills.com.

Eco Advertising planned Earth Day events

Earn more green with eco-friendly events planned by ALLY MEMBER Eco Advertising LLC. Advertising isn‘t the only way to attract folks to your business or hotel. Community and media relations as well as special event planning are important marketing tools for you to consider via Eco Advertising LLC.

Dallas-based Eco Advertising LLC planned a week'sworth of special events to celebrate Earth Day 2010. A panel of conservation specialists shared information on how their organizations work to protect the environment at a free event open to the public.

Shelley Franklin, Public Education Specialist for City of Garland Water Utilities gave water conservation tips. Molly Rooke, Air Issues Coordinator of Dallas‘ Sierra Club spoke about how the organization continues to safeguard nature. The event also included Staff Director Renee Vaughan of Texas Campaign for the Environment and Tierney Kaufman, Outreach Coordinator for The Trinity Trust.

Eco Advertising is a full-service marketing firm that specializes in green media and materials. Services include advertising, bilingual campaigns, promotional items, graphic design, image branding, marketing, media buying, media and public relations, photography, signage, special event planning, website design and videography with an Emmy award-winning team! Call 972/322-1095 or visit ecoadvertisingco.com to learn more.

G.E.T. Enterprises, Inc. SUCCESSES

Audrey Copeland, Sustainable Products Manager of ALLY MEMBER G.E.T. Enterprises, Inc., reports events of an exciting year:

? The company gained an additional 300 Eco-Takeout customers including Campbell Soup, Vogue Magazine, Nintendo and Duke University.

? New products include a spill-proof model along with additional shapes and sizes.

? Aramark foodservice launched the Eco-Takeout program in 100 universities throughout North America.

G.E.T. has also launched a new product line called BambooMel™, made of a biobased plastic with 30% bamboo content. This innovative dinnerware is reusable and biobased?combining the best of two worlds. Unlike the typical biodegradable, single-use plate, BambooMel is constructed for multi-use commercial applications and is commercial-dishwasher safe and break-resistant. BambooMel is the perfect way to showcase your commitment to sustainable business solutions! Visit get-melamine.com/Merchant2/news/gogreen.html TODAY!

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MAY/JUN 2010

CLEAN & GREEN
Hotels find innovative ways to make
housekeeping eco-friendly

When it comes to —going green,— hotels look at every department and area of the property, but housekeeping may be the most obvious one in which to make changes. There are washers and dryers that can be replaced with more efficient models, cleaning chemicals that can be traded for environmentally friendly products, and traditional practices such as washing sheets and towels daily that can be updated by giving guests more options.

While many hotels have taken those steps, some are going even further, getting creative and finding new green initiatives to add to their programs. The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach, CA, has a list of approximately 40 green initiatives it has implemented, many of which involve housekeeping.

—About two years ago we recognized that we needed to take a proactive step toward making sure we were doing all we can to preserve natural resources and improve the environment,— says hotel manager Paulette Fischer, —especially in our location with the beach right across the street from us.—

To do that the hotel formed a green committee, which includes 25 people representing every department of the property and meets monthly. At its inaugural meeting, the committee members brainstormed and thought of some simple things they could do to get greener, as well as some that take more work and investment.

Among those initiatives are some creative ways to reuse what many hotels would throw in the trash. —We donate all of our reject linen and terry to homeless shelters,— Fischer explains. —We also take our pillowcases and terry and use them for dust rags in the back of the house areas. Our housekeeping seamstress takes any rejected linens and turns them into aprons for our kitchen and stewarding staff. That— s been very well received and is a cost-saving measure for the hotel as well.—

The property replaced its odor control products with a nontoxic, biodegradable alternative, and replaced its paper towel dispensers with automatic ones. But perhaps the most unusual measure the Hilton Waterfront Beach takes is turning its rejected duvet covers into pet beds. This reduces waste and allows the hotel to offer beds for pets that match the ones their owners are sleeping in.

Another highlight of the program is the —Green Room,— a space where guests can do their own laundry in a completely green manner—literally and figuratively. It features an Energy Star-rated washer and dryer, efficient light bulbs, low VOC paint, flooring and countertops made from recycled materials—even a clock made from old boat boards and a mirror made from old CD covers. Detergent selection, of course, includes a nontoxic, biodegradable option. The decor fits the concept with green flooring and lighting just to get the point across. And a framed sign on the wall outlines the green committee'scommitment to its guests. —Guests think it'sgreat,— Fischer says. —They feel good about using it and about staying at the property knowing that we're taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint.—

About half of the measures the hotel has put in place were for cost-savings, while the others required an investment upfront. —Our owners were very supportive,— Fischer says. —We spent some substantial dollars on a new HVAC system and CFLs, which aren'tcheap. Ownership really supports our efforts, which is nice.—

Saving Time, Too: While the Hilton Waterfront Beach outsources some of its laundry (to a LEED-certified vendor), other properties are upgrading their onsite equipment to save money in the long run and be greener.

As part of Hampton Inn's—Take Care— program, its properties have started using environmentally-friendly products and following other guidelines to conserve resources. Alpesh Patel, general manager of the Hampton Inn in Mentor, OH, replaced the two washers and dryers in his 90-room property with Maytag models that are more environmentally friendly.

—I decided to upgrade our system because of the speed of the washer,— Patel says. —It uses less water, a little less chemicals, and when it comes out it'salmost dry, so it takes less time in the dryer too. It spins faster so there'sless water. It also rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, which means it comes out of the dryer with fewer wrinkles. The dryers also have a temperature sensor, so as soon as it'sdry it automatically adjusts the time.—

In addition to saving on water, power and chemicals, the machines also save time. —Earlier, I couldn'tput a whole load from the washer into the dryer,— he explains. —Now I can do that, so I don'thave to split it into 2 dryers, and that saves the time of the housekeeper who‘s doing the laundry. The drying time is also less. Maybe I‘m saving 35 to 40% of the drying time. That reduces a lot of overhead of the laundry person.—

Changing the Mindset: Eco-friendly housekeeping programs may look easy to implement on paper, but one of the hardest parts of the process is training staff members.

Debra Archibald, assistant executive housekeeper at The Peabody Orlando, says her property has added a linen reuse program, as well as an amenity reuse program partnering with the Clean the World Foundation. The hotel also recycles newspapers and plastics from guest rooms, and partners with vendors to get supplies shipped in bulk. The property is about to undergo a major expansion, which will include new laundry equipment and other green measures.

—The biggest problem we had was changing the mindset of people who had been working here for 20 years,— she says, —but they're getting there. You have to constantly motivate and train them, but it gets there eventually.— The Peabody Orlando uses a mentor system for training new staff members, and that, combined with daily reinforcement, got the staff up to speed.

Through the nonprofit Clean the World Foundation, the hotel recycles and distributes soap and shampoo products to impoverished countries, including Haiti. The foundation also delivered a presentation at the hotel to educate the staff. —A lot of our staff members are from Haiti,— Archibald explains, —so that really had an impact on them.— The foundation delivered 2,000 pounds of soap to Haiti in July, all of which came from 80 luxury hotels in Central Florida and Daytona Beach.

Do Guests Care?: Does all of this really matter to guests? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Most leisure guests may not make decisions about where to stay based on a hotel'sgreen practices, but they do appreciate it once they're there. Archibald says that a few years ago hotels weren'tcomfortable putting recycling bins in guestrooms and public spaces, but people are getting used to them and appreciate it.

For meeting planners and corporations, environmental practices can be a deciding factor in their choice of hotels, so properties can use green initiatives as a selling point as well. —The leisure guests aren'tseeking it,— says Fischer, —but when they're here they're happy to participate with recycling and other things we offer. They feel good about using it and about staying at the property knowing that we're taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint. But with meeting planners, we find that more and more it'ssomething they ask about upfront.—

Colchamiro, Jeff, —Clean & Green,— Lodging Magazine, January 2010

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MAR/APR 2010

SOAP OVERDOSE

In the laundry room, Americans are prone to overkill. They pour too much detergent into their washing machines.

Generations of consumers have washed clothes with the idea that more soap means cleaner laundry. But the sudsy habits are creating messy problems from dingy clothing to worn machines.

Making matters worse, the latest generation of detergents are concentrated and so require users to use less product-per-washload than ever before. And more consumers are buying high-efficiency washers, which need far less water than older models. It'sa combination begging for more careful measuring—something Americans stubbornly resist. —Before it didn'tmatter as much,— says Mary Zeitler, consumer scientist for Whirlpool Corp.'sInstitute of Fabric Science. “But now you have to be much more precise in dosing.—

Packaging, in most cases, hasn'thelped. The molded lines and numbers inside detergent caps are hard to read, especially in a dimly lit laundry room. And even though concentrated detergents have been on the market since at least 2007, many caps still hold more than is needed for an average load.

Method Products Inc. recently launched an ad blitz for a new detergent with a pump dispenser, designed to help curb overdosing. Method found that 53% of people don'tuse the recommended amount of detergent per washload, preferring instead to guess or, worse, to simply fill the cap up to the top—a practice that wastes more than half the loads a detergent bottle could wash, Method executives say.

Through much of Europe, detergent premeasured in tablets and sachets has been popular for years. But in the US, pre-dosed products have been largely unsuccessful. Consumers usually pick up their laundry habits during adolescence from their mothers, and changing them is hard, says Bob Deutsch, founder of Brain Sells, a marketing consulting firm.

Thanks to modern washer technology, many overpourers will never have to come to grips with their habit. Ms. Zeitler, at Whirlpool, says some washers have software that corrects for too much suds by adding extra rinses. To clean the buildup from overpouring, Ms. Zeitler recommends cleaning washers monthly using an empty hot-water cycle. (GHA suggests adding vinegar.) Another tip: Use a marker to draw a line on the outside of the detergent cap to make it easier to see.

Executives at Henkel see an opening for pre-dosed detergent. January marked the start of a big ad push for Purex three-in-one laundry sheets, each containing detergent, fabric-softener and anti-static agents. Some people find ways to customize, even with a laundry sheet, Mr. Tipsord says. —If they think their load is especially dirty, they use two sheets.—

General Electric Co.'stop-of-the-line Profile frontload washer offers to take on all dosing decisions itself. The SmartDispense feature, adding $600 to the cost of the machine, holds up to six months— worth of detergent and allocates the right amount for each load, taking the detergent concentration level and the amount of clothes into account.

Proper dosing is the biggest laundry concern among callers to Seventh Generation Inc.'shelp line, says Sue Holden, head of the consumer-insights team at the Burlington, VT, household-product maker. Two years ago, the company started making its detergent bottle cap with translucent plastic partly to make it easier to read. —We're trying to train people to do something that doesn'tcome naturally,— says Ms. Holden. —Growing up, a lot of us just poured it in.— Seventh Generation'sco-founder, Jeffrey Hollender, wonders why more people haven'tstumbled upon laundry'sbig, dirty secret: —You don'teven need soap to wash most loads,— he says. The agitation of washing machines often does the job on its own.—

Byron, Ellen, —The Great American Soap Overdose,— The Wall Street Journal, January 27, 2010

Note from GHA: Vinegar is a solvent, and will easily remove excess detergent residue from dingy clothing and stiff towels. You may want to choose 9% acidity vinegar marked —for canning— instead of the standard 5% version.

PRINTABLE Jan/Feb 2010
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JAN/FEB 2010

ENERGY STAR—s
BUILDING UPGRADE MANUAL

The ENERGY STAR Building Manual is a strategic guide to help you plan and implement profitable energy saving building upgrades. You can maximize energy savings by sequentially following the five building upgrade stages. The manual can be viewed at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=business.bus_upgrade_manual. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary government and industry partnership that makes it easy for businesses and consumers to save money and protect the environment.

The five stages recommended by the EPA are:

Retrocommissioning (Chapter 5). Retrocommissioning is the first stage because it provides an understanding of how a facility is operating and how closely it comes to operating as intended. Specifically, it helps to identify improper equipment performance, equipment or systems that need to be replaced and operational strategies for improving the performance of the various building systems.

Lighting (Chapter 6). Lighting upgrades, which may include new light sources, fixtures, and controls, come early in the process because the lighting system has a significant impact on other building systems. Lighting affects heating and cooling loads and power quality.

Supplemental Load Reductions (Chapter 7). Supplemental load sources, such as building occupants and electronic equipment, are secondary contributors to energy consumption in buildings. They can affect heating, cooling and electric loads. With careful analysis of these sources and their interactions with HVAC systems, equipment size and upgrade costs can be reduced.

Air Distribution Systems (Chapter 8). Air distribution systems bring conditioned air for heating or cooling to building occupants, and therefore directly affect both energy consumption and occupant comfort. Fan systems can be upgraded and adjusted to optimize the delivery of air in the most energy-efficient way.

Heating and Cooling Systems (Chapter 9). If the steps outlined in the first four stages have been followed, cooling and heating loads are likely to have been reduced. That reduction, coupled with the fact that many existing HVAC systems are oversized to begin with, means that it may be possible to justify replacing an existing system with one that is properly sized or retrofitting a system so that it operates more efficiently. In addition to saving energy, proper sizing will likely reduce noise, lower the first costs for equipment and optimize equipment operation, often leading to less required maintenance and longer equipment lifetimes.

The overall strategy described in the manual is appropriate for all types of facilities, and many of the specific measures described can be used no matter what type of building is under consideration. However, there are also many strategies, priorities and opportunities that are unique to, or most effective in, specific facility types. To address these unique challenges and opportunities, the manual includes a chapter on hotels and motels.

Hotels and Motels (Chapter 12). The major challenge in upgrading hotels and motels is to maintain guest comfort in a wide variety of spaces, including guest rooms, public lobbies, banquet facilities and restaurants, lounges, offices, retail outlets and swimming pools. The opportunities for improved guest comfort, longer equipment life, lower operating costs and an improved corporate image make the challenge worthwhile.

Following are some specific performance techniques from the manual:

Tune-up opportunities. There are a number of easy measures that can reduce energy use in various areas of the hotel:

Peripheral and back rooms. Make sure that HVAC settings in lobbies, offices and other such peripheral rooms are at minimum settings during hours of low use.

Laundry. Set laundry hot water to 120 degrees F (49 degrees C). This is a good temperature for all hot water uses outside of the kitchen, where codes are specific about water temperature.

Pools and hot tubs. Make sure that all pools and hot tubs are covered after hours to diminish heat loss.

Housekeeping procedures. Encourage housekeepers to turn off all lights and set temperatures to minimum levels after cleaning each room. Closing drapes when a room is unoccupied will reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter.

Front desk. Teach registration staff that they can help save energy costs by booking rooms in clusters, so that only occupied building areas or wings need to be heated or cooled to guest comfort levels. Rooms on top floors, at building corners, and facing west (in summer) or north (in winter) can be the most energy-intensive to heat or cool; therefore, consider renting them last.

CASE STUDY: Retrocommissioning a Marriott: The Los Angeles Airport Marriott, a 1,000-room facility, conducted a retrocommissioning program at a cost of about 22 cents per square foot, or roughly $125 per room. The project was conducted by a team of the company‘s own staff, including engineers and the regional vice president of engineering, with assistance as needed from an outside consultant. The project developed in-house expertise that will help maintain long-term benefits, which is a result that might not have been achieved if outside consultants had worked independently on the project. The project team developed 17 recommended measures for the hotel‘s air-handling units, chilled water plant and other back-of-the-house systems. The average implementation cost for each of the 17 steps was slightly more than $7,500, and the average payback period was less than one year. The hotel saved $153,000 annually, and 30% of those savings came from a single adjustment to airflow from one air-handling unit.

Electric Lighting: Many hotel public areas, including corridors and hallways, can use CFLs in wall sconces and in recessed downlights. A Michigan Marriott replaced its public-space incandescent lamps with CFLs and saved more than $40,000 in energy and maintenance costs. The historic Willard InterContinental in Washington, DC, installed CFLs in common areas and guest rooms. The investment resulted in fewer complaints about lighting quality, and a six-month payback based on energy savings.

A number of hotel chains have implemented widespread CFL campaigns. One of the measures that helped Marriott International win the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence designation in 2007 was the installation of 450,000 CFLs. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announced that the Hotel Management Group, the company‘s American-operations division, will launch a new environmental initiative to replace more than 250,000 incandescent light bulbs with new energy-efficient CFLs in guest rooms at over 200 company-managed hotels across the Americas.

For parking lots and outdoor applications, high-intensity fluorescent (HIF) lighting is often the best choice rather than metal halide, mercury vapor or high-pressure sodium lights. HIF lamps should be enclosed when used outdoors in cold climates. In parking garages, which often use inefficient high-intensity discharge fixtures, high-efficacy fluorescent fixtures can provide more even illumination with fewer fixtures.

In restaurants and lounges, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are frequently used to create specialized lighting effects. Another measure that helped Marriott International achieve the award noted above was the conversion of all outdoor signage to LED and fiber-optic lighting. LEDs can also provide an accent to exterior arch elements and facades and can serve as nightlights in guest rooms. LEDs now illuminate the exterior of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, providing more flexibility in creating lighting effects and cutting energy bills by $41,000 compared to the previous metal halide fixtures. Using LED exit signs is also a proven energy and labor-saving measure that can pay for itself in one year.

Controls. For hotels, lighting controls typically consist of occupancy sensors and scheduling systems. Occupancy sensors save energy and also help to reduce maintenance costs by lengthening the relamping interval. Turning fluorescents off for 12 hours each day can extend their expected calendar life by 75%, to nearly seven years. In large restrooms, ceiling-mounted ultrasonic occupancy sensors detect occupants around partitions and corners. For hallways, a recommended strategy is to use a combination of scheduled lighting and dimming plus occupancy-sensor controls after hours. Guests may not like a totally darkened hallway, but dimming lights in unoccupied hallways and stairwells and then turning them up to full brightness when someone enters is a sensible approach. Occupancy sensors are also appropriate for meeting rooms and back rooms.

Some modifications to controls can actually increase guest comfort. Saunders Hotels‘ Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport has reduced the amount of overnight lighting used in the guest hallways by half. The results are not only energy savings but also the unforeseen benefit of fewer noise complaints from other guests. As guests step off of the elevators late at night, with the reduced lighting levels, they seem to instinctively understand that it is “after hours” and are quieter, therefore disturbing other guests much less frequently.

Load Reduction: Energy savings. Load-reduction measures that reduce the operational time or intensity of hotel HVAC equipment while still maintaining a comfortable work environment can offer substantial savings. Plug loads from equipment such as computers and copiers represent about 7% of electricity used in hotels and motels. In addition, cooking accounts for about 9% of natural gas; water heating uses 5% of electricity and 31% of natural gas. Equipment purchases and operational measures for these uses can be very cost-effective. When purchasing these types of items, look for products that are labeled as “ENERGY STAR qualified” (www.energystar.gov/purchasing)—they will use 25 to 50% less energy than conventional models without compromising quality or performance. Not only do they offer significant return on investment because of these savings, many also feature longer operating lifetimes and lower maintenance requirements.

Best practices. The quickest and easiest way to implement load reductions in a hotel or motel is to ensure that equipment is turned off when it is not needed. This can be accomplished by encouraging housekeepers to turn off all lights and set temperatures to minimum levels after cleaning each room. For hotel office spaces, a computer monitor can use two-thirds of the total energy of a desktop system, so it is important to power down monitors whenever they are not in use. The ENERGY STAR Power Management program provides free software that can automatically place active monitors and computers into a low-power sleep mode through a local area network (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=power_mgt.pr_power_management). Whole-computer power management can save $15 to $45 annually per desktop computer; managing only monitors can save $10 to $30 per monitor annually.

For hotel pools, simply using a cover on a heated pool can save 50 to 70% of the pool‘s energy use, 30 to 50% of its makeup water and 35 to 60% of its chemicals.

In the kitchen, food preparation equipment should not be turned on for preheating more than 15 minutes before it is needed; simply reducing the operating time of kitchen appliances can cut cooking-related energy consumption by up to 60%. Hot water waste should be reduced in kitchens, bathrooms and fitness rooms; some measures to consider include automatic faucet shutoff, single-temperature fittings and low-flow showerheads with pause control.

Equipment placement is also important. Do not install air-cooled refrigeration equipment in areas with poor air movement. For example, ice makers and cooled vending machines are often placed in rooms with little or no air for cooling, which reduces the operating efficiency of the units.

In its energy-efficiency efforts, the Saunders Hotel Group purchased ENERGY STAR–qualified products such as refrigerators, clock radios and televisions for guest rooms and computers and fax machines for offices. These purchases helped Saunders, which was an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2005, reduce energy use by 11%, even after a decade of other energy-savings successes.

In hotel kitchen areas, intelligent, variable-speed hood controller systems can also significantly reduce energy costs. In appropriate applications, this technology yields a one- to two-year simple payback. A photoelectric smoke or heat detector determines when and how much ventilation is needed and activates the exhaust fan at the proper speed.

Water heating. More than many other facility types, water heating is a major load for hotels and motels. It accounts for a third or more of a hotel facility‘s energy consumption, some 40% of which is attributable to laundry and kitchen operations. Commercial heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are two to four times more efficient than conventional water heaters, while also providing space-cooling capacity. In fact, they can cut water-heating costs up to 50%. However, before deciding to use HPWHs, it is important to do a careful economic analysis. They are more expensive than conventional water-heating units, and their performance varies with climate. Direct-vent, sealed-combustion condensing water heaters and boilers with efficiencies higher than 90% are the next-most-efficient option. Condensing boilers operate very efficiently during periods of low water demand, unlike traditional hot water heaters, and they can also provide space heating. In general, installing multiple smaller water heaters provides better reliability, effectiveness and efficiency compared to using one large hot water heater.

Air Distribution Systems: Energy savings. On average, ventilation systems consume about 7% of the electricity used in hotels and motels. Savings can be found by installing efficient fan motors and sizing the system to match the load (which may now be lower due to retrocrommissioning, improved lighting, and load reductions). Even more savings are possible by using energy-recovery equipment and variable-speed drives.

Best practices. A hotel ventilation system must be designed, operated and maintained to provide adequate fresh-air intake and prevent mold growth from unwanted moisture accumulation. It is possible to inadvertently supply insufficient volumes of fresh air. This may occur with scheduled ventilation and variable air-volume systems or may be caused by wind, stack effects or unbalanced supply and return fans. Installing an outdoor-air measuring station that modulates the outdoor-air damper and the return damper is relatively simple and ensures sufficient fresh-air supply. Increasing ventilation to safe and comfortable levels will likely increase energy consumption and so should be combined with other energy-saving measures.

Controlling mold. Mold and mildew damage to wallpaper, carpet and other materials caused by high humidity levels is estimated to cost the lodging industry $68 million annually. Mold and mildew are caused by leaks in the building envelope in humid areas, oversized HVAC systems, poorly balanced air-handling systems, and insufficient moisture-removal capacity of vapor-compression HVAC systems. Desiccant HVAC and dehumidification systems excel at lowering humidity levels, improving indoor air quality and increasing building occupant comfort. Two rooftop desiccant units handle the make-up air requirements for the lobby and hallways of the Park Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC, eliminating the need for a 100-ton rooftop chiller. Desiccant systems have low maintenance costs and can use a variety of fuels (waste heat, natural gas, or solar thermal energy) to lower peak electric demand, yet they may still be more expensive to operate than traditional HVAC systems, depending on local utility rates.

Heating and Cooling Systems: Energy savings. Heating and cooling represent almost 40% of the electricity and more than half of the natural gas used by hotels and motels. Many hotels heat and cool rooms regardless of whether they are occupied. Hotels tolerate this waste because their preeminent concern is guest comfort, not energy use. However, used correctly, controls and efficient technologies offer the potential for as much as 50% energy savings without compromising guest comfort.

Best practices. Smaller hotels tend to use distributed systems that often run entirely on electricity, most commonly stand-alone package terminal air conditioners (PTACs). Efficiency criteria for PTACs are currently being developed through ENERGY STAR. They will appear on the ENERGY STAR New Product Specifications in Development web page (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_specs.new_prod_specs). Meanwhile, high-efficiency equipment can be ensured by purchasing equipment at the efficiency levels established by the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Standard 90.1-2004, “The Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.” This standard provides minimum PTAC efficiency requirements that are higher than those in the federal standards.

For larger hotels, new chillers can be 25 to 50% more efficient than equipment 10 or more years old. Auxiliary condensers used to preheat makeup water for centrifugal chillers can pay for themselves in less than one year. For central heating, installing two or more smaller boilers will meet space-heating demands more effectively and efficiently than one large boiler. Geothermal heating and cooling can be a good choice, especially if there is a nearby body of water for a heat source or heat sink.

Controls. The Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh installed a keycard energy management system. When a guest enters a room at the Westin, the keycard activates the entry light switch, the bathroom light, a pole light and the HVAC system. When the card is removed from the room, power in the room automatically turns off. The hotel invested $120,000 in the system and reportedly recovered its investment through energy savings in just 10 months. Energy consumption dropped more than 10% in the first year with the system, and engineers expect greater savings in the future as they improve communications with guests about the benefits of the system.

Financial Issues. For property-level hotel decision-makers, lack of financing is often cited as the main reason they are unable to take advantage of energy-efficiency opportunities. Hotels are more willing to take on capital improvement projects when third-party funds are available. The importance of financing is also evident in the very short paybacks demanded by the lodging industry. The typical payback period needed for hotel decision-makers to consider an efficiency measure is about two years. The ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tools_resources.bus_energy_management_tools_resources) can help hotel and motel managers calculate how much they can afford to invest in retrofits from the anticipated savings and whether it would make sense to borrow funds to finance building upgrades.

There are cases where the hotel ownership structure can be helpful in pursuing energy efficiency upgrades. For example, many hotels and motels are franchise operations. On one hand, that structure can add layers of bureaucracy that make it harder to get approval for energy-efficiency measures that cost more than a certain amount. On the other hand, it enables projects to be designed centrally and rolled out to many locations, taking advantage of economies of scale. Franchisers may also have the ability to finance or arrange financing for the projects that they require franchisees to put in place. For example, Choice Hotels International has formed a strategic partnership with Panasonic to provide ENERGY STAR televisions designed specifically for the hotel market. Choice Hotels expects its franchisees to purchase tens of thousands of these Panasonic televisions. The ENERGY STAR televisions draw only three watts of power or less when switched off, which results in an energy savings of up to 75% over conventional models. The TVs also feature energy-management circuitry that places the unit into a standby mode that helps reduce the energy wasted when guests fall asleep or leave the room unoccupied.

Go to the following web address, and see what else you can learn from Energy Star about saving energy and reducing costs.

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c= business.bus_upgrade_manual

NOV/DEC 2009

RENOVATING THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

The Empire State Building, once the world'stallest building and the skyscraper famously scaled by King Kong, is now set for a $100 million ’green renovation.‘ The great symbol of New York and America, which sits in the heart of midtown Manhattan (one of the most efficient cities in the nation with per capita emissions one third the US average), just underwent an eight-month modeling and analysis program and will receive a massive overhaul. The plan proposes to reduce the building‘s energy consumption by 38%, or $4.4 million, annually!

The 102-story building was built during the Great Depression; now, as we face new economic stumbles, it is poised to lead the way into a more efficient future. “We have a very deep commitment to sustainability,” Tony Malkin of the Empire State Building Company says. “Without applying sustainable practices in all aspects of our businesses and lives, we will greatly harm our future.”

Many of the buildings built during the 1930s and 40s (pre-air-conditioning years) included heavy-duty envelopes to keep work spaces more comfortable temperaturewise. So, these buildings are excellent candidates for retrofits.

The group managing the renovation has decided not to apply for LEED certification, opting instead to making the building as efficient and healthy as possible without such guidelines. This is an interesting approach in a time when many cities seem to be embracing the USGBC‘s guidelines, but it appears as though the numerous planned upgrades and technological additions will do great things for the building and its inhabitants without applying the LEED checklist.

The partners involved are fully aware that this project will be serving as a template for the massive efficiency upgrades in store for many of the nation‘s buildings in the not so distant future. 75% of the 4.5 million buildings in the US are more than 20 years old and need energy retrofits. Buildings alone account for over 40% of our energy use! The 38% predicted reduction in energy use is an incredibly ambitious undertaking. Some of the measures included in the Empire State Building‘s renovation agenda include a total overhaul of the HVAC system, improvements to the building envelope, triple-glazed windows, electronic readouts to make users aware of their personal energy consumption, maximized daylighting, tenant demand ventilation control and occupant sensor controls.

6,500 windows to be remanufactured

Work is about to start on 6,500 windows in the Empire State Building to insert a third pane of glass and add a layer of glazing to help the building save millions in energy costs. The window replacement work began in August and all windows are scheduled to be replaced by the end of 2013.

Jones Lang LaSalle is the program manager of a highly collaborative team to develop the first comprehensive approach to model steps for the reduction of energy consumption and to share details of the process for owners around the world to replicate. The building owner, the Empire State Building Company, wants to demonstrate how to cost-effectively retrofit a large multi-tenant office building to inspire others to embark on whole-building retrofits.

The window refurbishment alone will reduce energy usage at the building by about 5%. The analytical process showed a clear financial advantage to window refurbishment compared to doing nothing, and compared to replacing the windows entirely. For a 2.5 million square-foot office building to upgrade 6,500 windows solely for the energy benefit is extremely rare. For a project management team to refurbish the existing windows by adding extra panes and glazing, with all work done on-site, is unheard of.

Windows are a weak link for buildings when it comes to heat transfer. A US Department of Energy study concluded that as much as 30% of a commercial building‘s energy loss occurs through its windows. Doing the work on site will also reduce the time, cost and vehicle emissions associated with transporting the windows to an off-site location. Another environmental benefit to reusing the windows and frames is the reduction of building waste being sent to the landfill.

Details of the building‘s progress are posted on esbsustainability.com. The purpose of the site is to provide a wide range of information about the analysis and implementation process, so that the Empire State Building might become a catalyst for hundreds or thousands of buildings worldwide to consider similar large-scale energy retrofits.

The eight major projects being implemented include the 6,500 window light retrofit, the introduction of radiator insulation, improved tenant lighting, daylighting and plug upgrades, air handler replacements, a chiller plant retrofit, a whole-building control system upgrade, ventilation control upgrades and new web-based tenant energy management systems.

Window Upgrade: This project involves upgrading the existing insulated glass (IG) within the Empire State Building‘s approximately 6,500 double-hung windows to include suspended coated film and gas fill. This “re-manufacturing” of the IG units will take place within the Empire State Building. IG units will be removed, delivered to a production area, and picked up for reinstallation. Alpenglass TC88 or SC75 will be used as the suspended film according to the orientation. A mix of krypton/argon gas will be used between the glass and suspended film. This project will improve the thermal resistance of the glass from R-2 to R-6 and cut the heat gain by more than half, in addition to allowing for the recycling of all existing glass.

Radiative Barrier: This project will involve the installation of more than six-thousand insulated reflective barriers behind radiator units located on the perimeter of the building. In addition, the radiators will be cleaned and the thermostats will be repositioned to the front side of the radiator.

Tenant Demand Control Ventilation: This project involves the installation of CO2 sensors for control of outside air introduction to Chiller Water Air Handling and DX Air Handling Units. One return air CO2 sensor will be installed per unit in addition to removing the existing outside air damper and replacing it with a new control damper.

Chiller Plant Retrofit: The chiller plant retrofit project will include the retrofit of four industrial electric chillers (one low zone unit, two mid zone units, and one high zone unit) in addition to upgrades to controls, variable speed drives and primary loop bypasses.

All existing pumps and steam chillers will remain. For the low zone chiller, the retrofit will involve the installation of a new chiller mounted variable speed drive, a new VSD-rated compressor motor, a new IEEE Filter in VFD to reduce harmonic distortion and a new Optiview Graphic Control Panel with the latest software revision. For all other chillers, the retrofit will involve the installation of new drivelines, new evaporator and condenser water tubes, new Optiview Graphic Control Panels with the latest software revision, chiller water bypasses with two-way disk type valves, new piping in place of backwash reversing valves, new automatic isolation valves on the CHW supplies to each electric chiller and temperature and pressure gauges on all supply and return lines. In addition, existing R-500 refrigerant will be removed (per EPA guidelines) and replaced with R134A refrigerant. The existing steam chillers will remain. All electric chillers, CW and CHW pumps, pump VFDs and zone by-pass valves will be controlled by the Metasys control system.

VAV Air Handling Units: The Empire State Building is currently replacing existing constant volume air handlers with identical units. The team is recommending a new air handling layout (two floor-mounted units per floor instead of four ceiling-hung units) as well as the use of variable air volume units instead of existing constant volume units.

This recommendation will result in little additional capital cost while reducing maintenance costs (as the quantity of air handlers will be reduced and they will be floor-, as opposed to, ceiling-mounted) and improving comfort conditions for tenants (reduced noise and increased thermal accuracy and control).

Tenant Energy Management: This project will allow for the independent metering of a greater number of tenants in the Empire State Building. Tenants will have access to online energy and benchmarking information as well as sustainability tips and updates.

A EnNET/AEM platform will be provided for collecting 15-minute meter data and creating a normalized database that can be used to support Time Series profiling, reporting to ISO, and integration in the future with property management software for creating a bill based on current meter read. In addition, the AEM application will be commissioned and web pages will be created to properly display metering data, Time Series Analysis, real-time metering information and to create notifications based on usage parameters.

esbsustainability.com

SEP/OCT 2009

CLUNKERS SEQUEL

The cash-for-clunkers program was so successful in getting Americans to buy new cars that it ran out of money early. Now, a sequel, dollars-for-dishwashers, is coming to an appliance store near you.

The $300 million program, funded through the federal government'seconomic stimulus plan, is certain to lack the same pop. The program'sintent is to spur sales of energy-efficient appliances, but its small size will provide just a minor boost for struggling appliance makers. States will use their share of the $300 million to give out rebates to buyers of energy-efficient appliances like freezers, refrigerators, furnaces and central air conditioners.

The new program allows each state to pick qualifying models and tailor rebate amounts. Ohio might decide one washing machine qualifies for a $100 rebate, while California picks another for $125. The Department of Energy, which designed the program, wants states to focus on just 10 categories of appliances carrying the federal Energy Star seal of approval for efficiency.

Unlike the clunker program, you probably won'thave to drag your old stove into the store to get money for a new one.

States had to send letters saying they wanted to participate to the Department of Energy by August 15. During the first week of September, they—ll start to receive 10% of their funding allotments. Plans for the programs—including which products qualify and how much the rebates will be worth—are due back to the federal government by October 15. The Department of Energy estimates that the full $300 million will be awarded by the end of November. Consumers should start to see the rebate programs in stores later this year or early next year. The allocation to states and territories is based on population, working out to roughly $1 a person per state.

Details are still uncertain. States could ask to include up to 46 other types of products, ranging from light bulbs to computers. The program will provide consumers a unique opportunity to save money on energy-efficient appliances. Some states are considering standards that exceed Energy Star requirements, a move General Electric opposes. The stricter proposals underscore criticisms that the Energy Star program is not tough enough in raising energy efficiency. The EPA is looking at revising the program'sstandards. If it does so after the states set their rules, the rebates could end up subsidizing some appliances that are not as energy efficient as they could be.

Appel, Timothy and Paul Glader, ——Clunkers— Sequel Rattles Appliance Producers,— The Wall Street Journal, August 27, 2009
Fredrix, Emily, Associated Press, —That clunker in your kitchen could pay,— Houston Chronicle, August 31, 2009

JUL/AUG 2009

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

It'sa fact that none of us can really be green without the green products and services offered by green businesses. GHA wants to do all we can to encourage and support our Ally Members, and to alert you and all hoteliers as well as the public of their exciting green products and services. So, each July/August issue of our newsletter brings you interesting articles about their successes—new products, new ideas, new techniques, recent awards, new contracts, etc.—whatever our Ally Members consider their successes. So, we begin . . .

4,000-Gallon Caribbean Solar Hot Water System!

ALLY MEMBER Zager Plumbing & Solar Inc. installed a 4,000 gallon solar hot water system for The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa in St. Maarten last January. The resort's317 guest rooms, restaurants, laundry facilities, spa and hotel restrooms are now provided with solar hot water previously provided via LP gas.

Dale Zager, Licensed Master Plumber and President of Zager Plumbing & Solar Inc., designed the entire solar hot water system including the surface on the top floor of the parking garage to which the system is secured.

This solar hot water system is made up of evacuated tubes (glass tubes that have the air drawn out of them) in panels which soak up the heat of the sun. Being able to retain heat absorption is a critical factor in the design and manufacture of the collectors. Once the tubes have absorbed the solar energy, the heat is transferred to copper coil heat exchangers. Then the water is moved via plumbing and electric pumps to be in contact with the heat. The heated water moves into the 4,000 gallon storage tank where it is ready for distribution through the hotel'splumbing. The water in the tank continues to circulate via intermittent pump cycling. Each time the water circulates through the header, the temperature is raised by 9-18°F. Throughout the day, the water in the storage tank is gradually heated. The original boilers that supplied the resort with heated water remain as backup.

The 45 collector panels are made up of 30 tubes each and cover about 2,000 sq.ft. of the resort'sparking garage top floor. The system can generate up to 2,160,000 Btus of heat a day, is expected to provide a very impressive 4.3-year ROI with a 23% yearly rate of return and have an expected life of 25 years. Of course, beside the money saved, and perhaps more importantly, air pollution is reduced drastically.

Zager comments, —Properties within the United States can do even better because they are able to capitalize on the rebates, credits and incentives being offered by our local, state and federal government. So a US property installing a solar hot water system should see a significantly better ROI when the incentives are factored into the equation.— Every facility will vary in cost depending on size and all the other variables involved.

The uniqueness of the 4,000-gallon storage tank is that it was crated, shipped and arrived at the hotel in a collapsible form. This collapsible storage tank is available in any size and can be duplicated in any building, whether new or existing. The storage tank is made of EPDM rubber (something like an above-ground swimming pool) with a sheet metal exterior. Dale Zager explains, —So long as you have a flat, level surface that can support the weight of the water in the tank, Zager Plumbing & Solar Inc. can design, crate, ship and roll a storage tank through a 19-inch doorway and have it set up in a matter of hours.—

Columbia Sussex Corporation, which owns 72 hotels representing 24,801 guestrooms and is the largest owner/operator/developer of hotels in the US, owns of The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa. For further information and photos along with a list of completed projects, see zagerplumbingandsolar.com or call Dale at 800/870-6321.

Coast Hotels & Resorts Goes Tork®

The recent decision by Coast Hotels & Resorts to switch paper products at its 24 properties in Western Canada to Tork® can be attributed to environmental considerations and the Tork® Environmental Calculator.

—About a year and a half ago we started focusing on ways that we could really soften our carbon footprint,— said Peter Upton, purchasing manager for the chain, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Coast Hotels has 40 properties in Western North America including 24 in Western Canada. —Some of the areas we looked at were the plastic and paper we use in our hotels.—

The tissues and paper towels used in the hotels were made with virgin fiber. Tork® tissues and towels are made with 100% recycled fiber, are process and elemental chlorine-free and carry third party eco-certification. Colleen Hayes, SCA Tissue Senior Territory Manager, British Columbia, kept Peter up to date on what ALLY MEMBER SCA Tissue had to offer and on the environmental advantages of Tork®. When Coast Hotels was stepping up its search for ways to lighten its carbon footprint along with a way to measure the impact, the Tork® Environmental Calculator turned out to be the exact tool needed.

Hayes used the Tork® Environmental Calculator and actual usage figures from Coast Hotels to show Upton that switching to Tork® would save each year:

• 644 trees (enough oxygen for 1,288 people and filtration of 30,912 pounds of carbon dioxide);
• 265,050 gallons of water (enough to fill 2.65 Olympic-sized swimming pools);
• 155,243 kilowatts of energy (enough power for 15 homes) and
• 118.64 cubic yards of landfill (the equivalent of 19.7 commercial garbage container.

Coast Hotels executives decided on a 3-month trial during which Tork® tissues and towels were introduced into 3 hotels with no fanfare and no explanation to see whether hotel guests noticed and commented. The results were what were hoped for: Most people didn'teven notice.

As a result, the existing paper products at Coast'sCanadian properties are being replaced with Tork® hand towels, facial tissues and bath tissues. While the environmental impact was the impetus for the change, Upton said other considerations had to be addressed before recommending the switch to Tork®. Price was addressed at the front end. For example, sheet-to-sheet costs of tissues were compared. If Tork® products had been 15-20% more expensive, Upton would not have switched. —As far as any cost-in-use savings, that came third in the decision priority scale. First is cost neutrality, then the environment, then cost in use.—

To learn more, contact Mike Kapalko, Environmental & Tork® Services Manager, SCA Tissue North America, 920/720-4550 or visit torkusa.com.

California Hoteliers Saving With Cypress Green Earth™ Towels

ALLY MEMBER Cypress Bath & Bed, the leading designer and manufacturer of luxurious bathrobes, towels, slippers and sheets for the hospitality and spa industry for over 25 years, is experiencing a steady and increased adoption of their recently introduced Green Earth™ towels by California hoteliers.

Janice Alpeche, general manager of Gaia Napa Valley Resort & Spa, the world's first and only LEED gold-certified hotel, stated, —I was a bit skeptical when Bill first showed me the potential savings, using Cypress— proprietary energy-savings calculator which factors in the number of rooms, towel prices, weight of the towels, number of towels used, and the frequency of towel washings per week. After thoroughly testing the product and monitoring our energy consumption, I can say that it has exceeded our expectations of 20% savings.—

Green Earth™ towels are made from super-fine, extra-long staple (ELS) cotton, which is known for contributing to the sustainable consumption of cotton. ELS cotton is also recognized worldwide for its superior softness, absorbency, durability, lack of lint accumulation and luxurious feel. Green Earth™ towels are 160% bulkier than traditional combed-cotton towels, while having much less mass than traditional combed towels. Due to the higher ratio of surface area to towel weight, they absorb more water. Due to their lower mass, Green Earth™ towels cost significantly less to launder, saving up to 30% in water consumption, using less detergent and taking 10-20% less drying time. This reduces hotel operational costs, while also reducing environmental impact.

Green Earth™ towels are manufactured in a state-of-the-art, agri-waste powered, zero-discharge facility that produces no emission of effluents into the local water tables. The process also incorporates Control Union-certified, sustainable, eco-friendly dyes and chemicals to reduce impact on the environment and are shipped in 100% natural and bio-degradable / recyclable packaging.

For more information, please contact Gene Faul at 413/229-3012, e-mail ichief@aol.com, or visit cypressgreenearth.com.

NO MORE TEARS

—By the end of the day, our housekeepers— faces were red, many had tears streaming from their eyes and some had developed chronic respiratory problems. No wonder I had trouble keeping housekeepers,— says Dawn Van Lanen, manager of the Tropical Shores Beach Resort in Sarasota, FL. Van Lanen was referring to the allergic reactions her housekeepers had to the traditional cleaning chemicals used to clean the resort'sguest rooms. —And, the problem was made worse because many of the bathrooms do not have windows,— she says.

Realizing action was needed—and fast—Van Lanen investigated green cleaning products to see if they worked as well as the traditional ones, without the harmful reactions and were cost competitive. Experimenting with different manufacturers— brands, she finally found one that met her demanding criteria— from ALLY MEMBER Enviro-Solutions.

—Almost from the start, the allergic reactions my housekeepers were experiencing were gone,— she says. —And, the lingering fumes and odors, even in the windowless bathrooms, disappeared.— Van Lanen says her hotel guests also noticed a difference. —We have people come back year after year to stay with us,— she says. —Many mentioned that in the past they could also smell the chemical odors but were happy to say now they're gone.— Her guests also said the resort was cleaner than ever.

—The products from Enviro-Solutions meet all my needs,— she says. —Not only did they eliminate the reactions, but they clean better than the products we used before and don'tcost any more. And my housekeeper turnover is down considerably—a big savings for any employer.—

See further information at enviro-solution.com or call Mike Sawchuk at 705/745-3070.

Green Value. Green Seal. Green Heritage.

Nearly three decades ago a small paper company, ALLY MEMBER Atlas Paper Mills, was literally —Born Green—™. Atlas Paper Mills— mission has always been to produce 100% recycled tissue products. Atlas will launch a new green value line of Green Seal products called Green Heritage in July.

This brand will provide an array of truly green recycled towel and tissue products at the same affordable, non-green prices. Atlas understands the need for making green products affordable. The Green Heritage green value line will feature 1 and 2-ply bathroom tissue with a new embossed pattern for a softer feel, as well as jumbo roll bathroom tissue. Also included in the line will be a 2-ply double-embossed 85-sheet kitchen roll towel, center-pull towels and facial tissue.

The Atlas Green Heritage brand carries a full line of Green Seal-certified tissue products to help ensure customers that the products they are choosing are better for their health and for the environment. All Atlas Green Seal-certified products are made from 100% recycled paper, are 100% chlorine free, made in the USA and produced in a chlorine-free manufacturing environment.

To find out more about Atlas Paper Mills— Green Seal products, contact sales at 800/562-2860 or e-mail sales@atlaspapermills.com.

Colgate University Chooses Activeion

Bob Pils, Director of Housekeeping and Maintenance at Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, says, —I—m always on the lookout for the newest cleaning technology and the latest innovations, so I was intrigued when I came across ALLY MEMBER Activeion Cleaning Solutions at the 2008 ISSA show. I—d heard about what ionized water can do in general, so I was excited to see it integrated into a sprayer for the cleaning industry.—

Eager to test the new technology, Pils gave a sprayer to each of his top 10 employees to test. His staff quickly reported back with positive reviews. —Overall, my staff was very impressed with the cleaning results on hard surfaces—including removing longtime, ingrained coffee stains on our sinks. The Activeion sprayer worked great. It took hand prints right off the stainless steel with no streaks. It removed all the ghosting from our classroom whiteboards,— Pils stated. —The most important aspect is not cleaning for appearance, but cleaning for health and safety. The more harmful chemicals we can remove from our campus, the safer we—ll be. Activeion will help us do just that.—

To learn more, visit activeion.com or call 866/950-4667.

Seed Sucker'sSuccess

ALLY MEMBER Seed Sucker, Inc. specializes in spreading environmental awareness one T-shirt at a time?all of which are made of 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton. Our hang tags are embedded with wildflower seeds and will sprout if planted correctly. All the T-shirts have an environmental message on the back.

When we met with the GM and Spa Director of The Hilton Hotel on Marco Island, Florida, they very quickly agreed to purchase our eco friendly shirts for all the employees to wear and promote eco awareness during the largest event of the year! The Hilton'sGeneral Manager was so impressed with our apparel line that he personally arranged meetings with six other Hilton Hotels to sell and promote Seed Sucker apparel.

The spa and hotel gift shop will be selling all Seed Sucker apparel early in July. It'spossible that Seed Sucker, Inc. will be providing uniforms for all staff members.

Visit seedsucker.org or call Debbie Wright at 469/487-6433 to learn more!

MAY/JUN 2009

SOAP AND WATER FIGHT DISEASE

Fear of swine flu is fading, but there are still plenty of reasons to wash your hands frequently. The list of infections that can spread via unwashed hands reads like the Biblical plagues, including staph, strep, salmonella, E. coli, hepatitis, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), colds, flu and norovirus—the infamous cruise-ship bug.

The importance of hand washing has been known since 1847, when a doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis suspected that maternity patients were dying in his Vienna hospital because med students treated them right after working on cadavers. When he instituted hand-cleaning, the deaths fell sharply.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hand washing is the most effective way to stay healthy. But many people don'tdo it often enough, or long enough, to be effective.

Here'sa guide:

• When to do it: Wash your hands every time you use the bathroom. Every surface presents an opportunity for germs to hitchhike out. “Who thinks to clean the latch on the inside of the stall door? Try nobody,” says Jim Mann, executive director of the Handwashing for Life Institute (handwashingforlife.com), which advises food service providers around the world on best hand-hygiene practices.
• Also wash your hands whenever you change a diaper, pick up animal waste, sneeze, cough or blow your nose; when you take public transportation, insert or remove contact lenses, prepare food, handle garbage and before eating. Few people are as conscientious as they should be. Mr. Mann recalls being in meetings to discuss hand hygiene: “Everybody shakes hands. You finish the talk, and everybody runs for the food line. Nobody washes their hands.”
• How to do it: Soap and water is the gold standard. In a recent study in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers in Australia doused the hands of 20 health-care workers with human H1N1 flu virus. Soap and water removed slightly more virus than three alcohol-based hand rubs. When volunteers didn'tclean their hands, most of the virus was still present an hour after exposure.
• It'sthe mechanical process of washing that'sso effective. Soap molecules surround and lift the germs, friction from rubbing your hands loosens them, and water rinses them down the drain.
• Experts recommend using warm water—mainly for comfort, so you—ll wash longer. Use liquid soap if possible. Bar soaps can harbor germs.
• Use enough soap to build a lather. Lace your fingers together to cover all the surfaces. Rub the fingertips of one hand into the palm of the other, then reverse. Keep rubbing for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. (Some experts prefer “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” But any tune will do as long as it lasts at least 15 seconds.)
• Rinse thoroughly. Residual soap can make hands sore. Leave the water on while you grab a paper towel and use it to shut off the faucet. Take it with you to use on the door handle as well.
• Drying lessons: Many hand-hygiene experts are down on hand dryers—chiefly because few people have the patience to dry completely, and end up wiping their hands on their clothes. Air dryers can also blow remaining germs as far as six feet away.
• Actibacterial soap? In 2005, a Food and Drug Administration panel voted 11-to-1 that antibacterial soaps are no more effective at keeping people healthy than regular soap. There may be some downside too. Some antibacterial ingredients like triclosan leave a residue on the skin that continues killing some bacteria. Critics worry that the remaining bacteria could become resistant, not only to soap but also to antibiotics. “To our knowledge, it'snot happened, but it'stheoretically possible,” says Elaine Larson, a professor in the schools of nursing and public health at Columbia University.
• Hand sanitizers: It'snot often that a personal-care product gets a presidential endorsement. Some drug stores sold out after Barack Obama echoed the CDC'srecommendation that people use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water aren'tavailable to help stop spreading the swine flu.
• Experts say they must be at least 60% alcohol to kill germs. “Alcohol ruptures their cell membranes—it causes them to explode,” says Dr. Larson.
• Curiously, the FDA does not allow over-the-counter hand sanitizers to claim they kill viruses. The CDC'srecommendations are based on information published since the FDA ruling, says Nicole Coffin, a CDC spokeswoman.
• Can you overdo handwashing? Yes. “Try to strike a balance between being obsessive-compulsive and being reasonable,” says Dr. Larson. “And if there is some kind of outbreak like with the flu or SARS, then there is reason for more caution.”

Further to Hand Washing:

• Is it possible to pick up diseases from an ATM or those pens that we're required to use with a credit-card machine? Germs can survive on plastic for weeks. Surfaces that are touched frequently and cleaned infrequently can pose a danger, particularly where finger pressure is required, aiding the germ transfer. You could carry your own stylus—or try a makeshift one, with a pencil eraser or the top of a pen. You also could put a tissue between your hand and the stylus or ATM keys.
• Can we acquire bacteria on our hands by handling currency? Germs can live on money, both paper and coins. How long they survive, and how easily they can be transferred, varies considerably. Germs survive longer in humid conditions, but some adhere more strongly to a bill'ssurface than to hands, so you—d have to really squeeze the bill to pick up germs.

Beck, Melinda, “Put Up Your Dukes: Fighting Disease with Soap and Water,” Health Journal, The Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2009
Beck, Melinda, Health Mailbox, The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2009

MAR/APR 2009

GREENING IN TOUGH TIMES

Here are 10 smart ways to help the environment—and save money! It can be tough to be green when money is tight if fixes take years to make back their cost. The good news is that there are plenty of energy-saving changes to make that will recoup their cost fast. Some are cheap and simple while others are costlier and more complicated—but they're so effective they—ll pay for themselves quickly.

HIGH-TECH THERMOSTATS: Programmable thermostats make it easy to preset a week'sworth of temperatures—and give much greater control over energy bills. For instance, these gadgets can be programmed to lower the temperature while everyone'sasleep, something that might be forgotten if it had to be done nightly.

Cost: $50 to $150

Payback: About a year, assuming the thermostat controls both heating and cooling. The figure was arrived at by using a calculator on the US EPA'sEnergyStar website. The tool shows you how much these advanced thermostats will save, but the estimates assume you have natural-gas heat and electric central cooling.

Some utilities will install the thermostats free in exchange for letting them scale back your central air-conditioning use remotely on hot summer days. Many utilities also offer rebates on these devices.

SMARTER WATER HEATING: Drain-water heat-recovery systems warm up water for showers by capturing the heat from waste water as it travels down your drain. The systems can also work with your dishwashers and other appliances.

Cost: $500 to $700, plus $100 or so for installation.

Payback: Around 5 years, assuming water is heated with natural gas and at fairly high rates. If electricity heats your water, payback can be under 3 years. If your utility offers a rebate for installation, as many do, payment time can be less than a year.

According to an online calculator from National Resources Canada, a government agency, these systems can save 183 cubic meters of natural gas a year—assuming 4 showers a day that last 7 minutes each, and uses standard showerheads. Of course, rebates can cut down that time.

SEALING AIR LEAKS: Filling in the gaps around windows and doors, and sealing up ducts, can be a simple way to cut energy bills.

Cost: Weatherstripping that goes under and around external doors runs $20 a door. With windows, you insert caulk between the frame and siding, wherever the air is going through, at a cost of about $10 a window. Then there'san often-overlooked source of air leaks: the electrical outlets on exterior walls. These can be fixed with outlet sealers, which cost under $10 for a pack of 6.

Payback: About 2-3 years if you hire someone to do it, but there are a lot of variables. If all leaks are sealed—plus insulation added in some spots—the EPA estimates savings up to 20% of your heating and cooling or up to 10% on your total energy bill. Some utilities and states offer rebates and tax incentives for these fixes. Austin Energy, for instance, offers to cover 20% of the cost of weatherization, as well as energy-efficient appliances and other purchases.

SEALING HVAC SYSTEM: A trip into your attic space as well as a trip outside to your system condenser will help reduce energy bills. Be sure there are no bushes or other hindrances to air flow close to the outside condenser. With the fan in an “On” position, go up into your attic and run your hand along all the seams of the system and the air ducts. Any place you feel air escaping from the system in the attic must be sealed. There are a number of choices of products that will seal these openings.

We at GHA use Kingco'sThur-O-Seal, a gooey, mastic product that is smeared on with a spatula. We cover the mastic with wide aluminum tape. It'sa good idea to visit a local HVAC supply store to check out their supplies. Let them advise you on available products.

LOW-FLOW FIXTURES: Low-flow showerheads and faucets limit the volume of water you can get out of the fixtures, reducing the amount you spend on water—and on electricity or gas to heat the water. Although the technology is improving, you—ll feel a difference in water pressure.

Cost: Low-flow showerheads are available (from GHA) at $7-8, while faucet aerators are $1-2 each. Both are simple and easy to install.

Payback: For aerators, almost immediate. For showerheads, a few months

If utility rates are high, investing a few dollars in a new faucet would save about $50 a year on gas and water bills or about $65 with electric water heating. New showerheads would save about $115 total with gas heating or $160 with electric.

LEASING SOLAR PANELS: Buying and installing a set of solar panels can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But leasing the same system can be a cost-efficient alternative.

Several companies—mostly in California and a few other states—will install solar panels on your property, and then charge you for the power the panels generate. Essentially, the company owns the panels, and you “rent” them by paying the cost of the power. That rate is often lower than your regular utility rate. You—ll also have to pay your utility for power when the panels aren'tgenerating any electricity, such as nighttime. But you—ll be paying much less than you ordinarily would.

Cost: Sometimes nothing. Many companies don'tcharge an upfront fee for the panels, and their plans promise to reduce your total electric bill immediately by about 11%. Some companies do charge an upfront fee, often $2,000-$5,000. In some cases, that fee is considered a prepayment on the solar-power portion of your bills—so you end up paying less for that power every month. In other cases, the fee doesn'tlower your monthly bill; it'ssimply a down payment.

Payback: Immediate, if you pay no upfront fee. If you pay a fee that lowers your rates, payback can take a while. If your upfront fee is just a down payment, though, the payback time is much longer—because you don'tget any extra discount on your bill.

AIR FILTERS: When the air filter in your cooling system or air-conditioning units get dirty, the system has to work harder to push the air through, using up more energy. In warmer climates, the filter should be changed 3 times per year.

Cost: New filters cost about $10 each for central systems. Window-unit filters can simply be wiped clean.

Payback: Less than a year in warm climates for central units. Immediately in all climates for window units.

Keeping the air filter clean saves about 7% in electricity costs a year. In cooler climates, more frequent filter changing won'tsave enough money to make it worthwhile.

COMPACT FLUORSCENT LIGHTS: These advanced bulbs use up to 75% less energy than regular bulbs, and they last about 6 o 12 times longer. Experts say that replacing regular lights with CFLs can be the cheapest, most effective way to get big savings on energy bills.

Cost: About $3 a bulb.

Payback: 3 to 7.5 months. EnergyStar'sonline calculator will help figure savings for replacing an incandescent bulb with a fluorescent with a comparable wattage.

LIGHTING MOTION SENSORS: Although they're more common in commercial buildings, motion sensors that automatically turn off lights when a room isn'toccupied can offer big energy savings in a home. They're particularly useful when installed on outdoor lights, which are often left on all night.

Cost: Many porch lights have built-in sensors and cost about $50-60.

Payback: Under a year. Assuming the light would have been left on for 12 hours through the night and is now off all that time—except for brief moments when someone approached the door—a sensor will save about 1.8 kilowatt-hours over the 12-hour period and 54 kilowatt-hours in a month.

WINDOW TREATMENTS: Blinds, shades or curtains do more than decorate—they can also cut cooling bills in summer and heating bills in winter. If you have lots of windows that face south and west, even inexpensive curtains or shades can help block sunlight and reduce the need for air conditioning. Hanging somewhat more expensive shades on all windows can provide even more insulation against outside temperatures in both winter and summer.

Cost: Inexpensive pull-down blinds that provide summer shade run $5-$10; curtains that promise greater insulation typically sell for as little as $30 and can run as high as $150.

Payback: From just under a year to almost 4 years, depending on a host of variables. Insulated curtains curb losses from air conditioning and heating.

ATTIC INSULATION: It'swell known that insulating attics can reduce the amount of heat escaping through the roof. But many attics, especially in older homes, still have too little insulation—or none at all.

Cost: About $500 to nearly $700 for an average 2,000 sq. ft. house. That doesn'tinclude installation costs, which can vary widely.

Payback: A year and a half, but it can vary depending on the climate, cost of insulation and other factors. Installation costs can also boost the payback time.

Chernova, Yuliya and Sari Krieger, “How To Go Green In Hard Times,” The Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2009

JAN/FEB 2009

FUTURE PREDICTIONS / WISHES

By Patty Griffin, President

Happy 2009! Each new year brings exciting changes in our lives. Many of us wonder what changes we can look for or hope for in the future. Naturally, I hope for and expect helpful and imaginative environmental changes and improvements.

We have all been blessed that the green movement has been so strong in recent years. Every aspect of greening seems to be addressed by the media. The media has been extremely helpful in spreading the good news of greening. The most important goal of greening is getting every single person on this planet involved and engaged in greening our lives and our planet. Of course, the media is the simplest and best conduit to provide information to the public. We at GHA are very grateful for the media'sattention to all green issues.

There are 3 very important green changes that I am wishing for and expecting in coming years:

• First, I truly believe that food waste will become a commodity—a valuable commodity. Commercial decomposition (see GHA'sMay/June 2008 newsletter) will be the motivator. As you may recall, we wrote about BioX'sequipment at Seaport Hotel Boston. Their stainless steel equipment is about 5—Lx3—Dx5—H and handles up to 800 lbs a day. As food waste is produced, it is put into the machine where the combination of water, heat, agitation and micro-organisms dissolves the food waste into a watery slurry in 4 to 24 hours. As the food dissolves, it is released into the sanitary sewer line. Municipal sewer management is said to love the process because microbes are also released into the sewer where they help keep the sewer lines clean.

  This decomposing equipment was developed in Korea where the slurry is spread over farms and vineyards as organic fertilizer. The “food waste” is very valuable as organic fertilizer, but it could also become livestock feed, pet food as well as other products. I truly believe hotels and all restaurants will soon see the food-waste slurry sold to companies whose truckers will haul it to farms, vineyards and manufacturing plants. So, in the future I feel hotels will be selling their food waste. Companies now offering decomposition equipment include biohitech.com, bio-ez.com, somatcompany.com and greenkey.tv.

  Other pluses regarding commercial decomposition include the fact that it negates the need for large, smelly dumpsters at hotel docks. It also removes most of the reasons mice, rats, roaches and other vermin occupy those docks and dumpsters. It should also cancel the need for odor-control equipment as well as the use of pesticides in kitchens and at docks.

  So, watch for commercial decomposition equipment available in a size that is appropriate for your kitchen. You—ll want to know the approximate number of pounds of food waste produced each day in order to choose an appropriate model.

• 
  

  Secondly, I—m hoping that plumbing manufacturers will redesign kitchen and bath fixtures so that they have clicks just as vehicle windshield wipers do. The clicks would allow us to easily choose if we want a lot or a little water. We will be able to know, by touch, the volume of water we're choosing.

  Plumbing manufacturers have made faucets so easy to turn on full blast that it can actually be somewhat difficult to get a small stream of water.

  Aerators, which introduce air into a faucet'swater stream, are now available from manufacturers at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 etc. gallons per minute. However, that choice is not currently available on new fixtures we purchase. Most new plumbing equipment generally includes a 2.5 gpm aerator.

  We need to let plumbing manufacturers know that we want these changes, and that they should make them available. We need faucets that allow us to precisely choose the volume of water provided, and we need a choice of aerators with lower flow rates on new fixtures.

  Fresh water is obviously one of our most valuable resources. Many parts of the United States as well as the world have recently discovered via serious droughts the importance of conserving water. Plumbing manufacturers, like all businesses, want to offer what their customers prefer. Let'shelp them help us conserve fresh water in very simple ways.

• 
  

  My third prediction or wish is the result of two speaking trips to Biloxi, Mississippi. The highway along that stretch of the Gulf coast has many casinos, hotels and large parking-garage buildings. The parking garages might be 6 or 8 stories high, and they are all lit from top to bottom all night long. We all know why they're lit all night long—management rightfully fears lawsuits. Those parking garages might be full of vehicles a couple of nights each week. The rest of the week, perhaps 2 or 3 stories of the parking buildings will be in use at most.

So, my prediction is that all the lighting in all parking buildings will be converted to lighting that is accompanied with motion sensors and/or heat sensors that will turn those lights on only when they detect motion or body heat. The lights will stay on for a predetermined period of time. Once the motion or body heat is no longer detected, the lights will turn off—perhaps after another 15 seconds. Yes, of course, one out of 10 or so lights can stay on as security lights. Billions of street lights and millions of office buildings that are lit all night long every night should also incorporate the sensors.

GHA has heard from one lighting company which is providing such street lighting, but instead of turning the lights off when motion or body heat is no longer detected, they are turned down 40%. That'sa fabulous first move, but I believe we can more fully reduce the need for all that energy when no one is around.

I feel sure you have conservation or green ideas you—d like to see at work. Do give us a call or write a note with your ideas. We look forward to learning your green wishes, dreams and predictions! GHA will combine all our ideas and work toward publicizing the information.

Note: (Please put “green hotels” in the subject line of any e-mail to GHA so that we know your e-mail will get past our spam filter.)

NOV/DEC 2008

GREEN HOTELS HAVE GREATER VALUE

Investing in renovations to make hotels more sustainable will increase their value, slash operating costs and attract customers who are trending toward more sustainable hospitality experiences. “For every dollar you can add to the bottom line of a San Francisco hotel, more than $11 is added in value,” PKF Capital Managing Partner Henry Bose explained at a conference on green hotels in San Francisco.

However, not enough hotels have yet earned the US Green Building Council'sLEED certification in order to accurately compare their financial performance against traditional hotels, Bose said. To date, only 7 have been given the official designation. PKF Capital, with its affiliate, PKF Consulting and Research, is planning to produce a study on the issue, according to Bose. Still, he added, USGBC has recorded dramatic savings in large green commercial buildings similar in size to hotels—with 30% energy savings, 35% less carbon output, 50% less water consumption and as much as 90% less waste. USGBC also reported a decrease in operating costs of as much as 9% for sustainable commercial buildings and an increase of 7.5% in value. It also reported that there is a 6.6% higher return on investment for these buildings. Those are numbers that should prove to be even stronger for hotels, Bose stated.

“It is important to note that hotels are extremely resource intensive, open 24 hours, seven days a week, whereas commercial buildings are used primarily only during business hours,” Bose said. “That means the financial benefits of operating a green hotel are likely to be much higher than what USGBC says about the commercial office sector. Hotels that are less costly to operate are simply more valuable to owners.

“Improving financial performance does not only come from savings on operating costs,” Bose continued. “Groups and individuals are increasingly choosing sustainable hotels in a trend that is being codified in many group contracts stipulating that hotel operators describe the degree to which their properties are sustainable.

“In contract negotiations with companies, consortia and government agencies for all of their travel and meetings business, hotel operators are being asked not only to confirm that they use sustainable business practices, but to prove it by naming the awards and certifications they have earned.”

“The Real Estate ROI on Sustainability,” Front Desk, Lodging Magazine, November, 2008, p. 8
“Green Hotels Have Greater Value, PKF Says,” hotelsmag.com/article/CA6598114.html

SEP/OCT 2008

WHAT'sCOMING OUT OF YOUR WATER TAP?

Concerned about the cost of bottled water—and its environmental consequences—many people are turning back to tap water to quench their thirst. But as evidence mounts of contaminants in public systems, unease about the water supply is growing.

Engineers say that US water quality is among the world'sbest, and is regulated by some of the most stringent standards. But, as detection technology improves, utilities are finding more contaminants in water systems. Earlier this year, media reports of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in water across the country drew attention from US senators and environmental groups, who are now pushing for regulation of these substances in water systems.

Of particular concern, experts say, are endocrine-disrupting compounds—found in birth-control pills, mood-stabilizers and other drugs—which are linked to birth defects in wildlife. Also alarming are antibiotics, which if present in water systems, even in small amounts, could contribute to the rise of drug-resistant strains of bacteria, or so-called super bugs.

Drugs are only one category of contaminants found in tap water. A 2005 study released by the non-profit Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based research group, found that tap water in 42 states is contaminated with more than 140 unregulated chemicals, including MTBE, perchlorate and industrial solvents.

Even chemicals used to clean and disinfect drinking water are causing worry. Citizens— groups in states such as California, New York and Vermont are protesting the increasing use of chloramines—a combination of chlorine and ammonia—to disinfect drinking water. Utilities are using chloramines because of EPA limits on chlorine byproducts.

In the absence of Federal regulation of certain chemicals in water systems, some states have stepped in. California has set standards for various compounds that are not regulated by the EPA, including perchlorate. Massachusetts has set standards for perchlorate and requires that water utilities in the state test for MTBE, a gasoline additive.

In fact, experts say tap water is held to more stringent standards by the EPA, and tested more often, than bottled water, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Water filters aren'tfoolproof. Those that are certified by NSF International—a non-profit group that tests food and water products—can get rid of unwanted chemicals to EPA'sstandards, but consumers should be aware that trace amounts of chemicals may still be left in their water.

Carbon filters, which come in the form of a faucet mount or a pitcher, are the most commonly used and cost about $30. These can be fairly effective in removing many contaminants, but need to be replaced about every 2 months.

Other options—such as reverse-osmosis systems, which use a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants, or ultraviolet light treatment, which prevents micro-organisms from reproducing—can be more effective, but they cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some consumers have found the cost is worth it, especially if there are health issues.

Some different types of water filters are:

• Activated carbon filter:

Positively charged and highly absorbent carbon in the filter attracts and traps many impurities. It filters bad tastes and odors. Standard 53-certified filters also can substantially reduce many hazardous contaminants, including heavy metals, disinfection byproducts, parasites, pesticides, radon and volatile organic chemicals.

• Cation-exchange softener:

“Softens” hard water by trading minerals with a strong positive charge for those with less of a charge. Filters calcium and magnesium, which form mineral deposits in plumbing and fixtures, as well as barium, fluoride, selenium and sodium.

• Distiller:

Boils water and recondenses the purified steam. Filters heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and mercury, as well as arsenic, barium, fluoride, selenium and sodium.

• Reverse osmosis:

A semi-permeable membrane separates impurities from water. Filters most contaminants, including certain parasites, heavy metals and other pollutants.

• Ultraviolet disinfection:

Ultraviolet light kills bacteria and other micro-organisms. Filters bacteria and parasites. Class-A systems protect against harmful bacteria and viruses, while Class-B systems are designed to make non-disease-causing bacteria inactive.

Athavaley, Anjali, “What'sComing From Your Tap?,” The Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2008
Source: The Natural Resources Defense Council

JUL/AUG 2008

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

None of us can really be green without the green products and services offered by green businesses. GHA wants to do all we can to encourage and support our Ally Members, and to alert you and all hotels as well as the public of their important green products and services. So, each July/ August issue of our newsletter brings you interesting articles about their successes—new products, new ideas, new techniques, recent awards, etc.—whatever our Ally Members consider their successes. So, we begin . . .

ALLY MEMBER MANATEE COFFEE

ALLY MEMBER Manatee Coffee's(manateecoffee.com) association with PARTNER MEMBER The Inn at Wildwood in Crawfordville, Florida, is a long and beneficial one. The beautiful property is situated south of Tallahassee. It is surrounded by over a thousand square miles of national forest, coastal refuge and parks and is home to some of the most unique and beautiful wildlife in the southeast.

Jeff True, the Operations Supervisor says, “Shortly after we began using Manatee Coffee'sIsland Dark and Tropical Delight blends in our lobby brewers, there was a noticeable increase in traffic.” Some traffic was even from the locals who stopped in to pick up a cup on their way to work. Staff at the inn received numerous positive comments on the coffee from guests.

SONY DELIVERS GREEN TVs

ALLY MEMBER Sony'snew flat-panel TV consumes less energy than comparable regular models without compromising image quality—the latest in Japanese manufacturers— efforts to woo buyers with green products.

The $1,400 Bravia KDL-32JE1 goes on sale in Japan on July 30, and later in overseas markets. In a demonstration at Sony'sheadquarters, a watt-counter attached to the new 32” Bravia revealed consumption of 82 watts of energy to show a Blu-ray disc image of a Spanish city on its liquid crystal display. A comparable regular model that costs about $90 less required 125 watts of energy to show the exact same image.

Sony achieved the energy savings by developing a brighter back light and better filtering that delivers light more efficiently. Both models have liquid crystal displays and high-definition digital broadcast features. Compared to an old-style TV with a cathode-ray tube monitor, the new TV consumes about 70% less energy a year. By consuming less energy, the new “green” TV reduces carbon dioxide emissions totaling 174 pounds a year, equivalent to the amount consumed by about six cedar trees.

Utility bills are also reduced. In Japan, the green TV delivers about $40 savings in electricity costs a year compared to an old-style CRT TV. Sony thinks ecology is going to become an important standard that consumers use in choosing products. See sony.com/hospitality.

Kageyama, Yuri, “Sony hopes to woo the green,” Associated Press, printed in the Houston Chronicle, July 1, 2008

TAYLOR MAID FARMS— AWARD

Taylor Maid Farms (taylormaidfarms.com) was awarded the Green Entrepreneur Award for 2008 by the State of California Senate, in conjunction with SAFE-BIDCO. The Green Entrepreneur Award was created to support and recognize small businesses that have chosen to implement socially and environmentally-responsible business practices. Legislators from participating districts nominated local small businesses, and Taylor Maid was honored at the 6th Awards reception in March of 2008.

WAUSAU PAPER NEWS

ALLY MEMBER WAUSAU PAPER recently launched their Authentically Green™ brand that distinguishes Wausau Paper'scomprehensive Green Seal™-certified offering as one with authentic environmental benefits. These products embrace Green Seal™ standards, which are the most stringent and comprehensive in the industry. Janitorial paper products certified by Green Seal™ are made with 100% recycled fiber and are manufactured and processed in a way that uses less water, energy, produces less air pollutants and also diverts the most waste from our landfills.

Wausau paper also recently announced the introduction of their Elegance Series, a new line of restroom dispensers, including high-capacity roll towel dispensers, 3-roll and 2-roll tissue dispensers, folded towel dispensers, soap dispenser and a seat-cover dispenser. All have an attractive stainless-look finish.

Wausau Paper'sAuthentically Green offering includes 45 Green Seal™-certified products in Dubl-Nature®, EcoSoft™ Green Seal™ and OptiSource® brands. The two new resource guides are available now for download by visiting wpbaywest.com/green.

MAY/JUN 2008

COMMERCIAL DECOMPOSITION

By Patricia Griffin, President, “Green” Hotels Associationâ

Organic waste—anything that can be eaten—can be disposed of sanitarily, cleanly and quickly via BioX's(bioxsolutions.com) high-volume waste decomposition equipment. The revolutionary two-stage biological process breaks down organic waste via a patent-pending environmentally-responsible process resulting in all solid materials being converted into liquids.

PARTNER MEMBER Seaport Hotel, Boston, installed one of the approximately 5—Lx3—Dx5—H stainless steel units that can accommodate up to 800 pounds of organic material, and Matthew Moore, Director of Rooms & Environmental Programs (617/385-4511, matthew.moore@seaportboston.com), reports that in the 12 months the equipment has been in operation, over 50 tons of prep and food waste from their Aura Restaurant, Tamo Bar, Bakery Cafe, in-room dining and banquets has been decomposed and released into the sewer line. They began with a 400 lb. unit, but recently upgraded to the 800 lb. model. The 426-room property averaged about 275 lbs. of food waste per day during the last year. The only exceptions they—ve found are large bones and pineapple heads, both of which are simply too dense.

Food waste is generally added to the computer-controlled decomposter as it is gathered. The waste is automatically heated to 100-105°F, about 30-35 gallons of water are added as are microorganisms along with treated wood chips. The decomposter turns the waste continually until it becomes slurry, which could take 4 to 24 hours, depending of the density of the waste. As the slurry reaches the appropriate watery stage, it is released through a pinhole strainer into the sanitary sewer. The unit'scomputer is programmed to call for water or heat as it is needed as well as to release fluids when appropriate. The equipment uses 17 Kw/hr of electricity and an estimated 100 gallons of water per day. Three sizes are currently available (400lb, 800lb, 1200lb), but smaller sizes are being developed. The size is an indication of the approximate amount of waste the machine can accommodate in 24 hours.

Matt says, “The BioX is the perfect compliment to our recycling program in terms of waste diversion, as the two initiatives allowed us to decrease our trash pickups from 9 to 5 each month.” Between both activities, they—ve diverted almost 240 tons of materials from the landfill. Fewer pickups and reduced tonnage have meant savings of over $25,000 in a year with each tip costing $115 plus $84 per ton. The property was also able to eliminate an air-deodorizing system on the loading dock costing $145/mo or $1,740/yr. There is no longer a need to combat the smell of rotting garbage between pickups.

The BioX equipment the Seaport Hotel has chosen costs $40,000 to buy, but Matt says the hotel chose a lease-to-buy option at a cost of $1,000/mo for 5 years including a service agreement. Of course, the equipment has to be maintained, which means that every 3 months or as needed, microbes and glucose sugar are added to recharge the system. Once a year treated wood chips are added after a total cleaning. The annual maintenance fee of $2,500 includes quarterly recharges and a full preventative maintenance program by trained technicians at the end of the year. Because of the possibility of negatively affecting the microbes, the system now adds warmed rather than cold water to the system. A chlorine filter has been added to the incoming water line for the same reason. Absolutely no chemicals are added to the process. The Seaport Hotel has even chosen to add a grease trap to their system to be absolutely sure they are not releasing negatives into the sewer system.

The microorganisms at work are the same type of organisms that work in any composting pile or at any municipal sewage treatment plant. Because some microorganisms are released with each slurry release, the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resource Authority), a state watchdog entity, is very happy with the process because the released microorganisms help keep the sewer lines clean. Matt also reports that the Boston Health Department loves the machine with its no-odor benefit and stainless steel construction.

The equipment was developed and is manufactured by a South Korean company for the same reason that it'sfound agreeable in the US—the country is running out of landfill space. However, a difference is that in Korea the watery waste is used to irrigate cropland because it is an all-natural organic product and an organic fertilizer. Hopefully, within a short time period, that food “waste” will be seen as a new product and offered for sale to farmers and others. There are undoubtedly millions of microorganisms on this planet, but the Koreans have developed and patented a strain of microorganisms (100% organic mold and fungus) that when blended together make this process work by eating the food and reducing it to a liquid. That is the science behind this product.

The upgraded system, recently installed at the Seaport Hotel, has a lighted digital panel with a built-in scale. The readout includes weight of the material being processed while red, yellow and green lights indicate advisability of adding material. The readout also informs when and how much water is being added along with the temperature of the material being processed.

Units can be installed in kitchens where the organic waste is generated, resulting in numerous benefits. Heavy, wet waste no longer needs to be removed from kitchen areas and transported by staff to waste stations, improving sanitation, safety and workflow conditions. With the messy waste out of the waste stream, trash and recycling containers remain cleaner and are subject to less wear and tear. Dock areas where trash and recycling are collected are kept drier and concerns about odor and pest elimination decrease. The Seaport Hotel'sequipment was recently moved from the kitchen to the dock area because the kitchen space was needed, but Matt finds the arrangement works well.

For a facility that produces high volumes of organic waste, it means:

• Every pound of organic waste that was stored and removed through traditional trash removal has been eliminated.
• Storage bins needed for traditional trash removal to a landfill or incinerator are considerably reduced.
• Odor, insect and rodent problems associated with storing organic material are reduced or eliminated.
• A cleaner and more organized work area.
• Reduction of inadvertent disposal of cutlery and other tools or equipment.
• Reduction of use of municipal landfill space.
• Reduction of carbon emissions through less frequent trash pickups.

The Seaport Hotel is part of the Seaport Companies, and their campus includes the Seaport World Trade Center with a 115,000 sq. ft. hall or convention center plus 100,000 sq. ft. of other meeting space. The Seaport Hotel'stesting of the BioX equipment will determine whether the Seaport World Trade Center will also incorporate BioX equipment in their routine.

Though I—m a believer that everything we do has a downside, I—m finding little to dispute with this equipment and the powerful results.

Pat Griffin (no relation to Patricia Griffin), 508/667-5471, bullwhipgriffin@qmail.com

MAR/APR 2008

CARBON FOOTPRINT

By Patricia Griffin, President, “Green” Hotels Associationâ

Carbon credits, carbon offsets and carbon tags are terms that all have the same meaning. Today they're all names for what is basically a donation to a non-profit whose goal is reduction of carbon-dioxide emissions into our atmosphere. The non-profit may be involved in developing solar energy, wind energy, alternate energy, sustainable crops and/or other developing environmental activities. The non-profits or for-profit businesses that will benefit from selling the carbon credits are the ones pushing the idea of selling carbon credits to individuals. Many entities are selling carbon credits in a pyramid fashion. The top-rung non-profit may well be paying other entities a commission for selling their version of carbon credits.

We—ve all read a lot about the carbon footprint thing, and that whole issue is what really bothers me. As you may know, carbon credits or offsets or tags started because many years ago some large manufacturing plants did not want to upgrade their equipment to meet new Federal emissions regulations. So the government gave them a handout, and allowed them to pay for continuing to spew carbon waste into the air by buying credits to stay in operation. They might pay a super-efficient plant that was running its operation above required levels. The super-efficient plant was allowed to sell credits for the emissions not created.

As an aside, I recently read that many of those US inefficient, carbon-spewing manufacturing plants have been sold, dismantled and shipped to foreign countries where they are again in business. Of course, they are now spewing the US-prohibited level of carbon emissions in another part of the world!

Somehow the carbon credit methodology has gotten translated down to the individual traveler and being referred to as our “carbon footprint,” which I find kind of amazing—and disturbing.

One reason I find it disturbing is that we—ve had several groups come to us and want GHA to sell carbon credits, and they also want our member and customer hotels to sell carbon credits to individual travelers. They—d say, “We—ll give you 15%, and we—ll pay the hotel a percentage.” I—d say, “Oh, and what are you getting?” “Oh, 15%.” These organizations were clearly not the top-rung entity, and are working on a commission.

So, as you can see, if 3 or 4 or 5 entities each skim 15% of that money as commissions, there are only pennies left to plant a tree in Argentina!

In my view, a much more worthy take or value would be to reduce your energy usage, reduce your fuel usage, ramp up the landscaping on your property and its surroundings. Reduce mowing. Help with plantings in area parks and sanctuaries. Non-profits all need help. I—d say, “Do it here, rather than in Argentina.”

If your carbon footprint is important to you, do something about it at your own property FIRST. Once you—ve made changes to reduce your energy and fuel usage, look elsewhere.

There are, of course, worthy entities that are doing good things regarding clean energy and clean air. Should you choose to purchase credits, GHA suggests that you first find out where your money is stopping. Question the entity thoroughly to which you're considering making contributions. Ask how the entity is participating. Ask if they will keep a percentage of the funds, and what percentage they—ll keep. Know what percentage of your gift is being put to the use advertised and what percentage is administrative expense. Know that the use of the money is the purpose and direction you prefer. Choices can range from planting trees to developing wind and solar energy and many other worthy environmental activities.

In fact, hoteliers are well known for being very involved in doing good deeds. For me, the sweetest deed I—ve ever learned of hoteliers— good deeds is of a Hyatt in Australia that is near a national forest that had suffered a devastating fire. They planted five hundred native trees in one-gallon milk jugs on their roof to help reforest the area. Many hotels have a flat roof that can be put to good use. Perhaps your property can put your roof to good use growing plantings to share.

I—ve asked ALLY MEMBER NativeEnergy'sBilly Connelly (802/425-3418, nativeenergy.com) to respond to this article to further clarify the issue. His response follows.

Further to Carbon Offsets

By Billy Connelly, NativeEnergy, Inc.

When it comes to what is good for business and the environment, there are new innovations on the scene every day. One highly touted solution, which is often misunderstood, is carbon offsets. While national standards are being developed, there are resources available to help you make the greening decision that is right for you. Two leading independent studies¾Clean Air-Cool Planet'sConsumers— Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers (http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbonOffsets.pdf, 12/06 44p), and the Tufts Climate Initiative'sVoluntary Offsets For Air-Travel Carbon Emissions (http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/pdf/TCI_Carbon_Offsets_Paper_Jan31.pdf, 01/07, 47p) will help you quickly understand the difference between carbon offset providers.

You—ll want to make sure your carbon offsets— purchase makes a difference. A reputable carbon offset provider should provide details on their website explaining how the sale of offsets are a necessary financial component to the project'ssuccess. NativeEnergy, for example, provides details about its high quality carbon offsets, which come from new projects that also provide significant social and economic benefits to the communities where the projects are located. The company has supported more than 30 new projects in at-risk communities including Native American and Alaska Native communities, American family crop farms and family dairy farms. As a purchaser, you should choose the specific project you want to support, thereby creating a compelling marketing story aligned with your carbon reduction initiatives and business.

JAN/FEB 2008

FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS DEVOUR POWER

That giant sucking sound from your electric meter may be caused by your new TVs. Prices on big-screen television sets are dropping, but the cost of televised entertainment may still be headed up. That is because the fancy screens consume far more electricity than their old-school predecessors. Hold your hand by the screens and you can feel the warmth they emit when they're on.

Flat-screen TVs broadly come in 2 versions: plasma (which go from about 42” to an almost cinematic 100”+), and LCD (which are smaller, but, crucially, getting bigger all the time).

A 42-inch plasma set can consume more electricity than a full-size refrigerator—even when that TV is used only a few hours a day. Powering a fancy TV and full-on entertainment system—with set-top boxes, game consoles, speakers, DVDs and digital video recorders—can add nearly $200 to an annual energy bill.

Most consumers aren'tmade aware of extra energy expenses when they are shopping for a TV. Energy Star tags, identifying the most energy-efficient models, won'tbegin flagging the greenest televisions when turned on, until late 2008. Currently, Energy Star judges energy consumption only in standby mode, rendering the measurement virtually meaningless.

While most new types of TV sets use far more electricity than the old-fashioned gadgets they replace, some upstarts are bigger energy hogs than others. In general, liquid crystal display, or LCD, screens use less power than plasma sets of comparable size. And in the largest screen sizes, projection televisions typically use less electricity than LCD or plasma models.

A 28-inch conventional television set containing a cathode-ray picture tube, or CRT, for example, often uses about 100 watts of electricity. A 42-inch LCD set, a typical upgrade item, requires about twice that amount of electricity. But the real beast is the plasma set. A 42-inch model often sucks up 200 to 500 watts, and a 60-plus-inch plasma screen can consume 500 to 600 watts, depending on the model and programming, according to the EPA.

In the biggest screen sizes, a projection television is a better option from an energy-use standpoint because it consumes about 150 to 200 watts, far less than a plasma or LCD screen.

Assuming each screen is on five hours a day, the annual energy bill for the conventional 28-inch television set would be about $30 a year, compared with about $130 for the 60-inch plasma model, assuming power costs 12 cents a kilowatt hour. By the time other devices are added—including game consoles, speakers and DVDs—the cost to power the whole works can top $200 annually.

Because prices for plasma sets are dropping so fast, some people are thinking “why get a 42-inch plasma set when you can get a 60-inch or 64-inch one,” but they have no idea how much electricity these things consume.

Set-top boxes, which deliver programs and movies through the Internet, cable or satellite dishes, also can be energy hogs. In fact, they typically consume about the same amount of power whether they are being used or standing by. An older-style box that functions as a standard receiver for cable-TV viewing usually draws fewer than 25 watts of power, but a more robust version that offers high-definition viewing and includes a built-in recorder may consume 3 times as many. According to a calculation by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a typical high-definition cable box with a built-in digital recorder consumes about 350 kilowatt hours of juice annually, more than a conventional TV set and clothes washer combined.

It can be tough for shoppers to know how much energy a TV set will consume. While the EPA'sEnergy Star program covers TV sets only in standby mode, the Federal Trade Commission's“Energy Guide” labeling, which tells how much electricity an appliance consumes and estimates the annual energy cost, isn'tused on TV sets. The FTC says “it has not made a determination it will label TVs.” In the past, the agency didn'tthink there was enough difference between television sets to warrant Energy Guide labeling. Now the FTC is in a holding pattern waiting for the EPA to finish work establishing the proper test methods for comparing sets when turned on. This isn'tas straightforward as it sounds, because energy use differs according to the complexity of programming content.

The EPA appears to have settled on a process that will allow consumers to compare sets of the same size, across technology types. The agency expects to have improved Energy Star labels on television screens by November 2008 and to get them on set-top boxes, also in active and standby modes, by December 2008.

Disposing of the unwanted CRT televisions will be another huge environmental challenge since it'santicipated that 70 million will be dumped by the end of the decade.

Smith, Rebecca, “That Giant Sucking Sound May Be Your New TV,” The Wall Street Journal, December 13, 2007
Doughlan, Sean, “Do flat-screen TVs eat more energy?,” BBC News Magazine, December 7, 2006

NOV/DEC 2007

GRAIN PRICES ROIL MARKETS

Surging demand and rising prices for the crops that supply half of the world'scalories are producing the biggest changes in global food markets in 30 years, altering the economic landscape for everyone from consumers and farmers to corporate giants and the world'spoor. “The days of cheap grain are gone,” reports a Chicago commodity executive, forecasting concern.

This year the prices of Illinois corn and soybeans are up 40% and 75% respectively. Kansas wheat is up at least 70%. A growing number of economists and agri-business executives think the run-ups could last as long as a decade, raising the cost of all kinds of food.

Such increases have been caused in the past by temporary supply disruptions. Following a poor harvest, farmers would rush to capitalize on higher crop prices by planting more of that crop the next season, sending prices back down. However, the current rally, which started a year ago, is different. Not only have prices remained high, but the rally has swept up other commodities such as barley, sorghum, eggs, cheese, oats, rice, peas, sunflowers and lentils. Georgia slaughterhouses are charging a record wholesale price for 3-pound chickens, up 15%.

Powerful new sources of demand are behind the change. In addition to US government incentives encouraging businesses to turn corn and soybeans into motor fuel, the growing economies of Asia and Latin America are enabling hundreds of millions of people to spend more on food. The growing middle class in these regions is eating more meat and drinking more milk, increasing the demand for grain to feed livestock. In the US, beef cattle have to eat 6 pounds of grain to gain one pound of weight, and a hog about 4 pounds.

The reversal of a long-term trend toward lower grain prices could have profound effects on the world'sability to feed the poor. Worldwide grain stockpiles are being drawn down to their tightest levels in 60 years, leaving the world vulnerable to shocks brought on by bad harvests. It'salso far from clear how much more land could be brought into production or to what extent advances in biotechnology might increase crop yields in the future.

Families in America, which spend almost 10% of their disposable income on food, are facing the fastest-rising food prices in 17 years. Consumers— cost of everything from yogurt and popcorn to breakfast cereal and fast-food French fries is climbing. The average retail price of a pound loaf of whole-wheat bread is up 24% from a year ago in US cities. Whole milk is up 26%.

Similar increases are showing up abroad. Italian protestors are complaining about pasta prices, while Mexican authorities have capped the price of corn tortillas. Pakistan is countering rising food-price inflation by curbing wheat exports, and Russia is considering a similar clampdown. Food companies are struggling to determine how to pass on higher costs to supermarkets and restaurant chains, which have gained clout since the last prolonged rise in food prices in the 70s. “We're in uncharted territory,” says a Sara Lee Corp. executive, which raised its bread prices 5%.

The biggest winner is the US Farm Belt, which is primed for an unusually long expansion, even as a nationwide housing slump damps the broader economy. The Agriculture Dept. expects US net farm income to skyrocket 48% this year. With prices so high, farmers are on a spending spree and purchasing new equipment. Related stocks are surging with John Deere up 76% and Monsanto up 79% from a year ago. Even though US corn farmers are expecting a record harvest, the grain rally shows few signs of slowing. Futures trades are betting that the price of corn, used for everything from sweetening soda to putting crunch in snack foods, will continue to climb.

2008 is shaping up to be the third in a row in which the world consumes more grain to make fuel, food and livestock feed than it harvests. The trend is helping reduce global grain stockpiles to their lowest point relative to consumption since the mid-70s, at which point Asia struggled with chronic food shortages and the Soviet Union suddenly emerged as a big grain exporter.

At least part of the reason for the drawdown is found in China'ssoaring demand for milk, which has increased the number of dairy cattle 3 times in this decade. Half of the world'shogs are in China, which is importing 13% of all of the US soybeans to fatten its livestock. The Chinese government, caught off guard by a nearly 50% rise in retail pork prices, is throwing cash at farmers willing to produce more of the nation'sfavorite meat.

The prospect for a long boom is riveting economists because the declining real price of grain has long been a hidden force behind the development of the global economy. Because of steadily improving seeds, synthetic fertilizer and more powerful farm equipment, farmers— productivity in the West and Asia has stayed so far ahead of population growth that prices of corn and wheat, adjusted for inflation, have dropped 75% and 69% respectively since 1974. Falling grain prices made food more affordable for the world'spoor, among other things. Now, the current grain drain is stirring a new set of worries in developing countries, which are concerned about how sharply higher grain prices will erode the buying power of the world'shungry. Humanitarian groups are cautioning that their funds for food aid won'tgo nearly as far as they once did. Roughly 200 million of the 850 million malnourished people in the world'spoorest nations receive some food assistance.

US farm exports are climbing, dousing fears of a few years ago that the US farm sector was on the verge of generating a trade deficit. The life of food-company executives is getting more complicated. “One year it'soil, the next it'sgrain,” says General Mills— CEO, “but it'sall underpinned by one thing: strong global demand for these commodities.” The food giant expects raw-material costs to jump $250 million this fiscal year, mostly in costlier farm commodities. As a result, General Mills is shrinking the size of its breakfast-cereal packages, effectively raising the price per ounce. At a Chicago supermarket, a 15.6-oz. box of Wheaties recently cost $5.16¾more per ounce than the round-steak London broil at the meat counter!

Kilman, Scott, “Historic Surge In Grain Prices Roils Markets,” The Wall Street Journal, September 28, 2007

SEP/OCT 2007

Food That Travels Well

James E. McWilliams, published in the New York Times, August 6, 2007

The term “food miles”—how far food has traveled before you buy it—has entered the enlightened lexicon. Environmental groups, especially in Europe, are pushing for labels that show how far food has traveled to get to the market, and books like Barbara Kingsolver's“Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” contemplate the damage wrought by trucking, shipping and flying food from distant parts of the globe.

There are many good reasons for eating local—freshness, purity, taste, community cohesion and preserving open space—but none of these benefits compares to the much-touted claim that eating local reduces fossil fuel consumption. In this respect eating local joins recycling, biking to work and driving a hybrid as a realistic way that we can, as individuals, shrink our carbon footprint and be good stewards of the environment.

On its face, the connection between lowering food miles and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions is a no-brainer. In Iowa, the typical carrot has traveled 1,600 miles from California, a potato 1,200 miles from Idaho and a chuck roast 600 miles from Colorado. Seventy-five percent of the apples sold in New York City come from the West Coast or overseas, the writer Bill McKibben says, even though the state produces far more apples than city residents consume. These examples just scratch the surface of the problem. In light of this market redundancy, the only reasonable reaction, it seems, is to count food miles the way a dieter counts calories.

But is reducing food miles necessarily good for the environment? Researchers at Lincoln University in New Zealand, no doubt responding to Europe'spush for “food miles labeling,” recently published a study challenging the premise that more food miles automatically mean greater fossil fuel consumption. Other scientific studies have undertaken similar investigations. According to this peer-reviewed research, compelling evidence suggests that there is more—or less—to food miles than meets the eye.

It all depends on how you wield the carbon calculator. Instead of measuring a product'scarbon footprint through food miles alone, the Lincoln University scientists expanded their equations to include other energy-consuming aspects of production—what economists call “factor inputs and externalities”—like water use, harvesting techniques, fertilizer outlays, renewable energy applications, means of transportation (and the kind of fuel used), the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed during photosynthesis, disposal of packaging, storage procedures and dozens of other cultivation inputs. Incorporating these measurements into their assessments, scientists reached surprising conclusions. Most notably, they found that lamb raised on New Zealand'sclover-choked pastures and shipped 11,000 miles by boat to Britain produced 1,520 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per ton while British lamb produced 6,280 pounds of carbon dioxide per ton, in part because poorer British pastures force farmers to use feed. In other words, it is four times more energy-efficient for Londoners to buy lamb imported from the other side of the world than to buy it from a producer in their backyard. Similar figures were found for dairy products and fruit.

These life-cycle measurements are causing environmentalists worldwide to rethink the logic of food miles. New Zealand'smost prominent environmental research organization, Landcare Research-Manaaki Whenua, explains that localism “is not always the most environmentally sound solution if more emissions are generated at other stages of the product life cycle than during transport.” The British government's2006 Food Industry Sustainability Strategy similarly seeks to consider the environmental costs “across the life cycle of the produce,” not just in transportation.

“Eat local” advocates—a passionate cohort of which I am one—are bound to interpret these findings as a threat. We shouldn—t. Not only do life cycle analyses offer genuine opportunities for environmentally efficient food production, but they also address several problems inherent in the eat-local philosophy.

Consider the most conspicuous ones: it is impossible for most of the world to feed itself a diverse and healthy diet through exclusively local food production—food will always have to travel; asking people to move to more fertile regions is sensible but alienating and unrealistic; consumers living in developed nations will, for better or worse, always demand choices beyond what the season has to offer.

Given these problems, wouldn'tit make more sense to stop obsessing over food miles and work to strengthen comparative geographical advantages? And what if we did this while streamlining transportation services according to fuel-efficient standards? Shouldn'twe create development incentives for regional nodes of food production that can provide sustainable produce for the less sustainable parts of the nation and the world as a whole? Might it be more logical to conceptualize a hub-and-spoke system of food production and distribution, with the hubs in a food system'snaturally fertile hot spots and the spokes, which travel through the arid zones, connecting them while using hybrid engines and alternative sources of energy?

As concerned consumers and environmentalists, we must be prepared to seriously entertain these questions. We must also be prepared to accept that buying local is not necessarily beneficial for the environment. As much as this claim violates one of our most sacred assumptions, life cycle assessments offer far more valuable measurements to gauge the environmental impact of eating. While there will always be good reasons to encourage the growth of sustainable local food systems, we must also allow them to develop in tandem with what could be their equally sustainable global counterparts. We must accept the fact, in short, that distance is not the enemy of awareness.

James E. McWilliams is the author of “A Revolution in Eating: How the Quest for Food Shaped America” and a contributing writer for The Texas Observer.

JUL/AUG 2007

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

None of us can really be green without the green products and services offered by green businesses. GHA wants to do all we can to encourage and support our Ally Members, and to alert you and all hotels as well as the public of their important green products and services. So, each July/August issue of our newsletter brings you interesting articles about their successes—new products, new ideas, new techniques, new awards, etc.—whatever our Ally Members consider their successes. So, we begin . . .

Natural Dentist'sNew Toothpastes

ALLY MEMBER The Natural Dentist is proud to announce the release of 5 new toothpaste products. Each of these new toothpastes has its own unique and natural formula and fits perfectly into one'sdaily routine. Flavors of these five new products include Original Peppermint Twist, Whitening Peppermint Twist, Original Orange Zest, Sparkle Berry Blast Gel and Fluoride-free Peppermint Sage. In a contribution to the greening of oral care, The Natural Dentist reduced packaging waste by providing the toothpaste in 5-oz. stand-up tubes, eliminating the outer box used by many oral care companies. In addition, the toothpastes deliver natural ingredients without compromising on superior performance in cleaning, whitening and cavity prevention. Safe and gentle on teeth and gums, they have natural fluoride, Xylitol to fight bacteria, fresh natural flavors and no SLS (detergent).

The Natural Dentist also recently became PETA certified as a cruelty-free, vegan-friendly company. These new toothpastes are completely cruelty-free, vegetarian and vegan-friendly. The Natural Dentist is committed to giving consumers a natural, effective, and environmentally-friendly oral care option. For more information, visit thenaturaldentist.com.

Wausau Paper Announces New Product Series

ALLY MEMBER Wausau Paper announced introduction of a series of new products including two new folded towel products—the DublSoft® OptiFold™ and the EcoSoft™ Green Seal® OptiFold™. Both products are available in two unique sizes and are designed to dispense one towel at a time to reduce waste. DublSoft® products offer maximum softness, strength and absorbency.

The folded and roll towels as well as the bath tissue feature exclusive embossing patterns and stylish new packaging. Also introduced is the new Silhouette® coordinating folded towel dispensers which provide a sleek, elegant style in five translucent colors in both standard and compact sizes.

ALLY MEMBER Wausau Paper also announced achievement of Green Seal® certification for its 91300 OptiSource™ Pink Lotion Foam Soap. The OptiSource™ hand-care line features foam and liquid soaps as well as dispensing systems that offer controlled usage with reliable service. The foam lotion soap can be used for a variety of applications and is ideal for multipurpose general washroom use. It is designed to replace expensive bar soap and low-quality liquid and powder soaps. The 91300 is certified as environmentally preferable given that it is not a skin sensitizer or irritant, is formulated with only food-grade dyes, offers recyclable packaging and has been tested to ensure that it is not toxic to aquatic life.

More at 800/723-0001, contactbaywest@wausaupaper.com.

Sensor Switch Introduces nLIGHTä
Intellience to the nth Degree!

ALLY MEMBER Sensor Switch, the industry leader in the development of occupancy-sensor products and technology, recently introduced its nLight product line. nLight is the first lighting control system of its kind and consists of a network of intelligent-lighting control devices. nLight'srevolutionary architecture provides for system level control while still enabling zones of nLight devices to self-commission and function independently, eliminating the need for centrally- hardwired equipment.

By networking together state-of-the-art sensors, power packs, photocells and wall switches, the nLight system provides local control of a building'slighting system via attractive LCD Gateways, as well as remote, global control through SensorView web-based lighting management software. This proprietary system offers a broad range of settings and operational modes that may be combined to create an unlimited number of lighting control profiles designed to save energy, improve convenience, enhance safety and increase lighting choices.

The benefits of nLight include lower equipment and installation costs, deeper system control and no need for centrally-hardwired equipment. Additionally, the nLight system offers the option of a fully wire-line system or a backbone which utilizes wireless mesh networking technology that further simplifies system installation. Architects and contractors will appreciate the simple installation, flexible architecture, lower equipment cost and ease of maintenance. End users will benefit from maximum energy efficiency—eliminating the need for compromise between occupant convenience and energy savings, as well as the ability to easily change building lighting status.

President Brian Platner says, “The introduction of nLight reflects the company'scontinuing commitment to innovation in the lighting control industry. The nLight system enhances traditional lighting control strategies by eliminating redundant hardware, single points of failure and the need to layer different systems and devices to achieve both time-based and sensor-based lighting control. Instead, nLight distributes intelligence throughout a building via a network of sensors and powerpacks, incorporating time-based control with occupancy, daylighting and manual control. The result is a smarter, more cost-effective lighting solution that combines lower installation and equipment costs with much greater system control.”

All Sensor Switch products are engineered and manufactured in the USA at the company headquarters in Wallingford, CT. See sensorswitch.com.

PURE-REST'sSUCCESSES

ALLY MEMBER Pure-Rest'sGinny Turner, President, is happy to announce that they have helped Mayacamas Ranch (mayacamasranch.com) in Northern California go as green as can be. Fifty-five beds have been converted to completely organic with the many choices from Pure-Rest. From deluxe organic mattresses to everything used on a bed—pillows, pads, blankets and sheets. The ranch is now a chemical-free and completely environmental haven for their many guests as well as wedding party, retreat and convention attendees. The ranch also offers the same fine organics for their customers to purchase for their homes.

Other new hospitality clients include Tola Life Spa (tolaspa.com) and Glen Oaks Inn (glenoaksbigsur.com), both of which have moved to organic cotton sheets.

Learn more at purerest.com and purerestwholesale.com.

Arthur Blank & Co. Receives “Boston Green Business Award”

Recognizing Arthur Blank & Co. as an innovator of environmentally-friendly plastic card products, Boston'sMayor Thomas Menino presented the company with the 2007 Boston Green Business Award. Arthur Blank & Co., a leader in plastic credit card marketing solutions, received the award for the introduction of the industry'sfirst non-PVC, corn-based card, CornCard USAä, and a new recycled PVC card, the AB RecycledCardä.

The Boston Green Product Award is given each year to a Boston-area company that “produces or distributes a green product.” During the award ceremony Mayor Thomas Menino said, “Arthur Blank & Co. and its 240 employees have been part of our business community for two generations, and they're to be congratulated for their Green Line, earth-friendly products that help to protect our environment.”

CornCard USAä gift cards use renewable corn-based polymers to make cards that do not rely on petroleum-based ingredients. The company'sAB RecyleCardä is made from recycled PVC, transforming potential landfill waste into consumer gift, loyalty or membership cards. Call 800/776-7333 or see arthurblank.com.

EO keeps your guests and the environment Clean

ALLY MEMBER EO is a certified-organic, family-owned and operated manufacturer of bath and body-care products. EO has been selling to hotels for almost 10 years, and offers a full line of amenities with eco-friendly ingredients and packaging.

Whole Foods Market has been an amazing supporter of EO, and recently asked EO to be their first vendor to create a co-branded product. EO formulated a high-quality, All-Purpose Soap in 3 scents which is sold exclusively at Whole Foods across the US and Canada. The soap is made with organic ingredients, smells fabulous, works well and is breaking sales records.

EO recently introduced the first organic hand sanitizer in America. Organic alcohol, made from 100% non-genetically- modified corn without the use of any harsh chemical denaturants, effectively kills germs and sanitizes on contact. Unlike mass-market sanitizers which use factory-formulated chemicals to simulate natural smells, EO'shand sanitizer features organic lavender essential oil, which is naturally soothing and calming to both the skin and the senses through its pleasant, natural aroma. Sanitizers are available in bottles and wipes. Wipes are made from wood-pulp and are, of course, 100% biodegradable.

See eoproducts.com or call 800/570-3775. Love Life. Live Clean.

PROBLEM COSMETIC INGREDIENTS

Here is a list of ingredients EO will NOT use in their products, and the health issues that surround them:

• Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate - a harsh surfactant and known irritant
• Diazolidinyl Urea - a preservative that is considered carcinogenic
• Propylene Glycol - harsh solvent; synthetic petrochemical mix; allergen
• Petrolatum-petroleum-derive - tends to interfere with the body'sown natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping
• Stearalkonium Chloride-toxic - carcinogenic chemical
• Phthlates - known to cause birth defects
• Triethanolamine - toxic chemical, skin irritant

MAY/JUN 2007

Want EPA Hotel and Convention Center Business? Be a Bit Greener

By Claudia H. Deutsch, The New York Times, April 18, 2007

The country'sofficial environmental champion is putting its money where its mouth is.

The Environmental Protection Agency has given its procurement staff a list of questions that, as of May 1, they must ask hotels and convention centers that are bidding for EPA business. The questions range from sweeping queries about recycling programs and energy efficiency to specific ones about paperless billing and reused towels. The agency said it would consider the answers when it evaluates bids.

——We can use our own purchasing power to influence behavior, and to strengthen the link to our mission of protecting health and the environment,—— said Thomas A. O—Connell, an EPA procurement director who led the Green Meetings Work Group that devised the new rule.

The EPA spends about $50 million on travel annually, much of it for meeting spaces. The General Services Administration, which sets policy for all government travel, is amending its own rules to suggest that meeting planners throughout the government consult the EPA checklist. That could affect a significant chunk of the $13.5 billion in annual federal spending for travel.

EPA will not check on the truthfulness of a hotel'sanswers, and travel bookers can still accept bids from hotels that do not pass environmental muster. ——But meeting planners usually follow our recommendations,—— said Peggy G. DeProspero, travel director for the GSA.

Many hotels may have little difficulty with the new scrutiny. The Hyatt Regency at Capitol Hill, a frequent meeting place for government agencies, is already certified by Green Seal, which designates companies with leading-edge environmental practices.

Marriott International, which has been applauded by EPA for its energy-efficiency programs, said it expected the new rule to drum up business for its 2,300 American hotels.

——We're already at a competitive advantage in getting business from environmental groups, and now we're at an advantage for government business, too,—— said John Wolf, a Marriott spokesman.

Environmentalists have mixed reactions to the new rule. ——It could have a huge impact in getting hotels to become more aggressively environmental,—— said Arthur B. Weissman, president of Green Seal.

Others worry that the rule is a distraction from the agency'smain business. ——The EPA still is not doing enough to cut auto and power plant emissions,—— said Daniel F. Becker, director of the Sierra Club'sglobal warming program. ——Being green involves more than putting towels back on the rack.——

EPA'sLIST OF QUESTIONS

Following are the questions for all hotel and meeting venues, which managers need to be prepared to answer.

• Do you have a recycling program? If so, please describe.
• Do you have a linen/towel reuse option that is communicated to guests?
• Do guests have easy access to public transportation or shuttle services at your facility?
• Are lights and air conditioning turned off when rooms are not in use? If so, how do you ensure this?
• Do you provide bulk dispensers or reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments?
• Do you provide reusable serving utensils, napkins and tablecloths when food and beverages are served?
• Do you have an energy efficiency program? Please describe.
• Do you have a water conservation program? Please describe.
• Does your facility provide guests with paperless check-in and check-out?
• Does your facility use recycled or recyclable products? Please describe.
• Do you source food from local growers or take into account the growing practices of farmers that provide the food? Please describe.
• Do you use biobased or biodegradable products, including biobased cafeteriaware? Please describe.
• Do you provide training to your employees on these green initiatives? Please describe.
• What other environmental initiatives have you undertaken, including any environment-related certifications you possess, EPA voluntary partnerships in which you participate, support of a green suppliers network, or other initiatives? Include ——Green Meeting—— information in your quotation so that we may consider environmental preferability in selection of our meeting venue.

MAR/APR 2007

RESTAURANT GREENING UPDATES

The hippest restaurants are wearing the hippest of colors: green—the color of environmental responsibility. Green is definitely hitting the mainstream as food businesses from specialty coffee shops to burger chains seek out ways to become greener.

Restaurants produce mountains of waste, consume millions of gallons of water and millions of kilowatts of energy. Their purchasing practices impact food production throughout the supply chain. Some strategies can raise costs, but many can reduce costs. Many are simple, painless changes that can be made today.

San Diego'sKung Food has solar thermal panels on the roof to collect and store heat used to warm water used for pot and pan washing. The Mercury Cafe in Denver has two 12-foot wind turbines and six solar panels atop its roof which cost $20,000.

More than 100 cities across the US have already banned the use of polystyrene foam and petroleum-based plastic takeout packaging in foodservice. Though it is cheap and effective, it'sa blight on the industry because it is virtually indestructible and may have a life of 500 years in a landfill. Biodegradable products which are paper-based or plastic-like containers made from corn resin, potato starch or sugar cane products disintegrate completely and safely when composted. See excellentpackaging.com, BiocorpAAVC.com, bdfs.net, clovernook.org/b_paper.aspx, earthshell.com/html/products/index.html, fpi.org, gsdpackaging.com, insulair.com and dixie.com/index.asp. Prices on biodegradable products are increasingly competitive as supplies grow and costs to produce petroleum-based plastics rise.

Keeping air-conditioning and refrigeration coils clean can reduce operating costs by 25% as well as extend the life of your equipment. New on the market are Beverage-Air's(beverage-air.com) coolers that provide easy, quick change-out access to the condenser and compressor. Structural Concepts— (structuralconcepts.com) Clean Sweep is an electronically-controlled brush mechanism that automatically cleans condenser coils of dust and debris daily to ensure unrestricted air flow. Both products won 2007 Kitchen Innovations Awards (restaurant.org/show/exhibitorlist/ki/).

Company vehicles are being converted to run on used fryer oil. Greasecar (greasecar.com) offers conversion kits for just $800. Two other companies offering conversion kits are Golden Fuel Systems (goldenfuelsystems.com) and Veg Powered Systems (vegpoweredsystems.com). A Wisconsin franchisee runs his hot water heater on used vegetable oil. He and INOV8 (inov8-intl.com) created the water-heater application which uses ¾-gallon of oil per running hour during its 6-hour daily use.

California'sFood Service Technology Center reports that 80% of the $10 billion annual energy bill for the commercial foodservice sector is spent on inefficient cooking, holding and storage equipment. US EPA'sEnergy Star makes it easy to choose products that are proven to be energy-efficient. Qualified products can save as much as 50% over their counterparts and include building materials, lighting, commercial foodservice equipment and much more.

CFLs or compact fluorescent lights use at least 2/3s less energy than incandescents and last up to 10 times longer. They also generate 70% less heat, making them safer, while cutting air conditioning costs. That choice can be taken a giant step further by choosing CFLs that have the longest life and contain the smallest quantity of mercury.

The focus on sustainable agriculture is spurring a rise in grass-based farming, which shuns crowded feedlots where animals eat a mostly grain-based diet. Though grass-based meats can be pricey and aren'tyet widely available, they are getting easier to source. Eatwild.com provides a state-by-state supplier listing.

High-efficiency dishwashers can slash both water and energy use. Energy Star'scertified equipment meets rigid specifications. High-temperature, under-counter machines can use no more than one gallon of water per rack, for example, and high-temp, single-tank conveyor machines can use no more than 0.7 gallons per rack. The EPA estimates that, on average, these machines save 79 million Btu and $613 each year. Product specifications are now being developed for commercial dishwashers by the US EPA Energy Star program.

Two newer options of green building insulation are provided by Icynene (icynene.com) and BioBased (biobased.net). Both are sprayed on and will expand in seconds to 100 times their initial volume while getting into and sealing up nooks and crannies. They are free of ozone-destroying gases and formaldehyde and, according to their manufacturers, create a thermal envelope that results in up to 50% savings on energy bills. These options cost more in upfront costs than traditional insulation, but eliminate the need for additional caulking and sealants while resulting in significantly lower heating and air conditioning bills. Shade-grown coffee means it is grown in the traditional manner on farms shaded by ecologically diverse forests. Trees protect the coffee plants, provide wildlife habitat, help maintain soil quality, reduce the need for weeding and aid in pest control, according to the Audubon Society. Organic matter from the trees reduces erosion and provides natural mulch, contributing nutrients to the soil and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Newer industrial plantations grow coffee in direct sunlight where millions of acres of rainforest have been cleared.

The Green Restaurant Association (dinegreen.com) is a treasure trove of information. Other helpful sites are fishnick.com, pge.com/biz/ and savinggreenbygoinggreen.com.

Most food travels 1,500 to 2,000 miles before landing on a plate. Buying locally means less diesel fuel used and fewer CO2 emissions. Many state Ag departments, restaurant associations and extension offices offer promotional assistance and education to link local growers to foodservice buyers.

Absolutely nothing happens without top-down commitment and investment in products, processes and training to make going green work. It'sbest to zero in on just a few initiatives that are doable and that will generate positive results first. Go for the low-hanging fruit and build confidence. Once you start, track your investments and savings and share that information with staff. They—ll be enthusiastic about changing their routines and/or products when they understand the impact.

Specifying non-toxic cleaning supplies and chemicals, can liners and hand soaps is very important. A number are available that are biodegradable, free of hazardous ingredients and are safe for people, animals and our environment. See greenhotels.com/appvvend.html.

Buying sustainable seafood could help thwart dire predictions that the world'ssupply is drying up. A major study has reported that at this point 29% of fish and seafood species have collapsed (their catch has declined by 90%). The aquaculture community is establishing standards and operators are being encouraged to purchase only seafood certified as being sustainably managed. Species considered approved may be found at seafoodchoices.com, seafoodwatch.org and msc.org.

Temperature management'sfirst concern in a restaurant is normally food safety, but energy savings is certainly part of the equation. Checking temperatures manually on a regular basis is good, but automated systems that monitor temperatures and send alerts by cell phone, PDA or laptop when out of compliance are much better. Just keeping refrigerators clean and well organized as well as installing strip curtains inside walk-in refrigerators go a long way toward conserving energy and ensuring safety.

Whenever there'sa choice, choose brown paper products over white, but, in any case, check specifications to make sure you're choosing the greenest product. The term Process Chlorine-Free (PCF) identifies recycled paper that'sunbleached or bleached without the use of chlorine compounds. The term Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) identifies virgin paper that is unbleached or bleached without the use of chlorine compounds. Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) identifies paper that'sfree of elemental chlorine, but may use chlorine compounds. The best choice for white paper is PCF. While the paper may be white from previous bleaching, no new trees were harvested to produce it because it'smade from post-consumer recycled waste, and no new bleach is added.

Many kitchen hood fans work at full speed all day whether or not cooking is going on, and it means about $2 billion in energy is wasted each year. Intelli-Hood Controls (melinkcorp.com) uses a microprocessor and sensors that reduce fan speed during idle periods. Savings up to $5,000 per hood can be expected.

A 1.6 gpm low-flow nozzle on the kitchen sprayer can save 38,000 gallons of water and $1,050 per year in water costs. See greenhotels.com/catalog/water.htm. Of course, dishwasher racks should be fully loaded. Water should be served on request only, and water glasses should be refilled only as necessary.

Eliminate paper waste by installing Xlerator (exceldryer.com) hand dryers because the cost to operate is 90 to 95% less than the cost of paper towels, including energy used and the elimination of labor costs. The Xlerator uses 80% less energy than conventional hand dryers.

Staffers who are educated, trained and excited about going green are a must. If they don'tput the recyclables in the correct containers, if they leave the lights on all night, if they refuse to clean the filters as necessary, if they don'tminimize waste and embrace eco-friendly products and business practices, you can'tbe successful. Start with your staff, get them involved and listen to their advice. Improve the greening of your restaurant TODAY.

Tanyeri, Dana, “Going Green From A-Z,” Restaurant Business; Street Smarts for the Entrepreneur, p. 1-6, 9Feb07

JAN/FEB 2007

Alternative Energy Environmental Worries Heat Up

There'san upside and a downside to everything, and the alternative energy boom is revealing some of the unintended environmental and economic downsides that are developing regarding ethanol, biodiesel and solar power.

Palm oil is a key ingredient in biodiesel, a clean-burning diesel fuel alternative. A thick haze often encloses a city of a half million on the island of Borneo because forest fires have blazed across the island. Many of the fires are set to clear land to produce palm oil. Sometimes the bluish smoke is so dense that the city is dark and gloomy, even at noon. Sometimes the haze is so thick that the airport must close and it has even prompted the distribution of face masks on city streets. Health officials there reported almost 29,000 cases of respiratory illness from last July through mid-October. Seasonal rains helped quell the fires during November.

The annual phenomenon of the blanket of smoke created in Borneo and Sumatra that covers large parts of Southeast Asia in smog reveals a troubling dark side of the world'salternative energy boom. The fires in Indonesia spew out millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, experts say, exacerbating the very global-warming concerns that biofuels are meant to alleviate.

These side effects are not an isolated issue. Indonesia—s, Malaysia—s, Canada'sand other forests are being slashed for new energy-yielding crops or other alternative fuels. India'swater tables are dropping as farmers try to boost production of ethanol-yielding sugar. An equities analyst and expert on alternative energy companies at Nomura International in Hong Kong is most worried about the strain on water resources caused by accelerated crop production. Water, he says, is “just as precious” as oil. Some experts are also concerned that crops for biofuels will compete with other farmland, and could possibly drive up global costs of basic food production.

It'sagreed that the alternative energy field is moving at a very fast pace and it'spossible that new technology could help resolve some concerns over collateral damage. Cellulosic ethanol, which uses different kinds of waste, including municipal garbage, to create fuel is a hot example of new technology that may relieve some concerns.

Questions about corn-based ethanol are swirling in US academic and agricultural circles. An environmental policy professor at Cornell University has long had doubts about the fuel'svalue. His concern is that expanding corn production for biofuels would deplete water resources and pollute soils with added fertilizer and chemicals. Corn production would also require huge volumes of traditional energy for farming equipment and ethanol-conversion facilities—a cost that could nullify gains from the less-polluting fuel produced. Other studies have reached more optimistic conclusions.

In 2005, investors around the world poured $49 billion into energies such as solar power, ethanol and biodiesel, which was a 60% increase over 2004. Commercializing many alternative fuels relies on political support in the form of government subsidies or tax incentives. Local resistance could jeopardize any new fuel'seconomic viability.

A European Parliament committee recently recommended a ban on all biofuels made from palm oil because of fears that deforestation is being encouraged in tropical countries. Activists in Indonesia helped block an $8 billion Chinese-backed plan that would have created one of the world'slargest palm-oil plantations. RWE npower, one of Britain'slargest power companies, chose to abandon a project that would have used several hundred thousand tons of palm oil a year. Friends of the Earth said the project would contribute to unsustainable global demand for palm oil, contributing to rainforest destruction.

There are, of course, lots of upsides to biodiesel. Palm oil and other renewable crops reduce the need for fossil fuels such as petroleum, whose supplies are finite. It also burns more cleanly than carbon-based liquid fuel, releasing fewer of the gases thought to cause global warming.

Borneo, among the world'smost fabled islands, has one of the last great tropical wildernesses. It'shome to rare and unusual species, including the wild orangutan, the clouded leopard and the Sumatran rhinoceros. It'salso home to some of the world'slast headhunters. The indigenous Dayaks still live in villages that can only be reached by river, and sleep in wooden “longhouse” buildings on stilts.

The 1800s saw the Dutch and British traders carving up parts of the island to produce rubber and other commodities. Then, timber barons devastated millions of acres of forest logging tropical hardwoods. As a result, today only about half of Borneo'sonce-ubiquitous forest cover remains. Now comes the palm-oil boom, which threatens what'sleft. The palms cover about a million acres or more in West Kalimantan, way up from 37,000 acres in 1984.

The plantations have meant jobs and opportunities for many Dayak families, some of whom have taken ownership stakes in the operations. As locals are discovering, the spreading plantations have deleterious effects. They can alter water-catchment areas, destroy animal habitats and contribute to the months-long bouts of haze that encompass hundreds of kilometers of Southeast Asia. As the fires burn deep into the dry peat soil beneath Indonesia'sforests, centuries of carbon trapped in the biomass are released into the atmosphere.

In the meantime, palm-oil companies have joined environmental organizations, energy companies and others to set up a group called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which plans to certify plantation companies that follow guidelines to minimize ecological damage. The head of a local plantation association in West Kalimantan says he still believes biodiesel derived from palm oil will play a big role in solving the world'senergy problems. After all, “it'sa renewable energy,” he says. “It'sour future.”

Barta, Patrick and Jane Spencer; “As Alternative Energy Heats Up, Environmental Concerns Grow,”
The Wall Street Journal, December 5, 2006

NOV/DEC 2006

GLOBAL DIMMING

Global warming certainly seems worry enough, but global dimming has now been proven equally worrisome and in need of attention. Global dimming is the gradual reduction in the amount of global hemispherical irradiance (or total solar irradiance) at the Earth'ssurface, which means we are seeing less of the Sun. The change has been observed since the beginning of systematic measurements in the 1950s, meaning the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth'ssurface has been gradually falling. The effect varies by location, but worldwide it is of the order of a 4% reduction over the three decades from 1960-1990. This trend has reversed during the past decade. Global dimming creates a cooling effect that may have partially masked the effect of greenhouse gases on global warming. The decline in sunlight may mean that global warming is a far greater threat to society than previously thought.

Gerry Stanhill, an English scientist working in Israel, was one of those who spotted the effect. Comparing Israeli sunlight records from the 1950s with then current ones, Stanhill was astonished to find a staggering 22% drop in the sunlight. He found the same story all around the world, with sunlight falling 10% over the US, nearly 30% over the former Soviet Union and by 16% in parts of the British Isles.

Dimming appears to be caused by air pollution. Burning coal, oil and wood produces not only invisible carbon dioxide (the principal greenhouse gas responsible for global warming), but also tiny airborne particles of soot, ash, sulphur compounds and other pollutants. The visible air pollution reflects sunlight back into space, preventing it from reaching the surface. The pollution also changes the optical properties of clouds. Clouds are formed when water droplets are seeded by air-borne particles, such as pollen. Because the particles seed the formation of water droplets, polluted clouds contain a larger number of droplets than unpolluted clouds. This makes the clouds more reflective than otherwise, reflecting more of the Sun'srays back into space.

Dimming, by shielding the oceans from the full power of the Sun, may be disrupting the pattern of the world'srainfall because there is less evaporation. There are suggestions that dimming was behind the droughts in sub-Saharan Africa, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the 1970s and 1980s. The same thing may be happening today in Asia, where half the world'spopulation lives—billions of people. Global dimming may be having a detrimental impact on the Asian monsoon.

Contrails, the vapor from airplanes flying high in the sky, are also seen as another significant cause of heat reflection. During the aftermath of 9/11, when all commercial flights were grounded for 3 days, scientists found the temperature rose by some 1 degree Centigrade during that period of no contrails and no reflectance. Aircraft contrails may have been raising nighttime temperatures and/or lowering daytime temperatures by much more than previously thought.

The phenomenon underlying global dimming may also have regional effects. While most of the Earth has warmed, the regions that are downwind from major sources of air pollution (specifically sulfur dioxide emissions) have generally cooled. This may explain the cooling of the eastern US relative to the warming western part.

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of global dimming is that it may have led scientists to underestimate the true power of the greenhouse effect. Scientists know how much extra energy is being trapped in the Earth'satmosphere by the extra carbon dioxide (CO2) we have placed there. What is surprising if that this extra energy has so far resulted in a temperature rise of just 0.6°C. It now appears the warming from greenhouse gases has been offset by a strong cooling effect from dimming—in effect two of our pollutant problems have been canceling the effects of each other out. So, the climate may in fact be more sensitive to the greenhouse effect than thought. Even the most pessimistic forecasts of global warming may now have to be drastically revised upwards.

Climatologists are stressing that the roots of both global-dimming-causing pollutants and global-warming-causing greenhouse gases have to be dealt with together and soon.

“BBC - Horizon: Report on another consequence of global warming: the dimming effects of clouds, BBC, 15Jan2005
“Climate Change and Global Warming,” http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming/globaldimming.asp
Wikipedia, “Global dimming,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_dimming
Sington, David, Horizon producer, “Global Dimming,” http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/horizon/dimming_prog_summary.shtml

SEP/OCT 2006

SMALL WIND

The latest bid to trim energy bills for some consumers is via harnessing wind power . . . if neighbors are agreeable. Though wind energy is generally associated with huge turbines churning in desolate, windy places, a new generation of smaller systems made for areas of moderate wind is coming to market.

The latest small turbines resemble a ship propeller on a post, have 3 blades up to 24— in diameter and are usually on stand-alone towers from 35 to 140 feet high. The potential is there is save between 30 to 90% of electric bills, manufacturers say. Vendors also say the turbines make no more noise than an air conditioner.

High-tech, small-wind turbines can be costly, and owners may have to battle zoning officials as well as neighbors, who find them unsightly.

The American Wind Energy Association (http://www.awea.org), an industry trade group in Washington, DC, estimated that sales of small-wind systems in the US were $17 million in 2005—a 62% increase over 2004—a significant jump. Assisting in the surge is the fact that these smaller systems are being supported by a growing group of state incentives which help offset the cost. Some small-wind vendors follow:

• Abundant Renewable Energy, Newberg, OR (http://www.abundantre.com), is now offering 2 new small-wind turbines that are designed to be quieter and create more energy in low-wind areas.
• Bergey Windpower Co., Norman, OK (http://www.bergeywindpower.com), has employed new airfoil technology in its BWC Excel, making it more efficient in wind speeds as low as 9 mph.
• Southwest Windpower, Flagstaff, AZ (http://www.southwestwindpower.com), offers their Skystream 3.7, which is more efficient in light wind, less costly and quieter than previous models.

Wind turbines collect energy from the wind and convert it into electrical energy. Generally, the business or home is still connected to the power grid, and the wind power is supplementing that power. All energy produced by the wind turbine is deducted from the owner'smeter. Most utilities offer “net metering,” which means credit is given for extra energy created which is put back on the grid. Pricing of most systems is determined by the peak capacity, which is measured in the number of kilowatts produced under optimal conditions. For instance, the Skystream has a 1.8 kw capacity and costs about $8,500 fully installed. Abundant Renewable Energy's10 kw ARE442 installed on the tallest tower can cost $80,000+. So, the higher the kilowatt capacity, the more they cost and the most electricity they produce.

Local zoning rules are causing some problems for small wind system installations. Gated communities and neighborhood associations often prohibit structures like wind turbines. Most municipal governments restrict building heights and may be unwilling to grant variances for wind towers. Even if local municipalities and governing organizations agree, neighbors can protest. They may be concerned about property values and whether birds will be harmed. (Manufacturers claim collisions with birds are rare.)

“Small wind” systems are generally described as noncommercial systems with a capacity of 100 kilowatts, but systems for small businesses and residences are usually 10 kw or less. The smallest systems are not for city locales or tightly-packed suburbs. Minimum criteria for the smaller installations are at least a half-acre of land, wind speeds of at least 10 mph and electric bills of at least $60/mo. Those who live in states with programs that help offset the cost will have the most incentive to install a system. New York State rebates up to 50% cash back on the cost of residential wind systems. So, a $50,000 10 kw system could be eligible for a $22,500 rebate in NY. They also offer low-interest loans.

Munoz, Sara Schaefer, “A Novel Way to Reduce Home Energy Bills,” The Wall Street Journal, August 15, 2006

JUL/AUG 2006

LIGHTING CHANGES COMING

Chips—LED chips—are the future of lighting. Light-emitting diodes—tiny, chip-based lights serving as power indicators on our coffee-makers and TVs—are making big waves in the global lighting industry. The traditional light bulb uses electrified wire filaments in a vacuum tube, but an LED uses a semiconductor chip zapped with electricity to emit light. All of which means the technology is moving from the lighting industry to the electronics industry.

The color emitted by an LED chip is determined by the material at its base. The tiny LEDs can be programmed to light up a stadium scoreboard. That flexibility first pushed LEDs into applications where traditional bulbs wouldn'twork. High-power LEDS, taking the place of bulbs, are appearing in cellphones, cars, televisions and elsewhere.

LEDS consume less energy than many other types of lights and last longer than most—to ten years or so. Like most chips, their cost is falling and performance is improving as advances are made in materials and factory processes. LEDs will revolutionize the way we use and think about lighting.

LEDs are spreading into a wider array of products, with cellphones leading the way by lighting up keypads and liquid crystal displays. Among new applications are:

• Ford Mustang drivers can change the color of their dashboard'slighting with the “MyColor” feature
• Boeing'snew 787 Dreamliner jet will have interior lighting that can create environments that are supposed to help international travelers adjust to time-zone changes
• A Louisville, KY, restaurant has removed dangling light bulbs and replaced them with LED lighting that changes from amber in the morning to violet late at night
• Some traffic signals already are using LED fixtures that switch between red, yellow and green, instead of separate colored lights
• Flameless candles with LEDs providing the flickering light source are available from Phillips
• LED bulbs in the traditional-lightbulb shape are being experimented with to allow squeezing or tapping to turn them on or off or change the color
• A remote-controlled LED room-lighting system is also being developed
• LEDs married with solar panels are marine buoys
• Easy-installation runway lights have been provided to the US military in Afghanistan and elsewhere

Nick Holonyak, Jr., a GE engineer, built the first LED in 1962, and the company patented the discovery. Hewlett-Packard eventually bought GE'spatent. Technology remained on the fringes of industry for decades, but the 1990s brought a broadening of the LED color palette. The breakthrough came when blue was conquered, which filled out the color spectrum.

Watch for LED-based lighting in your future!

Ramstad, Evan and Kathryn Kranhold, “Changing the Light Bulb,” The Wall Street Journal, June 8, 2006

MAY/JUN 2006

EARTH DAY: Year 36

In 1976, Americans drank about two gallons of bottled water each. In 2005, they drank 26 gallons.

In 1970, Americans produced about 3.3 pounds of trash every day and recycled about 8% of their waste. In 2003, they produced about five pounds of trash and recycled more than 30%.

During the 1960s, bicycle and automobile production were almost equal. Today there are more than 100 million bicycles produced worldwide—more than double the number of cars produced each year.

Businesses are trying to gain an edge on Earth Day. Canadian Starbucks shops offered free coffee on Earth Day for those who brought their own mug. LiveOffice offered a month of free Web conferencing to anyone willing to telecommute to work at least once during April. General Motors had a special ad campaign promoting ethanol and its hybrid cars. MemberSource Credit Union invited area residents to their “Shred Day” on April 22, when they shredded and recycled, free of charge, all personal papers and files.

Nationwide, lots of progress has been made since the first Earth Day—when Cleveland'sheavily polluted Cuyahoga River was on fire and only a few cars had catalytic converters. The US EPA was created in 1970. The benchmark Clean Water Act was passed in 1972.

Environmental conditions have gotten worse internationally. Population worldwide has rocketed to more than 6 billion from 3.7 billion in 1970. China and India account for 2 billion people, and continue to rely on coal-burning plants, which leave a haze over much of Asia.

The EPA found that in 1974 about 40% of the largest US rivers were safe for fishing and swimming. Now about 70% are safe for swimming and 60% for fishing as a result of reduced industrial pollution and better sewage treatment. Unfortunately, about 3,500 bodies of water are still impaired because of bacteria and pollution from urban and agricultural runoff. The Great Lakes shoreline is about 78% impaired. Parts of Chesapeake Bay have been determined a “dead zone” where nothing lives. Total emissions from the most common air pollutants have dropped by about 50%, even though our gross domestic product has jumped 195%, vehicle miles traveled have increased 178% and energy consumption has risen 48%. Air and water quality have not made equal improvements as in the US and Western Europe, partly because clean-burning technology is not in use in many developing countries. China'senergy supply is 2/3s coal, almost double the coal used in the US. Average temperatures have risen by almost one degree Fahrenheit around the world since 1970. The warming trend is generally attributed to the accumulation of “greenhouse” emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are linked to the trend. 21% of all greenhouse gases are emitted by the US, while China produces about 15%.

Though about 12% of birds, 25% of mammals and nearly a third of amphibians worldwide are threatened with extinction over the coming century, there are some success stories. In 1963, there were only 417 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states—now, there are more than 7,000. The mountain Gorilla is Rwanda also is recovering.

Etter, Lauren, Compiler; “Earth Day: 36 Years on, Plenty of Concerns Remain,” Hot Topic, The Wall Street Journal, April 22-23, 2006

MAR/APR 2006

LANDSCAPING AND GARDENING

This spring issue of GHA'snewsletter focuses on landscaping and gardening. The major contributor to this issue is the all-wise-organic-gardener, Trisha Shirey. For the last 21 years, CHARTER MEMBER Lake Austin Spa has been extremely fortunate to benefit from and enjoy her services as Director of Flora and Fauna. Organic herb and vegetable gardens, an organic orchard and a wealth of flowers to enhance the grounds and brighten the delicious low-fat dishes served in the dining room are the result. Plantings she'schosen are designed to be Texas tough, but beautiful. Despite the foraging deer, flowers are in vivid bloom year round. Many of her gardens are designed to delight butterflies and hummingbirds, which are seen in abundance. Perhaps the most important aspect of her gardening is gardening organically. Only the safest natural products for pest control and fertilizing are used.

The Organic Arsenal

Trisha Shirey, Director of Flora and Fauna, Lake Austin Spa Resort CHARTER MEMBER,
1705 South Quinlan Park Road, Austin, TX 78732, 512/372-7266, tshirey@lakeaustin.com

Organic gardeners know that healthy soil yields healthy plants, which will have a balance of both good and bad insects. Plants that are stressed or unhealthy will usually be more attractive to insects. Insects are a form of natural selection to eliminate the weakest of the species. When insects are noticed, we should ask, “What am I doing wrong so that my plants are unhealthy?,” instead of “What do I spray to kill these bugs?” Plants may be too wet, too dry, in need of fertilizer, a poor variety choice or planted at the wrong time. When harlequin bugs are swarming on my radishes, greens and broccoli in the spring, they are telling me that it is too hot for these cool-season plants and that they should go to the compost bin. Aphids on plants may indicate a need for more nitrogen, while spider mites are attracted to plants that are stressed by lack of moisture.

A regular application of seaweed to plants will prevent many insect infestations. The broad array of nutrients and trace elements in seaweed provides a well-balanced diet for healthy plants. Applying seaweed to the leaves of plants results in a salt residue being left on the leaf surface that most insects find distasteful.

There are times when treatment of pests is necessary, and there are many products available to gardeners that are safe and effective. Remember to read the label to make sure that the product you are using will target the pest you are trying to control. Use any personal protective equipment recommended on the label. Even organic products, such as dusts, can be harmful to your health.

Pesticides are classified by the EPA with signal words according to the level of toxicity of the product with “Caution” being the least toxic, “Warning” and “Danger” signifying the most dangerous products. I don'tuse or recommend the use of products which have the “Warning” and “Danger” signal words. Some products are certified by OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute), and products with this seal will generally be the best choices for least-toxic pest control.

These are some of the products that every gardener should have on hand:

• Plant Soap: Safer is a brand that is readily available and is very effective for controlling spider mites, whiteflies, aphids and many other insects.
• Bt: Products which contain Bacillus thuringiensis will control any worm that will become a moth or butterfly. It will not affect beneficial insects, but should be used with caution in butterfly gardens. It is sprayed on the foliage. When the worm ingests the Bt, its digestive system shuts down.
• Orange Oil: An effective control for fire ants. Fire Ant Killer by Safer is one brand available.
• Garlic GP Products: These contain garlic extracts that are effective for controlling black spot on roses, brown patch on lawns and many other diseases in vegetable and ornamental gardens. (http://www.garlicgp.com)
• Neem Oil: A tree-derived oil that is very effective in controlling hard-to-kill insects like scale, thrips and leafminers.
• Spinosad: One of the newest products in the organic realm. It is available as an active ingredient in fire ant bait and also in a liquid concentrate that can be used to treat beetles, worms and other insects.
• Essential Oils: Oils of clove, mint, thyme and others have been found to be effective in killing and repelling insects. Victor Poison-Free Ant and Roach Killer contains 4% mint oil (victorpest.com). Green Light Organic Insect Control contains thyme, clove, sesame oil, wintergreen and soybean oil. Raid has come out with a line of products called Earth Options that contain essential oils. Not only do these oils kill pests effectively, they smell great.
• Sluggo: A snail and slug bait made from iron phosphate. It kills them and provides iron and phosphate, which are essential plant nutrients. It does not harm earthworms as typical snail and slug baits do. (montereylawngarden.com)

With just a few products, most plant insects can be managed effectively. You will be free to spend your gardening time improving the soil, feeding the plants with safe, organic fertilizers and enjoying your garden.

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING: Growing and Using Culinary Herbs

Trisha Shirey, Director of Flora and Fauna, Lake Austin Spa Resort

Many gardeners restrict herbs to separate herb gardens, but herbs combine well with many flowers, perennials and native plants. They offer a variety of textures and colors in both foliage and flowers which can enhance any landscape. At Lake Austin Spa Resort, we have used curled and Italian parsley, thyme, chives and garlic chives as bed edging plants. Many of the herbs will help to repel insects from ornamental plants with their strong scents. Leeks grow along with our roses, keeping insects at bay. The leeks are dormant during the summer when the roses are lush, and the leeks flourish while the roses are dormant in winter.

This winter we used the beautiful red and yellow forms of Swiss chard “Bright Lights” varieties in containers with pansies and violas. They also provide a colorful backdrop to a bed of violas. The dramatic deep purple of Opal basil is interesting combined with bright orange cosmos or pink zinnias or vinca. Lemon grass can be used as a hedge or background planting. Rosemary is an ideal drought-tolerant evergreen shrub in temperate zones. Bay laurel trees tower to 20—, and make an effective screen to shield unattractive views.

Our herb gardens at Lake Austin Spa Resort not only provide us with flavorful additions to our low-fat cuisine, but also are used in spa treatments and in craft classes. Guests are invited to smell freshly cut herbs to select those that they would like to have added to their body scrub blends. We provide bowls of freshly harvested mint sprigs for guests to add to their favorite beverage.

Our guests enjoy strolling through the organically-grown gardens, smelling and tasting the plants and watching the dancing butterflies and toads, lizards and birds that inhabit our gardens. Guests tell me that they have never seen so many butterflies in one place in their lives! We grow lots of common fennel to provide food for the larvae of swallowtail butterflies, and we move the worms from our parsley and dill to the fennel to continue feeding there. Herbs like cilantro, dill, parsley and fennel provide abundant food for butterflies, ladybugs and other nectar-feeding beneficial insects.

To grow herbs successfully, group plants according to their water and drainage needs. For example, drought-tolerant rosemary, sage and lavenders are ideal to plant with natives and xeriscape plants. Group plants which appreciate a rich, moist soil like chives, mints and basils with roses or similar perennials.

Herbs have few insect problems and need little fertilizer. We manage all of our gardens with organic fertilizer and insect control. Many herbs are perennial in our mild Central Texas climate. Try a few herbs to enhance both your landscape and your cooking!

Here are some of my favorite herbs:

• Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Many varieties. My favorites are Lemon, Lettuce Leaf and Opal or “Purple Ruffles” Basil. Treat like tomatoes; don'ttransplant outside until evenings are above 45°F. Sizes from the 6” Spicy Globe to 3-4— Sweet Basil. Great for pesto sauce, Italian food and anything with tomatoes.
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum or Allium tuberosum, Garlic Chives): Good border plants. Flowers are attractive and edible in both varieties. Grow well in pots and in semi-shade. Used in dressings, and as a garnish. Mix with sour cream for a baked-potato topping.
• Cilantro or Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): Grown for leaf and seed. Plant in October in Texas. Will bloom and die back when weather warms, but reseeds freely. Used in pico de Gallo and other Mexican foods. The seeds are faintly sweet and are used in breads, desserts and coffee.
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Common Fennel): Closely related to dill. It will cross-pollinate with dill, but the resulting plant tastes terrible, so separate these two! Has a strong licorice flavor. Good butterfly plant, for both larval and adult stages. Used on baked or broiled fish, tomato sauces. Try grilling the young fennel shoots. Florence fennel is grown for the fleshy bulbs at the base of the plant and grows only in winter months in the South.
• Hoja Santa (Piper auritum): Grows to 4— tall in summer months, and dies to the ground in winter. Similar to bamboo in growth habit¾it can be very invasive! Growing it in containers provides a tall attractive plant and keeps it in control. Leaves are used to wrap foods for cooking or for decorating plates and buffets. The flavor is somewhat like licorice and root beer.
• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus): Looks like a small pampas grass. 2-1/2— tall. Used for tea and in Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. The leaves are used to make delicious tea, and the bulbous stem is used for flavoring soups and sauces. Remove the stems before serving. It is sometimes sold as a finely-ground dried herb. Hardy to Zone 8, it may be grown in containers and taken indoors for the winter.
• Marjoram (Origanum spp.): Sometimes freezes in winter. Good to flavor chicken dishes and breads. Looks similar to Oregano, but has a sweet fragrance.
• Mint (Mentha spp.): There are so many varieties that choosing one is difficult. My favorites are Double Mint, Chocolate Mint and Kentucky Colonel Spearmint. Mints need more water than most herbs, but can tolerate shade. This has a well-deserved reputation for being very invasive. Contain it with deep edging or grow it in large pots. Mint adds dramatic flavor to teas, smoothies and juices, fruit salads, as well as carrots, corn and squash.
• Italian Parsley (Petroselinum neopolitanum): Easier to grow than the curly type and has a stronger, more robust flavor. Parsley is high in Vitamins A, B and C, and is a good source of iron. Use in salads, sauces, dressings, stocks and soups and as a garnish.
• Poliomintha (Poliomintha longiflora, Mexican Oregano): This attractive drought-tolerant shrub blooms almost year round in the South. It has a strong oregano flavor. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The flavor is a welcome addition in Mexican dishes and spicy foods.
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen shrub, hardy to 10°F. There are many varieties and colors of bloom. The low-growing prostrate form is not as cold hardy, but better suited to containers. Use to perfume the home, as a kebob skewer and a basting brush for barbecuing. Excellent with meat and poultry. Grind with sea salt and combine with olive oil for a refreshing exfoliating body scrub.
• Sage (Salvia spp.): There are many colors and types of sage. All of them require a dry location and very well drained soil. Avoid wetting leaves when watering to decrease disease problems. Sage adds bold flavor in cornbread dressing and sausage. Bake a few sprigs in a chicken or turkey.
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Good border and container plant. There are many varieties, but my favorites are lemon, English and French thyme. The creeping varieties are nice ground covers and for walkways and rock walls, but not great for culinary uses. Use in dressings, stocks, vegetables, sauces and meat dishes.

ORGANIC PEST CONTROL

Trisha Shirey, Director of Flora and Fauna, Lake Austin Spa Resort

Outdoor Pest Control: It is important to remember that of the millions of insect species known to man, less than 2% of them are harmful to humans and their crops. Organic gardeners know that healthy soil will lead to healthy plants that will have a balance of good and bad insects. When I observe an outbreak of insects, I don'timmediately think about what to spray. Instead, I look at the overall health of the plants. Are they too wet? too dry? in need of fertilizer? over fertilized? Insects typically invade in cycles. One year will be a bad one with grasshoppers, the next year may be stink bugs.

Careful observation of your plants to identify pest problems before they get out of hand is important. Many insects are easier to kill in their larval stage than as adults, so it becomes important to identify all of the various stages of insects.

Indoor Pest Control: Monthly spraying for insects is a thing of the past. New baits have been developed for almost every problem insect species, and they eliminate the need for toxic sprays. Pheromone traps can attract and kill insects quickly in areas that are difficult to treat with toxic chemicals such as clothes closets and food pantries. A new generation of pest control products that utilize essential oils and extracts of herbs like mint, eucalyptus, clove and wintergreen are available to kill problem insects. Pest control operators have many new herb-oil-based products available also.

Pest control should not start with a spray or bait! First, identify the pest. Then try to find out how and why it is inside. If sanitation measures or caulking and sealing are inadequate, no amount of chemicals will be satisfactory.

Tips and Techniques for Landscaping with Deer

Trisha Shirey, Director of Flora and Fauna, Lake Austin Spa Resort

Fences and Netting: Deer don'ttend to jump where they can'tsee, so a 6— wood, privacy fence will keep them out.

For wire or chain link fences to work they need to be at least 7-1/2— high, but 8— is better. Wire strands can be run along the top of the fence to extend the height. A pregnant doe can jump a 6— fence from a standing position.

Deer jump high, but not wide. Two shorter fences spaced 4— apart are expensive, but can work if local codes don'tallow a higher fence. A shrub line inside the fence or vines to obscure the view inside the fence can make a single, lower fence effective.

Electric fences can be difficult to manage, dangerous for children and pets and easily jumped. A baited electric fence can be effective. Spread peanut butter at intervals on a 30” high wire. Deer taste the peanut butter and get a shock. They will avoid an area after being shocked.

Black polypropylene fences are less expensive to install and barely visible from a distance. They should be secured to the ground at intervals to prevent deer from digging under them. Stakes can be placed 12— apart.

Deer will often be deterred by a 1”x4” board placed along the top of a shorter fence. This acts as a visual barrier and they are concerned about hurting their legs if they don'tclear the top board.

Deer netting can be placed over plants that are very attractive to deer, such as vegetables. The netting comes in many sizes: 7— wide x 100— long, 14— x 14—, 4— x 50—, etc. The netting should be held up over the plant material by pvc pipe, stakes or rebar. Deer will push it down and eat the plants through the netting if it is laid on top of the plants. We fashion rebar hoops from 3/8” rebar and pin the netting down on each side with U-shaped soil staples. The netting can also be used to fashion fences around tomatoes or peppers or larger vegetables.

Deer will go under fences if there is a large enough opening. Netting should be installed fairly taut so that deer cannot become entangled in it and break their legs. If handled with some care, the netting should last for several planting seasons.

Repellants and Deterrents: Deer rely heavily on their keen sense of smell, excellent hearing and 270° visual field. They especially rely on their sense of smell to determine what to eat. Repellants typically use rotten eggs, garlic, hot peppers or urine to mask the flavor of normally desirable plants to essentially train the deer not to feed in an area. The sprays vary in the amount of time they stay on the plants, and usually need to be reapplied after heavy rains. Some repellants are not safe on edible crops, so be sure to read the labels.

Liquid Fence has worked well for us at Lake Austin Spa Resort. We buy the concentrate in quarts and spray at least every two weeks. It is available at the Natural Gardener, Home Depot and liquidfence.com (888/92FENCE). Keep the new growth treated to prevent browsing.

Recipe for deer repellant spray: Mix 2 tablespoons of hot pepper sauce, 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap, 1 teaspoon garlic powder with one gallon of water. Beware that it may burn tender plants.

Motion-controlled lights or sprinklers can act as deterrents if moved around frequently. I have not had much success with soap or hair as repellants.

Some have success with white plastic bags tied to posts or other garden structures. It is thought to mimic the white flash of the deer'stail when in distress. Move the bags around periodically to keep this working. Aluminum pie tins that clang may also frighten the deer. Water sprays or floodlights that operate with motion detectors will work if they are moved around with some frequency.

Dogs may be one of the best deterrents you can have. Not all breeds work equally well. Dogs with a strong herding or guarding instinct will probably be more successful.

Resources:

• Battery-operated posts for repelling deer. I have found them to be the most effective of this type. See wirelessdeerfence.com.
• Hart, Rhonda Massingham, Deerproofing your yard and garden; Environmentally responsible deer control techniques that really work, Storey Books, Pownal, VT 05261, storey.com
• Web Sites with Plant Lists and More Techniques: List by Patti Simons of deer resistant plants for Texas. The most complete list I have found. http://www.npsot.org/plant_lists/deer_resistant.html
• Homemade repellant info, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/repellents.html
• Newsletter with lots of information. A free edition and a members-only edition. mydeergarden.com
• Good list of deer resistant plants for Williamson Co., TX. http://agfacts.tamu.edu/D8/Williams/AG/HomeHort/deerresistant.htm

JAN/FEB 2006

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Recent tragedies—weather-related and otherwise—have made us all aware that we need to plan for emergency situations as best we can. We need to be prepared for any disastrous event: fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, rain storms, etc.—even picketers and terrorists!

Fire Policy / Protection

A fireproof policy would be a very smart start. Open flames and guests are a bad combination. Any guest who gets burned will probably find a way to burn the property back—probably with a lawsuit. Begin with a clearly published and posted policy for any food-and-beverage service involving flames. Some hotels strictly prohibit any such service, while others allow flaming dishes and drinks. It is very important to train and supervise staff to offer and monitor such service safely. If flaming of any sort is allowed, be sure to check the property'sliability insurance policy to make sure appropriate coverage is in place and not excluded.

Hotels are required by the common law to exercise “reasonable care” for safety of their guests. This rule, however, does not fit all. What might be reasonable for an adult, could be unreasonable for a baby. For instance, if a candle is burning near a baby, who might be fascinated by the light, staff should ask if the candle should be removed for the child'ssafety. Staff should always use common sense first, but they should also be trained to always err on the side of guest safety.

Candles that relight themselves, or “Magic Candles,” have a printed warning on the box which states, “Limit use to 10 candles per cake.” If the candle company established 10 as a “reasonable” safety limit, hotel management should logically follow suit and never exceed it. “Magic Candles” are only amusing until a lawsuit is filed. Ban them.

The simplest policy is banning any use of candles. Battery-powered fake candles are a safe option. Of course, they're not romantic, but a skin graft for a third-degree burn isn'teither. One or two numbered candles would solve most demands for candles.

Flaming desserts such as Bananas Foster which includes use of a chafing pan with Sterno portable heat can be problematic. Rum is poured over the tasty dessert and lit. Restaurant management will need to determine whether the revenue from such dangerous dishes is worth the chances taken and the cost of the insurance coverage. Should the decision be in the affirmative, service staff must be well trained and supervised for guest safety in the preparation and service. A fire extinguisher on the service cart is a must. All bottles of flammable products should be separate and not on the service cart. The alcoholic ingredient should be poured from a small 1- or 2-ounce container, and not from the bottle.

Management must decide whether the risk is worth the thrill of exotic drinks and dishes. Burn cases can be catastrophic.

For fire protection, sprinkler systems for properties of more than 2 floors and for properties with guestrooms which open on interior hallways are important. Restaurants, public areas and back-of-house should also have sprinklers. There has to be a big savings in insurance costs as well as possibly saving lives in case of fire. Whether mandated by law or not, installing sprinkler systems is the wise thing to do.

Marshall, Anthony, “Set a fireproof policy on birthday
candles, flaming desserts,” H&MM, April 4, 2005

NOV/DEC 2005

MARKETING GREENNESS

Marketing is as important to the success of any business as any aspect of business can be. In the hospitality business, no matter how wonderful your rooms, your food, your service; they will rarely alone keep you in business. You must let prospective guests know of your existence, your offerings, your rates, and, in this instance, your greenness. The whole process of marketing greenness is to, first of all, BE green. Once your property truly is green, it'stime to market that aspect, that niche area, to potential guests and clients.

For hotels, marketing should be accomplished both internally—to current guests, clients, vendors and staff—and externally—to prospective guests and clients.

Internal marketing of greenness can be as simple as displaying a stack of newspapers in the lobby or employee area with a sign stating that the stack shows how many newspapers the property recycles each day, each week or whatever. It'simportant to also state how many tons of newspapers have been recycled from your property since a particular date. Now, that'sa no-cost visual style of marketing. Internal marketing of greenness could continue to all organic-cotton bed and bath linens. Should you choose to add such a special comfort to guestrooms, be sure to let current and future guests know that they can expect to enjoy those luxurious sheets and towels.

External marketing could be a press release on your green accomplishments—an award won for environmental effectiveness, a new decision regarding an addition to guestrooms such as choosing to use non-toxic, all-natural cleaning products, or an important eco addition to your restaurant'smenu such as a free-range chicken dish. External marketing also can be advertisements, giveaways, speaking engagements, seeking awards, community activities, networking, etc.

We—ve received some wonderful, exciting ideas from our members which you will soon be reading. GHA plans to make “marketing greenness” a subject that we will address each year in our November/December newsletter issue. So, we ask that each of you make notes or send us information on areas of “marketing your greenness” that you find to be successful as you find them.

Now, we begin with the wise words of Tedd Saunders, President, EcoLogical Solutions Inc. and Co Owner and Executive VP, The Saunders Hotel Group. Often credited with pioneering luxury, urban ecotourism worldwide, Tedd is recognized for creating some of the most acclaimed environmental models in the hospitality industry. He first implemented this innovative business approach in 1989 at his family'shistoric Boston properties: The four-diamond Lenox Hotel, the charming Copley Square Hotel as well as the Park Plaza (until 1996) and, most recently, The Comfort Inn & Suites Airport/Boston. The Copley Square, The Lenox Hotel and the Comfort Inn & Suites Airport are all PARTNER MEMBERS of GHA.

In 1992 he founded EcoLogical Solutions, which has since advised His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales— Business Leaders Forum, Harvard University, Choice Hotels International, Taj Hotels of India and The White House Conference on Tourism, to name a few. Author of The Bottom Line of Green is Black, Tedd speaks internationally to business and political leaders and sits on numerous boards, including Harvard'sSchool of Public Health, The New England Aquarium, The Woods Hole Research Center and The Union of Concerned Scientists— National Advisory Board.

DOING WELL BY DOING GOOD . . . MARKETING
How you—ll benefit, once your customers know about your environmental efforts

By Tedd Saunders, President, EcoLogical Solutions Inc. and Co Owner, Executive VP,
The Saunders Hotel Group, TSaunders@EcoLogical-Solutions.net

Environmentally and socially responsible business is one of the hottest trends in both the corporate and consumer worlds—and for good reason.

Companies like Ben & Jerry—s, 3M, The Body Shop, Stonyfield Farm, Sunoco and The Saunders Hotel Group have known for years the multi-faceted benefits of good corporate stewardship. Aveda, BP, Nike, Starbucks and even General Electric have seen the wisdom in undertaking major environmental commitments.

Some might assume that these top companies are taking visible, efficiency measures simply to reduce operating costs—and they would be right—but only partially. If these and many other companies wanted “just” to cut costs, they would quietly go about their business instead of spending considerable time actively promoting their efforts to the public.

The plain truth is that beyond bottom-line savings, genuine environmental initiatives have proven to build customer loyalty and employee team spirit—which are both invaluable and hard to replicate.

At The Saunders Hotel Group, when we pioneered mainstream, urban ecotourism in the late 80s, we also changed our corporate motto to “Preserving The Past And Protecting The Future.” Ever since, we have not only worked to incorporate environmental elements into every aspect of our operation—but also in our communications to guests, team members and our community.

In essence, we want to make sure our customers, employees, neighbors and peers know that in addition to running a sound business, we care about issues that affect them and their families. Ask any top marketing person, and they will tell you that building consumer loyalty is one of the most valuable things a business can do. Simply put, connecting your business to issues consumers care about is a win-win strategy.

Before I review some details, let me give you a very helpful word of caution. To avoid the appearance of “greenwashing,” don'tannounce your program until it is substantial. A good test is when you can tell your friends and family the program'sdetails—with real pride.

In 1989, I had waited a year-and-a-half into our implementation before announcing the program. That strategic delay enabled us to put enough substantial efforts in place that we won over even the most skeptical press writers and producers.

This patience, combined with innovative measures, helped The Saunders Hotel Group get featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Good Housekeeping and National Geographic Explorer and on CNN, NPR (National Public Radio) and NBC Nightly News, to name a few—and 16 years later, the positive stories continue to this day.

The Eco brochure we created for every guestroom is the most visible element of the program for guests. The cover of the brochure asks customers the question “Don'tYou And You Family Deserve A Safer, Healthier World?” Inside, we share our Environmental Commitment, key eco-initiatives and annual resources saved, as well as international press quotes and awards SHG has won. It'sa wonderful piece because it summarizes the most important parts of our effort and presents the program in an upbeat, easily understandable way.

Here are some of the other communications steps we—ve taken, roughly in the order that guests see them:

• Website eco page—soon to have a link to our Ceres Sustainability Report
• Signage on vans about air pollution benefits of our CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) airport shuttles
• Signage on building exterior regarding engine idling to encourage guests and delivery trucks to turn off their engines
• “Eco Chic” and “Tread Lightly” weekend packages with lobby displays
• Pool sign at CI&S (Comfort Inn & Suites Boston/Airport) about the benefits of eliminating swimming pool chlorine via an ionization system
• Towel and sheet cards—the first in the United States
• UCS— (Union of Concerned Scientists—) book, The Consumer'sGuide To Effective Environmental Choices, in every Lenox and Copley Square room on the coffee table
• Eco plaques in guestrooms (near light switch, bathroom sink and recycling basket) to encourage people to think about impacts of US consumption
• In-house Eco TV channel shows environmental videos
• Sticker on 2-chamber amenity dispensers tells people that we buy quality bath products for them while eliminating the disposal of 490,000 tiny, plastic bottles each year
• Handsome wood recycling bins in halls with signage
• Complimentary housekeeping-cart collection bags for recyclables
• Composting signage in CI&S breakfast area
• Eco guest suggestion box at CI&S
• Eco logos created to bring our environmental mission to life
• Regular eco column in hotel newsletter
• Eco bulletin boards in employee cafeterias with information on saving money and resources
• EcoTour of hotels for area business people, school groups and even competing hotel managers
• Environmental awards received (Presidential Gold Medal from former President Bush, 3 AH&LA Environmental Hotel of the Year Awards, Choice International, EnergyStar, National Wildlife Federation, British Airways) in lobby displays right next to service/excellence awards
• Weekend package and meeting rooms donated to environmental and other non-profit organizations
• Frequent speeches at conferences and articles written for the trade and business press
• Active participation on numerous environmental boards and innumerable efforts in Boston, nationally and internationally
• Reprints of major stories extend exposure and impact
• Sponsoring NPR's(National Public Radio—s) “Living On Earth” program

Other points to note:

• Some naysayers have tried to push the groundless idea that well-executed environmental measures lower quality. We therefore actively promote the fact that we value and consistently balance quality and service with our environmental commitment. Another slogan we use widely to make that point is “Serving You And The Environment.”

When creating materials for guests, employees or your community, recognize the “what'sin it for me?” phenomenon, and take into account what your audience cares about. That'swhy we use such headlines as “Don'tYou And You Family Deserve A Safer, Healthier World? on our Eco brochures.

Getting customers involved in your program is a wonderful idea; but, first, set an example. Before asking your guests to do anything themselves, implement a number of initiatives they can see or read about.

Now, I know this is an article on marketing and communications, but I want to stress the importance of measuring your accomplishments, which has several key benefits, including strengthening communications. Tracking reductions in your energy and water consumption for instance, will help you “make your case” to the outside world—providing plenty of “meat” for your printed materials, sales team, press stories and award applications.

Perhaps even more importantly, tracking consumption figures will also make it possible to know how you're doing and reward and motivate your people.

My final tip—you can show pride in your accomplishments, but avoid sounding like you think you—ve done it all. People don'tlike smugness or arrogance—and the truth is, as new products come out and consumer attitudes change, there are always more initiatives to put in place.

Good luck with your improvements, and thank you for making the future brighter for us all.

SEP/OCT 2005

CALIFORNIA AND TIME-OF-USE METERS

California is pushing toward another ambitious energy program that may set an example, and will certainly give a warning, for those of us in other states. Three big CA utilities (Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co.) plan to eventually replace millions of conventional electricity and gas meters with as many as 15 million high-tech “time-of-use” gas and electric meters at a cost of $3.6 billion! Today'smeters can'treport a consumer'senergy usage for a particular day, much less an hour.

The program is being pursued because of CA'scontinual need to curb growing energy use along with a wish to improve utilities— efficiency. The new equipment will give utilities immediate information on how and when homes and businesses are using energy. With that data in hand, the utilities could raise prices during peak periods to drive down energy use.

The utilities are now in the process of selecting equipment manufacturers for pilot programs. The utilities plan to pay for the new meters through cost savings and, possibly, higher rates. The time-of-use meters will solve the problem with what'scalled “dynamic pricing.” With the backing of the data from the meters, rates may be adjusted according to several variables, including demand, supply, wholesale prices and individual use.

The state and utilities have conducted a test to gauge consumer response to variable pricing. One plan charged consumers 13 cents a kilowatt hour for most hours except 2 pm to 7 pm weekdays, when the price rose to 25 cents. A few occasions required the price to be raised to 66 cents per kilowatt hour. Researchers found that the program reduced peak demand by approximately 13%.

Advanced meters with 2-way communications could allow utilities to remotely control energy-sapping appliances like air conditioners and pool pumps.

The utilities believe $700 million could be saved over a 16-year period by cutting the expense of meter readers as well as by improving outage detection and repair systems. The purpose is to reduce power demand swings with rate plans that motivate people to change their habits, but are not so extreme as to spark a revolt.

Variable rates for residential customers are new, but large commercial and industrial customers have been offered such programs for years. What'snew is the likely imposition of peak pricing during critical-use periods.

It'sbelieved that a properly-designed variable-pricing program could produce huge public benefits and give utilities impetus to think more innovatively. It is also believed that once the public understands the potential of meters to foster efficiency, consumers will embrace the meters.

Smith, Rebecca, “California Taps Updated Meters To Save Energy,” The Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2005

JUL/AUG 2005

ALLY MEMBER SUCCESS STORIES

GHA plans to honor its Ally Members once a year by publishing success stores that relate to hotels and will be of interest to you, our members. This issue is our first to focus partially on Ally Member successes.

OnyxPak® Wins Sustainable Design Award

Onyx Environmental Services— (OES) OnyxPak® product line has been awarded the Sustainable Design Award, as part of Lightfair'sNew Product Showcase. The new award recognizes a design that considers the impact on the environment, economy, health and productivity.

OnyxPak® is a simple, yet comprehensive program that provides everything a customer needs to recycle lighting and electronic waste in compliance with environmental regulations. Under the OnyxPak® program, one price includes the container to store and transport the waste, shipping to and from the customer, processing and certificates of recycling.

“The award represents Onyx'scommitment to developing recycling programs designed to help clients recycle lighting and electronic waste properly, protect them from future financial liability and ultimately protect the environment,” said John McShane, branch manager at OES— Electronics Recycling Division. “To have OnyxPak® recognized by the lighting industry is a positive step in educating society about the potentially hazardous and harmful substances contained within lighting and electronics products,” continued McShane. This year'sNew Product Showcase had over 220 entries, with 34 awards presented.

Onyx Environmental Services offers the most comprehensive hazardous waste services in the industry. With over 40 service centers, treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, Onyx offers a broad range of hazardous waste services to customers located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The Onyx Electronics Recycling Division, an ALLY MEMBER, is the largest recycler of fluorescent lamps in the world, processing nearly one-third of all the lamps recycled in the US. For more information on Onyx Environmental Services, visit http://www.onyxes.com.

Deirdre Imus Center's“GREENING THE CLEANING”

What do the best hotels and motels have in common with medical centers? They both have the highest regard for the cleanliness of their facilities and the health of their patrons. That is one reason why hotel/motel operators will welcome the award-winning Greening the Cleaning® program from the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® at Hackensack University Medical Center.

The Environmental Center represents the first hospital-based program whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent environmental factors that may cause adult and especially pediatric cancers.

Greening the Cleaning® means eliminating, to the greatest extent possible, all cleaning agents containing hazardous ingredients and replacing them with environmentally-friendly, non-toxic products that utilize natural or naturally-derived ingredients. In the case of disinfectants and sanitizers, effective natural substitutes that have been EPA approved do not yet exist, so the Center uses least-toxic alternatives.

While the Center strives to use only all-natural, or all-naturally-derived ingredients wherever possible, effective all-natural replacements are not available for every type of cleaning product at this time. For this reason, the Center currently offers its customers two lines of products: the DIN line, which contains predominantly natural or naturally-derived ingredients, and the DIC line, which contains some synthetic ingredients for which effective natural substitutes have yet to be developed. The disinfectants and sanitizers are in the DIC line, since the effectiveness of such products at killing germs is paramount and, to our knowledge, synthetic microbiocides are simply more effective than potential replacements of natural origin.

More than 50 facilities have implemented the program since 2001 with direct savings in cleaning costs ranging from 3 to 75%. Clients include The New York Health & Racquet Club, Modern Facilities Services (Newark Airport), more than a dozen healthcare facilities, a state housing authority, restaurants, schools and businesses.

“There are six main reasons customers switch to Greening the Cleaning®, beginning with efficacy,” says Jim Ronchi, project manager at the Environmental Center. “Customers tell us the products work as well or better than the cleaning products they were using. The Greening the Cleaning® program reduces toxicity, waste, storage space and cleaning costs. These products won'tharm your skin or irritate your eyes. To help ensure success, we train your personnel, which is really essential to avoid overuse because these are concentrates, and to get the expected cost savings.”

The Environmental Center discloses all product ingredients on the label, and its green standards are more stringent than other better-known green standards. Among other things, Greening the Cleaning® products must contain no known or probable human carcinogens, mutagens or teratogens; and no ozone depleting compounds, greenhouse gases or substances that contribute to smog. There are also no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), combustibles or aerosols, and all products are readily biodegradable.

The line of institutional cleaning products spans virtually everything a hotel/motel might need¾all-purpose cleaner, window wash, rug and upholstery shampoo, spot removers, toilet bowl cleaner, air fresheners and hand soap. For more information, visit http://www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=17866 or call the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center at 201/336-8071.

XLERATOR SUCCESS

Nestled along the banks of the Colorado River in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, London Bridge Resort and Conference Center boasts some of the most striking views of the world-famous London Bridge, which was purchased from the City of London in 1962 and reconstructed on the site in 1971.

Similar to its namesake, this English-inspired resort with its winding walkways, manicured grounds, hidden gardens, and exotic foliage, is reminiscent of an era gone by. Located on 110 acres of waterfront property, the resort offers 122 suites.

“All of our facilities are designed and maintained to meet the needs of discriminating guests from around the world,” says Finn Hauchrog, Maintenance Director, London Bridge Resort. “But, we also feel that it'simportant to be environmentally savvy.”

Hauchrog recently began working to adopt additional environmentally-friendly policies. In an effort to cut back on paper waste, Hauchrog installed four XLERATOR hand dryers to service Kokomo, the resort's10,000-square foot, four-level nightclub. “In addition to cutting paper waste, the dryers also helped decrease restroom maintenance,” adds Hauchrog. “Response from customers has been great.”

“XLERATOR hand dryers are designed to meet the needs of both customers and facility managers,” says Denis Gagnon, president, Excel Dryer, Inc. “The running joke with hand dryers is that after you use them, you still have to wipe your hands on your pants. Not so with XLERATOR! Its ability to dry hands so quickly is changing the way people think about hand dryers.”

According to an independent study, XLERATOR works in one-third the time and uses 80% less energy than traditional hand dryers. It also delivers a 95% cost savings when compared to paper towels. For more information about XLERATOR, visit the company'sweb site at http://www.exceldryer.com.

DILEKA'sSUCCESS IN MALAYSIA

ALLY MEMBER Waterealm, importer and distributor of Dileka, a revolutionary water conditioner, purifier and softener that transforms ordinary city water into highly ionized, pH balanced and negative-ion-rich water, tells of a hotel at the top of the mountain. We know that any water that is at the top of any mountain will impact many and all on its path to the sea as well as the sea itself.

Hotel Bellevue in Penang, Malaysia, is a hotel at the top of Penang Hill, which is a major conservation area with water catchment forest reserves well protected by the Malaysian state government. The hotel is located at 800 meters (2,600—+) above sea level, with a spectacular panoramic view of the rest of Penang Island and its sea. The hotel also happens to be the setting of a book, “The Critical Path” by Buckminster Fuller, a famous architect, who was a regular guest at the hotel.

The hotel had the Dileka water conditioner installed in November, 2004, because of its long standing commitment to promote the use of detergent-free wastewater. Because of Dileka'ssuccess in purifying, conditioning and softening the water and because of management'sdetermination not to impact others or its sea, the hotel uses no soap, shampoo or conditioner and almost no detergents for washing or cleaning.

Hotel guests shower only with Dileka water and are often surprised at its softness. Many guests also respect management'sintent of not releasing wastewater downstream that is polluted with chemicals.

Hotel Bellevue intends to repipe its plumbing system so that it can install another Dileka, thereby fully extending Dileka water'sbenefits to its kitchen and laundry facilities, and completely eliminate detergent usage at the hotel.

At the moment, towels and sheets are washed with water only or occasionally with a minimal amount of detergent. They are dried in natural sunlight. At the hotel kitchen, almost no detergents are used, and disinfection is successful with sunlight and salt only.

The hotel also maintains a room reserved for healing using Dileka water and special salt. To learn more, visit http://www.waterealm.com or call Anna Jung-Ah Park at 888/870-4791.

Wausau Paper'sNew Dispensers and Tissues

Wausau Paper has introduced new bath tissues and dispensing systems in their Bay West product line. OptiCore™ bath tissue dispensing systems are available for either 2 or 3 rolls of tissue. The new OptiCore™ tissue is provided in either premium DublSoft™ or 100% recycled EcoSoft™ (single or double rolls), which is Green Seal® certified. The OptiCore™ program provides facility and property managers with innovative, environmentally-preferable products.

Wausau Paper offers a complete line of Bay West® brand towel, tissue, wiper, soap and dispensing systems for the away-from-home washroom market.

This new technology reduces product waste, maintenance time and costs. For more information on Bay West® products, call customer service at 800/723-0001 or see http://www.baywestpaper.com.

DIBB AB BREAKTHROUGH

Four-year ALLY MEMBER Dibb AB brokers raw organic cotton and produces organic cotton yarn, fabrics and finished products, including bed and bath products and tampons.

Dibb AB is excited to announce that they have entered into a contract with the largest chain store in Finland, SOK/ Prisma, to sell its Krav and SWAN-certified organic cotton towels and sheets in 46 of the stores!

According to SOK, the organic cotton products made from cotton grown by the Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative, have a much higher quality and last longer than similar products made from conventionally-grown cotton.

The deal represents the first time that such products have been made available to consumers on such a large scale in Finland. Dibb already sells its organic towels and sheets to COOP Sweden, retailers in northern Europe and many hotel chains in Scandinavia and resorts near the Mediterranean Sea and in the Canary Islands.

For further information contact Per Holmberg, Managing Director, see http://www.dibb.se or e-mail hakan.skoglund@dibb.se.

MAY/JUN 2005

NEW “GREEN” PRODUCTS

Airider Vacuum Cleaner

The new wheel-less Airider vacuum cleaner hovers just 1/8” off the floor, so is suspended almost weightlessly as it sucks up dirt and dust. The result is much less wear and tear on carpet because there are no brushes continually revolving at high speed in direct contact with the carpet. (Wool carpet requires such brush-less vacuuming.) Another benefit is that wheels will not leave behind scratches on wood or other flooring.

In development for almost ten years, this Scottish vacuum will retail at about $400. The vacuum canister is bagless, and can be emptied via a front-release clip. According to the company, air is directed from an inlet on the vacuum'supper casing on an angle, passing through an electrified conduit, where the air is then delivered to the exhaust port. The air chambers receive pressurized air from the exhaust port and stabilize the underside surface to maintain a horizontal relationship with a floor surface, creating air flotation lift.

The 1,400-watt motor moves air through the system at more than 200 mph. A thermal cut-off protects the motor from overheating. The vacuum weighs 10.5 lbs., and, of course, must be carried when not vacuuming. HEPA-standard filtration and washable filters, as well as a button-release extendable hose are other features.

Check it out at http://www.airridersystems.co.uk.

Swisher, Kara, “Clean Sweep: New Vacuums Purr and Hover,” Home Economics,
The Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2005

Bosch Formula Vacuum

The Bosch Formula vacuum is elegant, powerful, pricey and as lithe a vacuum as there is on the market. Its cost is $500-600 depending on the model. Its compact teardrop shape is very appealing, as are the colors (sahara orange, samoa blue and cherry red). The 12-pound unit moves well, and its 12 amps and 1400 watts of power allow it to suck up everything in its path. It has 3 swivel wheels, multiple filters and curved handle that works the on/off switch, which come together to make this the high-end bagged vac to beat this year.

But, best of all is this vac'slack of noise: only 65 decibels¾perfect for hotels, where noise is always an issue.

Learn more at http://www.boschappliances.com/vacuums/default_formula_series.asp?m=true.

Swisher, Kara, “Clean Sweep: New Vacuums Purr and Hover,” Home Economics,
The Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2005

Salton'sSweepEze Vacuuming Dustbin

This bagless vacuuming device is for cleaning hardfloor surfaces. It sits on the floor next to a wall, and as one sweeps dust and dirt to its base, it is said to detect debris and automatically begin a timed vacuuming cycle. A button can also be tapped with the toe. It features a 600-watt motor and can be used for tile, wood, vinyl, concrete or any non-carpeted floor. It is marketed under the Westinghouse brand.

The big advantage of the $50 SweepEze is eliminating the need for stooping, bending or inhaling dust as when using a dustpan. The collection container is easy to empty. A larger version is also available.

See http://www.esalton.com/control/catalog/category/~category_id=C20000.

Swisher, Kara, “Clean Sweep: New Vacuums Purr and Hover,” Home Economics,
The Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2005

Ozonator

If there'sa problem with refrigerator odors, you may want to check out the Ozonator by Ozone King LLC. The small appliance sits in the refrigerator blinking away and releasing ozone once each hour. The goal is to oxidize, and thereby destroy, harmful germs and bacteria, molds and yeast that may cause infection or incidents of disease and illnesses than can be transmitted by contact with foods, food containers and other hard surfaces inside the refrigerator.

An independent study proved the Ozonator is very effective in eliminating strong food odors and protecting storage life of strawberries and other produce. The shelf life of cut cantaloupe was more than doubled by storage with the $50 Ozonator. Learn more at http://www.ozoneking.com.

GHA has no idea how much better the Ozonator would be than an open box of baking soda.

Swisher, Kara, “Home Show to Feature High-Tech Cleaning; Ozone for the Fridge,” Home Economics,
The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2005

Shark Steam Bottle

Steam cleaning and its wonderful benefits have been discussed before in this newsletter. Cleaning without toxic or any other chemicals is now available via this hand-held piece of equipment. The Shark Steam Bottle is lightweight and compact for convenient use, and its 14— power cord allows mobility.

The system heats in just 30 seconds for quick clean-ups. Because the system does not work on pressure, you can refill the bottle and use it quickly to steam-clean everything from countertops to a vehicle'shubcaps. Clean, deodorize and sanitize with steam. Give any surface a few squirts of steam, and wipe away the dirt.

Included with the $60 Shark Steam Bottle are a window squeegee, angle adaptor/steam concentrator, 3 nylon detail brushes, a microfiber cloth, filling flask and filling cup. Read more or purchase at http://www.sharkcompany.com or several other web sites.

Swisher, Kara, “Home Show to Feature High-Tech Cleaning; Ozone for the Fridge,”
The Wall Street Journal, March 17, 2005

Hoover SteamVac™ Dual V™ Widepath™ With Auto Rinse™

This new floor-cleaning appliance works at having it all: heated cleaning, 6 removable, rotating scrubbing brushes, wide path, automatic detergent mixing system and hand tool with brushes for upholstery. A barefloor tool is available for use on hard floors. It washes carpet on the forward motion, and rinses carpet with clear water on reverse motion.

Further information on this Hoover cleaner and many others is available at http://www.hoover.com.

GreenSpec®

GreenSpec is Building Green'spremiere product information service. It contains detailed listings for more than 1,800 environmentally preferable building products with descriptions, manufacturers— information and links to additional resources. All listings are screened and written exclusively by their staff. Unlike other directories, there is no charge for listings and ads are not sold.

The listings may be browsed by CSI designation, LEED credit, homebuilder category, green attribute, products that meet US EPA CPG recycled content recommendations or by listings added within the last 30 or 90 days.

The information may be purchased in printed form or by subscribing to the BuildingGreen Suite to access product listings and guideline specifications online.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/menus/

QuietRock™ and QuietWood™: Innovative Sound-Control Products

The most common strategies for noise control include adding layers of drywall, installing a sound-control layer such as Homasote® 440, staggering wall studs on wider sill and top plates to minimize acoustical bridging, providing double-stud walls with an airspace between, adding resilient channel (steel “hat-track” furring channel) over studs or joists, and installing resilient sound-isolation clips. One downside of most of these solutions is that they increase wall thickness to varying degrees, which corresponds to reduced floor area.

A relatively new solution is to use specialized sound-control drywall, QuietRock™, or plywood, QuietWood™, which rely on two distinct principles in reducing sound transmission. First, a thin layer of steel provides “constrained layer damping.” Second, two layers of a special viscoelastic polymer convert the energy waves from kinetic energy (heat). The physics of sound transmission are complex, but this solution is elegantly simple—and remarkably space-efficient.

QuietRock™ is available in several thicknesses. It is made by laminating the above-mentioned steel and viscoelastic layers between two sheets of paper-faced drywall. QuietRock™ and QuietWood™ are about ten times as expensive as conventional drywall and plywood—about $80 per 4— x 8— sheet for the QuietRock™ 530. While very expensive on a per-sheet basis, these products are often less expensive than conventional practices for achieving high-STC wall and floor systems—especially if the value of floor area gained from thinner walls is included.

Quiet Solution, Inc., 800/797-8159, http://www.quietsolution.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm?fileName=140309a.xml

noraplan Commercial Flooring

This resilient floorcovering is made from natural and synthetic rubber, mineral fillers and color pigments. Unlike alternative products such as VCT (vinyl composition tile) and sheet vinyl, this durable, low-maintenance floorcovering requires no maintenance coatings. noraplan contains no PVC, plasticizers or halogens. noraplan was the first rubber flooring to be awarded Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification in June, 2004 from the Greenguard Environmental Institute (http://www.greenguard.org). Available in rolls or tiles in a wide range of solid and muticolors, noraplan can be inlaid and combined in mixed installations of different styles and colors. Seams can be either hot- or cold-welded. The product comes with a 5-year wear warranty. The manufacturer, Freudenberg Building Systems, is ISO 9002 and ISO 14001 certified.

noraplan Commercial Flooring is green because it is an alternative to PVC flooring, is a durable or low-maintenance product and is made from a rapidly renewable product, rubber. 800/332-6672, http://www.norarubber.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2507

Ethos Carpet-Cushion Backing

The non-PVC Ethos™ carpet-cushion backing from C&A Floorcovering, Inc., is made from non-chlorinated polyvinyl butyral (PVB) safety-glass film collected when auto windows or other safety-glass panes are recycled. Ground recycled glass is added as filler, along with a small amount of aluminum trihydrate as a flame retardant. This backing is available for all of C&A'scarpet products at no added cost, but it must be specificed.

Reasons this product is green are because it is made from post-consumer recycled materials, it releases minimal pollutants and is an alternative to PVC. C&A Floorcoverings, 800/248-2878, http://www.cafloorcoverings.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2707

EP Henry ECO Pavers

EP Henry manufactures ECO Pavers, solid concrete pavers available in blended colors that measure 9-1/2” x 6-3/4” x 3-1/8”. It is an interlocking product that creates an aesthetic and durable pavement which allows water to infiltrate to the subsoil. EP Henry'sMonoslabs measure 23-1/2” x 15-5/8” x 4-9/16” and have a grid-like configuration with a multilevel surface. Monoslabs are primarily used as a permeable erosion control product. They are a way of paving an area without paving it over, allowing grass growth and allowing rainwater to percolate back into the ground. EP Henry'sTurf Paver is a lattice-like product that measures 23-5/8” x 15-3/4” x 3-1/8” and is commonly used for emergency access lanes. The grid-paving systems are typically seeded with grasses. The ECO Paver weighs 32 lbs. per square foot, the Monoslab 38 lbs. and the Turf Paver 23 lbs.

These products are green because they reduce pollution or waste from operations. EP Henry Corporation, 800/444-3679, http://www.ephenry.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2482

microwatt™ and personna™ Systems

Lutron Electronics is a leading manufacturer of lighting control systems including the microwatt™ and perSONNA™ product lines. microwatt™ is an automated control system that computes proper light levels based upon daylight intensity, occupant sensors and timed schedules. microwatt™ is available in a digital web-based format that offers power consumption monitoring, server-based options, etc. personna™ is a wireless infrared control system for dimming of electronically-ballasted fluorescent fixtures.

Dimming ballasts are beneficial because a rich visual experience can be created which adds flexibility to any room. Staff can set preferred light levels for specific tasks or events. Dimming saves electricity and reduces the demand on HVAC systems, and also helps maintain lamp life. The use of occupancy sensors, daylight sensors and time clocks with fluorescent dimming can help manage the lighting in an entire building and further reduce electric demand.

Energy efficiency makes these products green. Lutron Electronics, Inc., 888/588-7661, http://www.lutron.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=1466

Garden Roof® Assembly

American Hydrotech'sGarden Roof® Assembly combines the MM 6125®-EV waterproofing membrane (minimum 25% recycled content), a root barrier (water drainage/retention devices engineered specifically for landscaped roofs) and optional rigid foam insulation. The assembly is lightweight and able to accommodate a wide variety of vegetation and soil depths.

The Garden Roof® allows the design professional to transform virtually any flat or gently sloped roof into a landscaped environment. Designed as a lightweight, low-profile system, the Garden Roof® assembly can be safely installed on roof or plaza decks not engineered to handle the heavy load requirements of a traditional green roof. And, because the assembly incorporated Hydrotech'sMonolithic Membrane 6125®, a proven roofing-waterproofing membrane, the building owner can be assured of a water-tight structure.

Advantages of the Garden Roof® assembly include:

• Enhances building'sappearance
• Adds space for client and guest use and recreation
• An answer to the “Urban Heat Island” problem
• Stormwater management because 50-90% of a typical rainfall will be retained
• Improves building'senergy efficiency
• Processes airborne toxins and re-oxygenates the air
• Creates therapeutic and peaceful environments

This product is green because it reduces energy loads, is manufactured with both post-consumer and post-industrial recycled material and reduces pollution or waste from operations. American Hydrotech, 800/877-6125, http://www.hydrotechusa.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=1148

High-Performance Fiberglass Windows

Inline Fiberglass is a world leader in pultrusion, a patented technology used to manufacture fiberglass windows and doors. A number of units meet or exceed the 0.30 U-value threshhold for GreenSpec with some quadruple-glazed, krypton-filled units rating as low as 0.18. The windows are designed for strength, minimum thermal transfer and optimum viewing area. These fiberglass windows have built-in strength that lends features and advantages not possible with other materials.

Green value is found in these windows because they reduce energy loads on buildings and because they are a durable or low-maintenance product. Inline Fiberglass Ltd., 416/679-1171, http://www.inlinefiberglass.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2202

Sun Control with 1600 PowerWall® and 1600 PowerShade®

This pre-engineered sunshade system effectively reduces solar heat gain, is silent and pollution free. The 1600 Powerwall® and 1600 PowerShade® are integrated photovoltaic curtain wall systems with photovoltaic cells. These polycrystalline or amorphous silicon solar electric modules convert light energy from the sun into electricity without using fossil fuels. Fully tested, they can be incorporated into vertical and slope glazed applications. These products conserve valuable natural resources.

This product'sgreenness is based on its renewable energy and fuel cells. Kawneer Company, Inc., 770/449-5555, http://www.kawneer.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=444

FSC-Certified Lumber, Plywood Products

Potlatch Corporation has a strong commitment to the environment and a reputation as the leader in forest conservation efforts. The corporation became the first publicly-traded US timber company to certify timberland in 2004, according to Forest Stewardship (FSC) standards. Potlatch is producing chain-of-custody FSC-certified Hem-Fir and Douglas Fir-Larch framing lumber, inland red cedar decking and siding, and Douglas fir and white fir plywood from three chain-of-custody-certified mills on their 668,000 acres in Idaho. These products are stamped with the FSC logo when required for specific sales. FSC-certified product sells at a premium price, with the primary market being the West Coast. Few suppliers stock Potlatch FSC-certified wood to date. Most sales are by special order for specific jobs.

This product is green because it is certified wood. Potlatch Corporation, 509/328-0930, http://www.potlatchcorp.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2748

CavClear® Masonry Mat

CavClear® Masonry Mat is an airspace maintenance and drainage material designed to be installed full-height behind brick or stone. The matting prevents obstruction of the cavity drainage airspace and also prevents formation of energy-conducting mortar bridges. A properly functioning drainage system free of all mortar obstructions is a prerequisite for a masonry design to achieve maximum thermal efficiencies and reduced maintenance and repair costs. CavClear® is a nonwoven plastic mesh made from 100% recycled plastic (25% minimum post-consumer content) and is available in thicknesses of ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1-1/4” and 1-3/4”. It is also available bonded to EPS insulation.

Reduction of energy loads and manufacture using post-consumer recycled material makes this product green. Archovations, Inc., 888/436-2620, http://www.cavclear.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=1708

Green Leaf Series Cabinets

Cabinet King'sGreen Leaf series uses PrimeBoard® ag-fiber particleboard (made from agricultural residue fibers and a formaldehyde-free binder) for sides, tops, bottoms, backs, shelving and drawer bottoms, and FSC-certified wood for frames and drawers (sides and backs). Finishes are either Safecoat® Acrylacq or PrimeBoard'sall-paper-based melamine. Forbo Marmoleum® will also soon be available as a countertop option. Adhesives are water-based. Cabinet King is also a dealer for cabinets made by other companies, as well as a line of green building products including PrimeBoard, Marmoleum, Safecoat finishes, Titebond® solvent-free construction adhesive and Bonded Logic recycled-cotton insulation.

Because these cabinets are made of certified wood, release only minimal pollutants and are made of rapidly renewable products, they are green. Cabinet King, Inc., 877/422-2463, http://www.cabinetking.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2557

Solar Mulching Mower

This sun-powered mulching mower makes mowing a pleasant, quiet task without the use of oil, gasoline, pull-cords or choking exhaust. A dependable Black & Decker electric engine uses sun for power. The 19” mulching blade sends nutrient-rich clippings back to the lawn. Quick-set height allows you to customize your cut. A rear-bag can be used when mulching leaves. 3—Hx2—Wx5—L, 60 lbs., $795. See http://www.realgoods.com, http://www.gaiam.com or other sites.

EcoVeil™ PVC-Free Interior Shade Screening

EcoVeil™ is an interior shade-screen product line for commercial buildings made from a thermoplastic olefin (TPO) yarn called Earth Tex™, developed by the Twitchell™ Corporation. EarthTex is an infinitely recyclable “technical nutrient,” and MechoShade encourages customers to return EcoVeil screens to the company when they are no longer wanted. This is the first solar-shade screen to earn an approval rating from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC (MBDC). These shades are washable and antimicrobial, resist UV degradation, and are about a third lighter than conventional shade cloth. The fabric currently comes in 8 colors, with an openness factor of 5%. Weaves ranging from 1 to 12% are expected to be introduced this year. MechoShade offers several manual and automated systems for raising and lowering the shades.

This product is green because it reduces energy loads and is made with an alternative to PVC. MechoShade System, Inc., 718/729-2020, http://www.mechoshade.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2742

Ultra Flush™ Pressure-Assist Toilet

The 1.6-gallon pressure-assisted Ultra Flush™ elongated-rim toilet from Gerber evacuated 665 grams of solids with a 6.1-liter flush volume in MaP (Maximum Performance) testing protocol, giving it a grams-per-liter rating of 109. In the same tests, the floor-mounted, rear-discharge model evacuated 575 grams with a 5.3-liter flush to achieve the same grams-per-liter rating of 109. These toilets have a minimum water surface area of 12”x10” and glazed 2-1/8” trapways. The Ultra flush line uses Sloan'sFlushmate® flushing system and have a 5-year warranty. These toilets are on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power'sSPS-Certified Pressure Assist Ultra-Low-Flush Toilet list.

This product is green because it conserves water. Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC, 847/675-6570, http://www.gerberonline.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=166

TimberSIL Nontoxic Pressure-Treated Wood

TimberSIL is a sodium-silicate-based pressure-treatment system for wood that relies on a mineralization process rather than toxins to prevent infestations and decay. The patented chemistry and heat-treatment process result in the infusion of microscopic glass “crystals” throughout the wood, providing a permanent, insoluble treatment with no dusting or leaching. The treated wood is odorless and nonvolatile, is not corrosive to fasteners, does not cause excessive wear on tools, and typically has a brown color to distinguish it from other treated-wood products. Standard TimberSIL treated wood carries a 40-year warranty for interior use and up to one year of outdoor exposure; TimberSIL Plus carries a 40-year warranty for outdoor applications, including ground contact. As of October 2004, this new product is not yet listed with the International Code Council; approval for use is granted by local jurisdictions.

This product is green because it is an alternative to CCA-treated wood, releases minimal pollutants, reduces the need for pesticides and is a durable or low-maintenance product. Timber Treatment Technologies, 866/318-9432, http://www.timbersil.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2743

Paper Holder

Save a minute hundreds of times each year as housekeepers replace bathroom tissue rolls in guestrooms with a hooked paper holder. Available in several brands at varied prices on several sites.

Sloan Solar Faucet

The first solar powered electronic faucet'sintegrated power plant transforms light into electrical energy. Optimal performance any place, any time, in sunlight or even artificial light. The unique “Solar Energy Module” utilizes any light source efficiently. Sloan'snew EAF-275 Series electronic hand washing faucets operate by means of a dual infrared sensor and microprocessor-based logic. The modular design incorporates all of the operating components of the faucet, including the sensor, solenoid, circuitry and solar energy module above the sink within a die-cast metal spout. 0.5 gpm aerator regulates water flow. Electronic sensor automatically turns water on/off. Integral temperature control.

Sloan Valve Company, 800/982-5839, http://www.sloanvalve.com/index_2770.htm.

FlushMate IV

The FlushMate IV pressure-assisted toilet flushing mechanism is a water-conserving (only 1.0 gpf) flush mechanism produced by the Sloan Valve Company. The FlushMate IV uses an airtight flushometer vessel inside the toilet tank. The inner tank is pressurized by the incoming clean water after the toilet is flushed—as it refills, air becomes compressed at the top of the tank. The next time the toilet is used, this pressure provides a high-velocity flush that very effectively evacuates wastes and prevents clogging. The mechanism is available in some models manufactured by Mansfield, Capizzi, Mancesa, St. Thomas Creations (Vitromex), Vortens and perhaps others.

These 1.0 gpf toilets are known as High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) because they use at least 33% less water than standard 1.6 gpf toilets.

Water conservation makes this product green. FlushMate (800/875-9116, http://www.flushmate.com), A Division of Sloan Valve Company, 800/982-5839, http://www.sloanvalve.com.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/productDetail.cfm?ProductID=2750

MAR/APR 2005

FOREVER RESORTS LIKES TO KEEP IT BLUE AT LAKE AMISTAD RESORT & MARINA

PARTNER MEMBER Forever Resorts— Lake Amistad Resort & Marina (http://lakeamistadresort.com) is thinking “green” and working hard to keep it blue in one of the prettiest lakes in southwest Texas, Lake Amistad. A National Recreation Area, this clear-water lake was created when Amistad Dam was completed in 1969 on the border of Texas and Mexico. This 58,000+ acre man-made lake is fed by 3 rivers—the Rio Grande, Devils and Pecos rivers and has over 900 miles of shoreline¾a longer shoreline than the whole of Texas— Gulf Coast.

Lake Amistad Resort & Marina is a concession operation in the park providing a full service marina, slips, store and a fleet of luxury rental houseboats, deck boats, powerboats and fishing boats to visitors to this national park. Having an operation in a national park brings along a responsibility to the public to not only offer quality services, but provide them by setting the example as environmental stewards in the park.

Forever Resorts gives top priority to the preservation and conservation of our natural resources. In 2003, Forever Resorts was certified to ISO 14001, becoming the first US multi-site marina, hospitality and lodging operator to have the distinguished endorsement / certification for all its domestic operations. The international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) is a formal set of policies and procedures defining how organizations manage potential impacts of its products or services on the environment and the health and welfare of the people who use them.

During 2003 Lake Amistad Marina also became a Clean Texas Marina¾one of the first national park marinas in the state to do so.

Recent renovations at Lake Amistad Resort resulted in keeping their environmental initiatives; a priority which included the demolition of a 30-year old all-wood dock and its replacement by a half-million-dollar 80-slip floating dock. The walking surface chosen for the new dock is comprised of Weyerhauser'sChoiceDek (http://www.choicedek.com/products/) boards—made of recycled cedar and plastic fibers. ChoiceDek boards are manufactured in Junction, TX by Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc. (325/446-3430, http://www.aertinc.com). The wood fiber used in ChoiceDek is heartwood aromatic red cedar chips, amassed after the fragrant oil was extracted for perfumes. The chips have been piling up since the 1940s, and now form a 400-acre mountain that should meet AERT'sproduction needs for 40 years.

A 1— high galvanized metal structure connects encapsulated Styrofoam floats to the walking surface of the new, state-of-the-art dock which is anticipated to have an indefinite life. Wooden docks usually have a life of 20-25 years. The new dock features a 3-phase electrical system which will accommodate electrical use by boats in all 80 slips as well as provide new lighting and a new fire suppression system for the marina.

Of course, marinas must provide lighting for safe walking on the dock at night. Larry Lively, General Manager, chose Marina Power & Lighting's(800/723-8009, http://www.marinapower.com) Hatteras 30”- tall Lexan-housed light fixtures whose 13 watts of amber fluorescent bulbs provide 360° of light and shine downward. The purpose of this particular lighting system is to provide adequate lighting for safety of guests and allow for low lights to not detract from the beautiful star-filled sky in this remote area. These lights would be perfect for any garden or courtyard area at any hotel.

A state-of-the-art fire suppression system was another important feature of the new dock. A 15-hp. central pump provides lake water in case of fire, and can be turned on via a start switch in hose cabinets placed at 100— intervals along the dock walkway.

The other half of the Lively team, Susan, Office Manager, says, “General cleaning around the boats and store is accomplished with EnvirOx'sH2Orange2's117 Concentrate solution, (800/281-9604, http://www.h2orange2.com) which is used in and on refrigerators aboard the houseboats. “We love to use the H2Orange2 Mineral Shock on the copper-bottom pans provided in the houseboat kitchens because it shines them right up, and they look fabulous with no scrubbing. In fact, we—ve replaced all our pots and pans with copper-bottom ones because they look so good when they're shiny. For cleaning windows, mirrors and all glass, we dilute Windex one to 10. Vinegar is used when cleaning our drinking fountain in the store because it removes water spots easily. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is used in bathrooms, especially those that might have odors. Our —green— steering committee is constantly looking for new —green— products.”

The lake has risen 56— during the last ten months, and is now at its highest level in the last 11 years. Because the water is steadily rising, it means that the shoreline has to be cleaned up every day—new trash is constantly floating to the marina'sshores.

The resort'sstore offers a number of environmental products for sale including T-shirts made from recycled soda bottles, drinking glasses and decorative accessories made from recycled glass bottles, bathroom paper and tissue made from recycled paper and recyclable trash bags.

The resort has an ongoing recycling program and collects and recycles cardboard, aluminum and plastic. One of the most unique recycling efforts at the marina has been provided by Berkley Fishing Company. A collection box is provided for collecting and recycling used fishing line and reels. The line is sent back to the manufacturer where it is melted down and made into fish habitat. Discarded fishing reels are also collected and returned to the manufacturer for recycling. (Call Berkley at 800/237-5539+4+3 to order FREE line and reel collection boxes.)

Recently, Lake Amistad Marina was notified by the Environmental Protection Agency that they will be receiving a National Environmental Performance Track Award this spring. To date a total of fourteen Forever Resorts— properties have achieved this outstanding recognition from the EPA.

See Forever Resorts— Environmental Commitments page at http://www.foreverresorts.com/environmental.cfm. Larry and Susan welcome your praise, comments or questions at 830/774-4157 or larm@delrio.com.

JAN/FEB 2005

HABITAT SUITES HOTEL IS VERRRY GREEN!

10-year CHARTER MEMBER Habitat Suites Hotel in Austin, Texas, is one of our greenest member properties. The 20-year old, smoke-free property has 72 1-bedroom suites and 24 2-bedroom suites on 2 floors. It is located across the street from Highland Mall's150 retail shops and 16 theaters, and is 8 miles from downtown. The spacious suites (570 sq. ft. 1-bedroom and 780 sq. ft. 2-bedroom) satisfy travelers with full kitchens, real fireplaces, windows that open, dual-line data phones with voice mail and free local calls. Amenities include an outdoor pool and heated whirlpool spa with an ionized water system. Also available is a coin-op laundry and a hospitality hour during the week with beer, wine and light snacks. The hotel was not designed or built with ecological considerations in mind.

The managing partners of Habitat Suites Hotel, Eduardo Longoria and John McCready, had a vision and commitment to a sustainable future. So, this award-winning hotel is a model of environmental consciousness for other hotels to follow. Programs in air quality, land use, energy efficiency, waste reduction and management, recycling, resource conservation, water quality and conservation, human health and public education make Habitat Suites a pleasant place to stay for their guests and a more profitable business for owners.

STAFF: One of the most significant results of their very thorough environmental program is that employee turnover is virtually non-existent. A core group of 18 of their 23 employees have worked at Habitat Suites from 3 to 14 years. Five employees are part-time seasonal workers. Management actually has a waiting list of people who want to work there. Employees have their own community on the property¾a support system, a “family” and they take care of each other as well as hotel guests and clients. Guests see the same faces visit after visit. Housekeepers are not “on the clock.” They are paid $3.75 per room cleaned each day. Stayover rooms take about 20 minutes to clean while checkouts take approximately 30 minutes to clean. So, these very efficient housekeepers earn about $8.50 to $8.75 per hour and generally work from 9 am till 1:30 pm. They are paid as though they—ve worked a full 8-hour day at the $8.50+ rate. Housekeepers then have more time with their children and families or may choose to earn more money by cleaning homes or offices. Common areas are cleaned twice a day. In the morning before work at about 5 or 5:30 am, kitchen staff clean common areas which inspectors clean at about 2 pm each afternoon.

OCCUPANCY: Habitat Suites— average occupancy rate for all of 2004 was 71%, but it was 76% for the first nine months of the year. These numbers are well above the area average of 55% occupancy. Average stay is 4.3 nights per visit.

GUESTS: Another astounding fact is that 85% of Habitat Suites— guests are repeat customers. Natalie Marquis, General Manager, says, “If guests know you have an interest in them, it affects them in a very positive way.” The property is an independent and does almost NO advertising and has no branding. All business is via word-of-mouth. Natalie believes that 75 to 80% of their guests are state or Federal employees.

Habitat Suites does have a reward program for recommending a new guest. The person recommending receives a $20 gift certificate to any restaurant or chain in the Austin area. Because a room discount would not reward an individual who is on an expense account, it'sfelt that the restaurant or other gift card is a better way to reward the person recommending.

GUEST ROOMS: Guestroom baths are provided with Aloe Vera-based biodegradable, 100% natural, vegetable-oil based personal care products with no dyes or artificial scents from 2-cartridge dispensers. No little plastic bottles are discarded. Biodegradable, unbleached 100% recycled-content Preference facial tissue and Gulf Coast coreless bathroom tissue are available in suite bathrooms.

All units have either a porch or a deck with a bench or chair for outdoor enjoyment. 72 of the 96 suites have fireplaces. Pine Logs, a composite, are provided because they burn cleaner than real wood and burn completely. High-efficiency HVAC systems are central rather than window units. Filters are washed monthly and reused. The ducts are cleaned monthly as far as can be accessed with vacuum tools and hoses. Live plants are provided in each suite to help clean the air. All suites have windows that open for natural ventilation.

CLEANING SOLUTIONS: Maintenance and housekeeping staff are exposed to virtually zero chemical offgassing. Only nontoxic, phosphate-free natural cleaners are used. When Natalie realized that the property was trucking in and recycling 220 1-gallon containers of Melaluca'scleaners each month, she determined that a change had to be made. She now deals with a local vendor, Ecowise, who purchases Bi-O-Kleen'sorange oil in 55-gallon drums. He transfers the product to 5-gallon containers which are delivered to Habitat Suites. At delivery, he picks up the empty 5-gallon containers for reuse. So, there is no waste and the property is buying locally.

The orange oil is a concentrate which is diluted in a standard 32-oz. spray bottle, 2 ounces to 30 ounces of water for cleaning bathrooms. The concentration for cleaning and degreasing in the kitchen is bumped up to 2-1/2 to 3 ounces in a 32-ounce bottle. The product is odorless on drying, and there is no offgassing and no residue. Laundry detergent is Bio-Kleen'sECOS which is citric-oil based. When necessary, which is very seldom, a non-chlorine bleach (Earth Friendly brand) is used for whites. Vinegar and water is used to clean mirrors and glass. Baking soda is used for cleaning refrigerators. The furniture polish recipe is 1 part linseed oil to 3 parts lemon oil on a damp cloth.

LAUNDRY: The property has one large 60-gallon Unimac washer used for most of the laundry, and it has a 20-gallon water-recycle tank on top. The final rinse water from one wash is stored in the top tank and then used for the first wash cycle of the following wash. This recycle tank saves about 350,000 gallons of water annually. One smaller washer is used for duvet covers or lighter jobs. Guests are given the option of reusing towels and not having sheets changed every day to save on water, detergent, energy and labor.

FABRICS: All-cotton sheets are provided on all guest beds along with down-alternate pillows. Bedspreads are being replaced with washable microsuede duvet covers which are washed at checkout if soiled. If the covers are not soiled, they are simply rinsed and fluff dried. All upholstered furniture in guestrooms is covered with chenille fabric. As draperies are replaced, new styles with thermal reflective liners are being hung in the suites to keep rooms naturally cooler. Sheers are also being installed on all guest windows, so there is privacy and the benefit of natural sunlight simultaneously.

WATER: 1.5 gpm showerheads and 1.5 gpm sink aerators conserve thousands of gallons of water. The aerators alone have reduced the amount of water used by 20-25%. These and other water-saving efforts save 6,410 gallons of water per day—almost 2,400,000 gallons per year! The single Waterless No-FlushÔ Urinal recently installed in the common area restroom will save an estimated 50,000 gallons of water annually.

GHA'sFAVORITE: The hotel observes stress-reducing “quiet hours” from 9 pm to 9 am. Signs throughout the property remind guests to protect each others— quiet during these hours. Anyone who violates this rule is asked to leave the premises, pay for their suite as well as for the suite of the guest/s they disturbed and are placed on a “Do Not Register” list. What a grand idea!

SWIMMING POOL: Their outdoor pool and heated whirlpool spa use an ionized water system. An Aquarite Salt Generator was just installed a few months ago. This eliminates the use of chlorine in the pool, eliminating the use of about 250 lbs. of chlorine tablets a year! Now, they simply add 50 lb. bags of solar salt crystals (Lowe—s) about once a month. The salt water is circulated continuously over an electrode, producing sodium chloride which is stable and has no odor. The salt is barely detectable to the taste, but almost matches eye salinity, making swimming with your eyes open a delight. Also, the salt increases buoyancy, making the water feel more like a dip in the ocean than your standard chlorinated pool experience. Management is especially proud of eliminating all that chlorine use.

LANDSCAPING: Native plants and flowers have been planted on the grounds because they require less water. Ewing water-saving sprinklers with variable-head nozzles are used as needed in the evenings. Grounds are maintained with the use of natural, nontoxic fertilizers such as Medina, seaweed, “manure teas” and colloidal rock phosphates. Pests are controlled with natural pyrethrins and beneficial nematodes. Trees have been planted to shade suites from the summer sun while lowering air conditioning costs. Vines on plant trellises and on brick work reduce energy use. Organic landscape trimmings are composted and returned to the gardens. Plans are afoot to build a pond in front of the guesthouse that will capture air conditioner condensate that now flows out into the parking lot. The pond will be inhabited by fish, snails and perhaps a turtle or two to keep the algae cleaned up. This will add to the already abundant wildlife on the property such as lizards, birds, butterflies, frogs and insects. Ladybugs populate the grounds as well. Fruits, berries, nuts, herbs and medicinal plants are maintained for use in the kitchen and to help feed wildlife.

RESTAURANT: A full, complimentary breakfast is the only meal served. Everything from Organic Whole Oat Groats, soy milk, brown rice syrup and Kukicha (Twig) tea, free-range scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, biscuits and gravy are served daily. Habitat Suites— goal is to make healthy choices available while choosing the highest quality, locally-grown products possible. Guests are also invited to try something new—like twig tea instead of coffee. One vegan and one macrobiotic entree are offered at breakfast. Nothing is deep fried, which eliminates the need to recycle grease.

RECYCLING: Individual recycling bins are provided in each suite and throughout the hotel. Paper, newspaper, cardboard, aluminum, metal, glass and plastics are recycled. The property now recycles 2.5 times the volume of trash that is put in the dumpster. Because the size of their dumpster could be reduced, waste-hauling costs have been lowered by $80/mo, saving almost $1,000/yr. Waste Management handles both trash and recyclables, and charges only $23/mo. to haul recyclables. There is no income from the recyclables. Quarterly trash audits are conducted by volume rather than by weight. All recycling data sheets are in English and Spanish, so staff knows what is recycled and to reuse the plastic that can'tbe recycled for mixing cleaners, etc.

Buying recycled-content products and minimizing consumables is a big part of their recycling program. Natalie says, “We must be totally aware of exactly what is going into the landfills, and we must do everything we can to reduce that volume.” All hotel promotional and sales materials are printed on recycled paper and printed with soy-based ink.

ENERGY USE: Programmable thermostats, which can be cycled off by the city during peak demand times, were installed 2 years ago and have reduced electric consumption by 11%. The reduction was offset by a 3% increase in their energy demand due to some remodeling projects. So, overall energy cost was down by 4%. Their energy costs might have actually gone up if they hadn'tenrolled in Austin'sGreen Choice Program, which resulted in a 24% reduction in their fuel charge. Five years ago Habitat Suites signed a 20-year contract that locked in their energy rates. The contract has been a fabulous money-saver, and also made their solar energy rebate (see following) possible.

Last December motion- and heat-activated “people sensing” programmable SmartSystems Thermostats using a radio frequency were installed in all guestrooms. It is estimated that energy use will be reduced by an additional 32,000 kW annually with these new thermostats. The guestroom temps float between 66° and 76°F when guests are out of the room, but can return to the preferred setting within 17 minutes when the guest returns. Energy savings have resulted in removing an estimated 156 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—the equivalent of planting over 5,300 trees or removing 34 cars from the streets.

As a result of Habitat Suites— environmental and conservation efforts, their overall utility bill is in the 23-27% range of their total expenses—refuting the perception that it is prohibitively expensive to operate in an environmentally sound manner. Window tinting on windows that receive direct sun, radiant barriers under roofs, proper ceiling insulation, weather stripping and duty cycling timers on circuit breakers all reduce energy use. All guestroom light fixtures have compact fluorescent bulbs. Water heaters are lowered to an efficient temperature—125°F in summer and 130°F in cold winter months.

SOLAR ENERGY: Primarily because of a very generous (almost 80% of the total cost!) City of Austin rebate program, Habitat Suites will have 108 solar panels installed beginning January 11. This will be the largest on-site solar generation program of any hotel in the country and one of the largest commercial applications in the state. The rebate has made it possible for Habitat Suites to install the maximum number of PV cells the property can host, with a rating of 97% efficiency! Meridian Solar (512/448-0055, chip@meridiansolar.com) is in charge of this project.

METAL DOORS: The property had 20 metal in-service entrance doors that were about to be replaced because the bottom 5” of the doors were rusty. Instead of replacing them at $600 per door (totaling $12,000), staff reworked the bottom of the doors by placing wood in the bottom of the doors, using Bondo as filler, sanding and painting. A low-VOC exterior paint recommended by Austin Energy'sGreen Building Program was used to paint the doors. A huge saving was the result and nothing went to the landfill!

FLOORING: Habitat Suites has taken a unusual tack in updating 3 kitchen floors. A slurry of magnesium oxide only 1/8” thick was poured on top of the vinyl flooring that was already in place to create beautiful new flooring. Magnesium oxide is a very old, very strong form of concrete that is being used again. It can be colored, and swirls and patterns can be applied. Nothing was spent to remove the old flooring and nothing was sent to the landfill. Cost is about $4.50 per sq. ft. Magnesium oxide can also be used to make repairs in grout and mortar. (GHA will cover this subject more extensively in a future newsletter.)

VENDORS: Because Habitat Suites— goal is to not pass on problems to others and to not send anything unnecessary to the landfill, vendors are encouraged to recycle whatever is being replaced. For instance, Lowe'sagreed to recycle all appliances replaced. Amtech saw that all replaced bulbs were recycled when the property changed over to fluorescent. Sales people understand the environmental goals of management, and notify Natalie with products that fit. Their Sysco salesman notified her of Sterno cans that can be refilled and of organic granola'savailability. We all make decisions with our dollars, and vendors must also believe in and work toward the property'sgoals.

OTHER:

• Only metal, refillable fire extinguishers with non-ozone-depleting chemicals are used.
• VendingMisers have been installed on their drink vending machines. They turn off the vending machines— compressors and lights when no one is present. The beverages stay cold, and the miser saves about $100 per machine per year in energy dollars.
• Motion sensors turn lights on and off in the guest laundry and guesthouse lobby restrooms.
• Directional fixtures outside prevent the overlap of exterior lighting, reducing “light waste.” The lights are staggered and have different lens so that coverage is complete without having 3 lights shining on the same area. Compact fluorescent bulbs in the outdoor fixtures save an estimated 88 kilowatts each day or 32,120 kW each year.
• Space for a community garden for employees has been cleared in the rear of the parking lot, next to the compost and mulch area, to grow fruit and vegetables organically. Seeds, plants, water and compost are provided by management. Employees will harvest as they like. It'sbelieved that giving staff this garden area will create better health and value for all of their environmental efforts.
• Paycheck envelopes are returned to the office for reuse.
• Curb stops in the parking lot are recycled plastic.
• Their dry cleaning service uses no toxic chemicals.

AWARDS:

• BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) “Success” Award, 1997
• BEST “Innovation in Waste Management” Award, 1997
• Texas Environmental Excellence Award for Small Business, 1999
• City of Austin, ICI Water Conservation Award, 2001
• ACRC-Environmental Vision Award, Landscaping and Composting, 2001
• TCRC-Environmental Vision Award, Comprehensive Program, 2001

Employees are encouraged to participate and implement new “green” programs, and are rewarded for taking initiative. An EcoBrochure detailing their programs is provided to guests, potential corporate clients, other hotels and environmental organizations desiring “green” hotels in their communities. The EcoBrochure is available to teachers, homeowners and others on request. Everyone at Habitat Suites works together in a commitment to ecological consciousness.

Natalie says, “There is a threefold motivation to sustaining an environmentally-friendly goal—the emotional component, the health component and the financial component. We know we are doing the right thing environmentally. Our employees rarely get sick because they are not exposed to harmful chemicals or other health hazards at work. Our guests enjoy our low rates ($79-$179) because we don'twant them paying more so that we can do the right thing. We are also helping to support small businesses, many of them local, which provide the environmentally-friendly products that we use. Habitat Suites Hotel also solicits ideas from guests as to what they would like to see implemented, and tries to accomplish what is possible.”

To learn more about Habitat Suites— environmentally-responsible management practices, see their Online Environmental Practices Brochure at http://www.habitatsuites.com. Natalie welcomes your kudos, congratulations, suggestions and questions. Call her at 800/535-4663 or e-mail her at nmarquis@habitatsuites.com.

NOV/DEC 2006

BEDS, BEDS, BEDS

The hospitality industry is in the business of selling sleep, yet hotels have been notorious for cutting corners on beds. Hoteliers have been guilty of a multitude of sins, from inexpensive foam mattresses to very cheap pillows and polyester bedspreads in shades of autumn that many guests toss into the closet shortly after check-in. Finally, bedding in hotels is improving, and guests are very happy because they're more comfortable and sleeping better while away from home.

Hotels have discovered through market research and customer satisfaction surveys that guests are saying, “Give me a good night'srest in a comfortably appointed room that is clean and comfortable.”

Starwood'sWestin Hotels introduced its Heavenly Bed five years ago. The Heavenly Bed is a custom-designed pillow-top mattress with 900 individual coils, three sheets ranging in thread-count from 180 to 250, a down blanket and five goose-down/feather pillows—all “cloud-white.” The bed has been so successful that it'sbecome the base of a retail business through which Westin has sold over 30,000 of the beds, sheets, duvets and pillows. The complete king-size ensemble sells online for about $3,000 at http://www.westin-hotelsathome.com/HeavenlyBed/bed.html.

Starwood'sFour Points by Sheraton'sFour Comfort Bed is now following in the footsteps of Sheraton'spopular Sweet Sleeper Bed. The Four Comfort Bed's“white marshmallow” experience will include an 11.5” thick Sealy Posturepedic mattress, four large pillows including two feather/down and two Euro Square lounging pillows, a 9” “Shock Abzzorber” foundation along with a duvet and cotton-blend sheets.

Marriott'sbedding revamp will begin in early 2005 with their top-rated hotels getting a 7” custom-designed Marriott Bed mattress along with three “Euro shams” (large throw pillows covered with decorative upholstery), triple sheeting with 300-threadcount sheets, and upgraded duvet-style down blankets, oversize comforters and feather pillows. Marriott introduced their bed package four years ago. Radisson'sguests will enjoy Select Comfort'sSleep Number mattresses, which can be adjusted for firmness. The mattress— air-chambered technology can adjust the firmness on a scale from 1 to 100. Custom linen sets include white 250-count sheets, feather and down pillows, a duvet and coordinated bed skirt. The majority of Radisson's90,000 beds will be upgraded in 2005 and 2006.

Hilton'sEmbassy Suites, Hilton and DoubleTree brands will have 12.5”-thick Serta mattresses to make guests comfy. Hilton dubs its creamy bedding version Suite Dreams by Hilton bedding. Even Hampton Inns are getting 200-threadcount sheets.

Hyatt'snew Grand Bed has been added to the list. Their new design incorporates a Sealy Posturepedic 720 Series mattress on a bed base as well as a box spring with a custom-designed fitted cover. Bedspreads are out at Hyatt and 21-ounce down blankets are in along with 250-threadcount triple sheeting. Ritz Carlton'ssignature featherbed is legendary.

Calls poured into the Omaha Bedding Company, Omaha, NE, last year after Julia Roberts gushed on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” that the luxurious beds at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago were one of her great pleasures in life. Four Seasons has already shipped over 4,000 of the beds to pleased guests.

Crowne Plaza'sSleep Advantage program covers all the bases going above and beyond all the rest. Implemented in all 100 hotels, the program includes luxe bedding—natural-colored duvet covers, pillow-top mattresses and cotton blankets plus seven pillows. There are also designated Quiet Zones on certain floors, drape clips, soft nightlights, sleep CDs and a sleep kit including ear plugs, an eye mask and lavender spray, topped off with the Guaranteed Wake Up Call. Wow! The program was developed with the help of Michael Breus of http://www.soundsleepsolutions.com. He narrates physical and emotional relaxation exercises on the CD provided to guests (also available on his website).

Mattresses: All innerspring mattresses consist of coiled springs sandwiched between padding. The higher the coil count, the more it costs. And, the more it costs, the thicker the padding, the more natural and more luxurious the materials and detailing. High-end mattresses often have a “pillowtop”—extra layers of softness sewn on both sides of the mattress. These extra layers can make the premium mattress up to 15” thick, which means new “high contour” or “deep pocketed” sheets are necessary.

The director of the Better Sleep Council says, “There are two aspects to consider concerning a mattress—comfort and support. In the comfort category, you—ve got plush and firm mattresses. In the support category, it's—appropriate— or —not appropriate.—” A Bassett Mattress Contract Division rep reports, “Mature guests prefer an extra-firm bed, middle-aged guests prefer medium firmness and younger persons have no preference.” Support is provided by the inner core of the mattress—springs, foam, air or water. A bed that gives appropriate support will conform to the spine'snatural curves and keep everything in alignment as if one were standing. If one wakes up stiff and sore, it'sbecause the spine is realigning itself.

Premium bedding may feature natural materials such as cashmere and silk beneath the quilting. A Stearns & Foster mattress is covered with imported Belgian damasks and sports brass air vents and brass corner guards. A handcrafted Heirloom mattress has pure silk on the top and pure wool on the bottom so it can be turned with the change of seasons.

High-end latex foam mattress manufacturers insist that their all-natural—and very expensive—material is more comfortable than innerspring mattresses because of what Latex International refers to as “conformability” to the sleeper'sbody. The organization cites studies showing that those sleeping on a latex foam mattress toss and turn 10 to 12 times a night rather than the standard 100 to 200 times.

The bedding industry recommends replacing mattresses every ten years or so, but luxury models are said to last three times as long. It is important to look at annual cost. If a mattress costs $260 and lasts 7 years, the annual cost is $37 per year. If a $600 mattress lasts 18 years, the cost per year is $33. Mattress size is another issue. Queen size seems to have taken the place of full size in most homes and many hotels. The extra sleeping space is very important, especially since Americans are growing taller and heavier every year.

There are over 800 companies producing mattresses. Each is devising an endless number of variations—different foams, different fibers, different configurations of springs and all different kinds of coverings. Each is trying to develop something a little bit different in a very competitive market, but the basic ingredients are all the same.

How long a mattress lasts depends on its care. A basic rule is to turn a mattress four times a year by flipping it over, and also turning it end to end. A fairly simple recommendation re turning/flipping mattresses is: Use a permanent marker to write “summer” at the head of the bed, “spring” at the foot. Flip the mattress over and write “fall” at the head and “winter” at the foot. Now if the current season is kept at the head of the bed, the mattress will wear evenly. A luxury mattress will give extra comfort and support for years, and also last longer offsetting the extra cost while providing guests more comfort.

Mattress companies have realized that the public is willing to invest in higher-end mattresses. Consumers understand the importance of a comfortable mattress and the results good sleep provides to one'sworkday. Consumers who spend $125 on a pair of running shoes that they wear only a couple of hours a week are not going to be satisfied with a $300-500 mattress that they sleep on for 8 hours every night for years. Also, when you consider that more than 16 million American adults under age 65 suffer with back problems, it'sno surprise that a good mattress is a high priority at home or when traveling.

GHA has generally felt that triple sheeting is an unnecessary waste, and perhaps something out of the past to protect guests from the old scratchy wool blankets. However, because triple sheeting assures guests of not having to touch or come in contact with blankets that are cleaned on a not-so-often basis, we feel triple sheeting is appropriate in many settings and situations. Anything that brings guests to your doors or makes them more comfortable, certainly regarding cleanliness, is a very important factor in retaining business.

If hotels would do one thing regarding bedding that is never done at home, it would be NOT tucking in all the sheets from head to foot. This issue has even been addressed on Seinfeld. Most hotels probably still use all flat sheets, and for ease of bed making and for appearance, housekeepers tuck all sheets under the mattress at the same time. When the guest wants to get into the bed, and tries to pull the top sheet out from under the mattress, both (or all three) sheets are pulled out. The guest must then partially remake the bed by tucking the bottom sheet back under the mattress. Such a small thing can be SO very aggravating. Hotels would do well to either use fitted bottom sheets or tuck only the bottom sheet under the mattress from head to foot as is done in most homes.

The platform bed has become more popular in homes¾making box springs unnecessary. Some like the spare look, the firmer and less resilient feel and the lower cost as well as the fact that platforms lend themselves to small living spaces. A platform that is larger than the mattress can even work as an instant nightstand and extra seating.

All the changes in hotel bedding reflect the shift to a residential feel in hotel guestrooms—helping guests feel like they're at home so that they rest better when traveling.

Mattresses made with all-natural products can be obtained from:

• Lifekind Products, 800/284-4983, http://www.lifekind.com
• Nirvana Safe Haven, 800/968-9355, http://www.nontoxic.com
• Samina USA, http://www.samina.com
• Shepherd'sDream, 800/966-5540, http://www.shepherdsdream.com
• Vivètique, Scott Carwile, Vice President, ALLY MEMBER, 11134 Rush Street, South El Monte, CA 91733, 800/365-6563, Fax 626/42-1590, Internet: http://www.vivetique.com, e-mail: sacarwile@vivetique.com
• Top-of-the-line, all-natural sleep systems that are individually crafted and hand-finished. Full range of luxurious innerspring, pocketed coil or layered mattresses and bedding made of Pure Grow WoolÔ, organic cotton and latex.
• White Lotus Home, 877/HAND-MADE, http://www.whitelotus.net

Some other mattress companies are:

• Bassett Mattress, http://www.bassettmattress.com
• Englander Sleep Products, Columbus, OH, 800/837-5337, http://www.englandertsp.com/Point_of_Sale.htm
• Omaha Bedding Co., Omaha, NE, 402/733-8600
• Posture Beauty Sleep, Dallas, TX, 800-R-U-TIRED, http://www.posturebeauty.com
• Sealy Mattress Co., Cleveland, OH, 800/707-3259, http://www.sealy.com
• Serta, Inc., Itasca, IL, 800/426-0371, http://www.serta.com
• Simmons Co. Contract, Norcross, GA, 800/347-9010

Large, Elizabeth, “Slumber numbers: Are high-end mattresses worth cost?,”
Baltimore Sun reprinted in the Houston Chronicle, November 16, 1997

Meade, Vicki, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Lodging, May, 1998, p. 81-84

Elliott, Christopher, “Sleep Tight,” Entrepreneur, February 2002

Four Points by Sheraton Turns up the Heat in Hotel Bed Wars, White Plains, NY,
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041014/145045_1.html, October 14, 2004

Thrasher, Paula Crouch, “Hotels bring out big fluff in bed wars,” Cox News Service, Detroit Free Press, August 18, 2004

Johnson, Avery and Li Yuan, Travel Watch, “Bedding War In Hotel Industry,” Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2004

Cho, Jenna, “A platform for sleep,” Hartford Courant reprinted in

the Houston Chronicle, October 30, 2004

SEP/OCT 2005

CARBON NEUTRAL? Offset carbon dioxide emissions?

Every day we are each responsible for the production of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere—by using electricity for cooling, heating, watching TV, drying our hair, etc. When energy is created at most of our utility plants (certainly where coal or diesel is burned to create electricity), harmful, invisible CO2 emissions are released into the air. When we drive our vehicles, fuel is burned and CO2 is released into the air. When we take a long driving or flying trip, we're responsible for a lot more of the atmosphere-impacting emissions. When a hotel'slaundry uses huge quantities of energy to wash and dry linens and when a hotel'sHVAC system uses energy to heat or cool, that energy usage creates emissions and the property is responsible for those emissions.

Atmospheric CO2 is critical to life on Earth. Without its insulating blanket, Earth'ssurface would be too cold to support life. But the scientists agree¾too much is not a good thing. Since the industrial revolution, atmospheric CO2 has risen to a level the Earth hasn'tseen in 450,000 years, and we're already seeing the early impacts of what are predicted to be seriously disruptive, even catastrophic, climate changes.

Carbon builds up quickly in the atmosphere and warms the globe as it does so. The world output of CO2 is estimated to be about 22 billion tons per year. One estimate concludes that by 2050 the Earth'seconomy may have to be nearly carbon neutral if severe climate change is to be avoided.

When gasoline burns, the resulting carbon atoms bind with oxygen to form CO2. Burning one gallon of gasoline, which is about 80% carbon by weight, puts 19.5 pounds of CO2 into the air. Driving a SUV for a year can create about five tons of the gas.

Being carbon neutral means a person or a business has offset their non-renewable energy usage.

The first and best way to offset energy usage and reach toward being carbon neutral is simply to be energy efficient. Hotels and we can make many choices—resetting thermostats, installing fluorescent bulbs, offering a towel and sheet program, using energy management systems, line drying laundry, driving less, etc.¾that will reduce CO2 impact. However, we—ll still be responsible for carbon emissions.

Certainly there are practical limits to how energy efficient we can be, so we need to look seriously at ways to offset the global warming impacts of the energy we must use.

The most straight-forward way of offsetting the emissions for which we are responsible is to plant trees because trees take in CO2 and release oxygen. So, trees remove CO2 and store it as timber in a process called sequestration. We can plant trees on our own or we can contribute to organizations that plant trees for us. However, even environmentalists argue whether planting trees to offset CO2 is a wise choice. Measurement of how much gas a tree takes in is difficult, and it is many years before a tree reaches maturity. Trees can burn down.

Another way to offset CO2 is to choose to purchase Renewal Energy Credits (RECs, also called green tags). We can purchase RECs by contributing to organizations sponsoring renewable energy and energy efficiency projects such as solar, wind or hydroelectric power because they reduce other people'sor businesses— harmful emissions.

Purchasing RECs is a way to support the production of clean, renewable electricity, which reduces CO2 pollution from fossil fuel electricity plants. Because of the way the electricity grid works, every kilowatt-hour of electricity from grid-connected wind farms and other renewable sources displaces a kilowatt-hour of electricity from fossil fuels. The resulting reductions in CO2 pollution can be estimated fairly precisely, and some non-profit organizations certify the CO2 results of REC purchases, such as the Climate Neutral Network (http://www.climateneutral.com). Just as you—d need to plant a certain number of trees to offset your CO2 emissions, you need to purchase a certain number of RECs, and in both cases it depends on where the trees are planted, and where the renewable energy is generated. From the Earth'sviewpoint, only the amount matters; where CO2 is produced or reduced is irrelevant.

Many REC providers offer calculators that people and businesses can use to estimate their CO2 emissions, simply by entering in the data (kilowatt-hours of electricity, gallons of fuel oil, therms of natural gas, vehicle and flight miles, etc.) and pushing a button. For more complicated business CO2 footprints, the World Resources Institute has excellent tools to help you evaluate your impact at http://www.safeclimate.net, or your REC provider can help.

The US EPA recently launched an online carbon calculator at http://www.usctcgateway.net/tool.

To calculate the CO2 emissions from energy usage at your property or your home:

• Multiply the number of electricity kilowatts used in a year by 0.00016. If the energy source uses hydroelectric, solar or wind power, emissions generated will be lower.
• Multiply the number of gas kilowatts consumed in a year by 0.00005.
• Add the two items above to learn the total kilowatts used in a year to find the number of tons of carbon created for your property'sor your behalf.
• Multiply the number by five for an approximate number of trees to be planted each year. The variety of tree and the location of the planting program will vary.

Avis Europe offers an option of paying to plant trees to offset gas emissions of their rental cars. Some hotels are involved.

To learn more about being carbon neutral or to go low-carb (not carbohydrates, in this case), see http://www.cO2.org, http://www.chicagoclimatex.com, http://www.self.org/index.asp, http://www.futureforests.com or GHA Ally Member http://www.nativeenergy.com.

“Offsetting carbon dioxide emission,” Green Hotelier,
November, 2001, p. 10-11
Regalado, Antonio, “New Lifestyle Option for the Eco-Minded: —Carbon-Neutral—”, The Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2004,
DiPaola, Mike, “Neutralize Yourself,” Conde Nast
Traveler, September, 2004, p. 114

JUL/AUG 2004

SAFER JANITORIAL CLEANING PRODUCTS

When choosing janitorial cleaning products, it is very important to obtain the material safety data sheet (MSDS) along with any other technical information. Use the information in determining which cleaning products to use. Here are three approaches to finding safer products:

• Evaluate the risks of alternative products yourself.
• Find cleaning products that have been certified as environmentally preferable by Green Seal or a similar organization.
• Find cleaning products that have been identified as environmentally preferable by major government agencies.

This article covers technical issues that need to be considered in determining if a product can be a risk to users, building occupants and the environment.

VOC Content

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to indoor air pollution and photo-chemical smog. Though cleaning chemicals are not the most significant source of indoor VOCs, Green Seal, a “green” product certification organization, states “they are a significant source of VOCs to the workers who use them.” Inhalation toxicity of any cleaning product is, therefore, an important factor in purchasing decisions.

MSDSheets usually list the VOC level of the product. If not, contact the manufacturer for a technical data sheet or other information that includes the VOC level. Massachusetts has found products in many categories with a zero level of VOC, and Federal regulations limit the amount of VOCs permitted in particular categories of cleaning products (see following table).

To Find Products with Reduced VOC Content:

• Avoid aerosol products because they almost always contain more VOCs than non-aerosol equivalents.
• Be sure the product is within the Federal legal limit for VOC content (see following table).
• Compare comparable products and choose the one with the lowest VOC level.

Skin and Eye Irritants

Many janitorial cleaning products contain chemicals that are either mildly or strongly irritating to the skin and/or eyes. These substances are typically either highly alkaline (with a very high pH of 11 or above) or highly acidic (with a very low pH of 2 or below). The pH level is usually listed on the MSDS under “Physical Data.” Products with either a very high or a very low pH level should be avoided whenever possible. A pH of 7 is neutral, so products with a pH closer to 7 are usually less irritating.

The Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project has published an extensive list of toxic chemicals potentially found in cleaning supplies that are irritating to the skin and/or eyes. The list indicates the severity of the effects of each chemical, ranging from temporary irritation to burns and blindness. For fact sheets on specific chemicals that the project recommends should not be used, that it recommends should be used only with extreme care (and avoided if possible), or that it recommends should be used with routine care, see http://www.westp2net.org/Janitorial/tools/riskevaluation.htm.

Green Seal has also looked at a variety of chemicals used in cleaning products and produced a matrix indicating which of these chemicals are highly or mildly irritating. This information can be found in Appendix A of Green Seal's“Survey of General-Purpose Cleaners, Bathroom Cleaners, and Glass Cleaners,” published 5/02 as part of their efforts to produce a standard for institutional cleaners. It is available at http://www.greenseal.org.

Toxic Chemicals

A wide variety of toxic chemicals are found in janitorial cleaning supplies, some of which are associated with human health effects and ecological impacts, including death, cancer, damage to major organs, and interference with normal reproduction and development, among other things. Toxic chemicals contained in cleaning products can be identified by reviewing product labels, MSDSs and web sites, although these can be limited. However, even if the only information available on the product is its MSDS, this can often provide sufficient information to enable potential users to make a decision about its use.

Allowable VOC Content of Cleaning Products*

Product Category	Federal Limit for VOC Dilution**	Green Seal Standard Limit	Lowest VOCLevel of Products Listed
Air fresheners, single-phase	70%	-	-
Air fresheners, double-phase	30%	-	-
Air fresheners, liquids/pumpsprays	18%	-	-
Air fresheners, solids/gels	3%	-	-
Bathroom and tile cleaners,aerosols	7%	-	-
Bathroom and tile cleaners,all other forms	5%	1%	0%
Dusting aids, aerosols	35%	-	-
Dusting aids, all other forms	7%	-	-
Engine degreasers	75%	-	-
Fabric protectants	75%	-	-
Floor polishes/waxes forflexible flooring materials	7%	-	-
Floor polishes/waxes fornonresilient flooring	10%	-	-
Wood floor wax	90%	-	-
Furniture maintenanceproducts, aerosols	25%	-	-
General-purpose cleaners	10%	1%	0%
Glass cleaners, aerosols	12%	-	-
Glass cleaners, all otherforms	8%	3%	0%
Laundry prewash, aerosols/solids	22%	-	-
Laundry prewash, all otherforms	5%	-	-
Laundry starch products	5%	-	-
Oven cleaners, aerosols/pump	8%	-	-
Oven cleaners, liquids	5%	-	-

*Note that states or localities may have more stringent limits. This table refers to the VOC level allowed in the ready-to-use product. To calculate the VOC level from a MSDS for a concentrate, divide the VOC level on the MSDS by the recommended dilution factor.

**Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Chapter I, Part 59, “National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Consumer and Commercial Products.”

- Signifies that no standard has been set or that no information is available on this type of product.

For example, para-dichlorobenzene (para) is a persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemical (PBT) frequently found in deodorizing urinal blocks. Para can be harmful to workers who breathe large amounts of the deodorant vapors and can also contaminate surface water or water supplies when flushed into the sewer system. According to the Agency for Toxic substances and Disease Registry, para has been found in 13% of surface drinking water samples in the US and in trout from the Great Lakes. It was also found in over 20% of the streams surveyed by the US Geological Survey in 1999 and 2000. Alternatives are available, such as sulfonated or enzyme-based urinal blocks. Another option is experimenting with cleaning practices that eliminate the need for the blocks. A county in New York tested several alternative deodorant blocks and then specified non-para-containing urinal blocks. Their new choice prevented approximately one ton of para blocks from entering the sewer system.

Because most jurisdictions limit the phosphate content of cleaners, most products on the market do not contain high levels of phosphates, which can promote algae blooms in bodies of water. Be aware that not all cleaners are affected under these laws including specialty cleaners such as trisodium phosphate (TSP). Other chemicals to avoid include ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and nitrolotriacetic acid (NTA). These chemicals are not normally biodegradable and can cause problems in water treatment plants by preventing the removal of metals from the wastewater.

Web Sites with Additional Information on Toxic Chemicals

To learn more about the potential human health and ecological impacts of particular chemicals and products, see the following:

• http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/ offers easy-to-understand information on the hazards associated with thousands of toxic chemicals and links to many other sources.
• http://www.westp2net.org/janitorial/jp4.htm provides fact sheets on janitorial pollution prevention and worker safety, information on particular chemicals used by janitors, and reports on the Santa Clara County and Richmond, CA, Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Projects.
• http://www.chemfinder.com is a searchable database of basic information and toxicology links for almost any chemical.
• http://siri.uvm.edu/msds is a material safety data sheet archive, providing links to hundreds of MSDSs for products and individual chemicals.
• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/81-123.html offers a database of occupational health guidelines for chemicals considered hazardous by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
• http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html offers a database of easy-to-read fact sheets on the hazards of a number of chemicals.
• http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/ offers a database of information on many toxic chemicals selected by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), as well as the NTP's“Ninth Report on Carcinogens” (released in 2000), with results of studies updated every two years.
• http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/rtkhsfs.htm offers fact sheets covering workers health and safety information on many hazardous chemicals.
• http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/emci/chemref/index.html, the US EPA'sMaster Chemical Integrator, is a single-location master list integrating the databases of chemicals monitored in all its major programs: Air, Water, Hazardous Waste, Superfund and Toxic Release Inventory. Invaluable in negotiating the maze of EPA resources on the web.

Some of these databases, and many of the certification organizations and government-sponsored pilot projects studying the toxic effects of janitorial cleaning chemicals, may also cite universally accepted sources of information such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (http://www.iarc.fr) and the National Library of Medicine'sToxNet database (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/). However, the nonscientist may find the information contained at these sites difficult to understand.

Dyes

Product dyes is another important issue. Some manufacturers are willing to supply their products with or without colorants. Factors to consider on both sides of the issue are: Undyed products are free of chemical dyes, which are often environmental toxicants and sometimes are carcinogens. Yet many cleaning companies prefer dyed products because they reduce the risk that janitors will mix up products, with dangerous results. One alternative is using colored bottles, or some other clear visual distinction between different products or different concentrations of the same product.

Packaging

In addition to differences in janitorial cleaning products themselves, amounts and types of packaging may differ among brands. To reduce packaging waste, many environmentally preferable cleaning products can be purchased in bulk or in concentrate form, and many come in containers that are reusable, refillable, recyclable or made with recycled content. In addition, a growing number of products come in containers designed to minimize occupational exposure when their contents are transferred to another container before or during use.

To Locate Products with Environmentally Preferable Packaging:

• Ask if the vendor will take back empty containers for reuse.
• Ask what kind of plastic (or other material) the containers are made of, and speak with the facility'srecycling vendor or an appropriate local official to find out if these containers are recyclable in your area.
• Ask the vendor if the packaging incorporates recycled content.
• Avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging, which is not recyclable and may contain metals and/or phthalates (these are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemicals and possible reproductive toxins).
• Ask if the product comes in concentrate form.
• Ask if automatic dispensing equipment is available to reduce waste and minimize worker exposure to the concentrate.
• Product Literature and Training Materials
• Product literature should provide adequate information to enable potential consumers to make decisions about when and how to use the product. If the information needed to make these decisions is not available, the manufacturer may not be committed to providing a safe product.

At a minimum, product literature should contain information on:

• How to store, mix and use the product.
• Any chemicals with which the product is incompatible.
• How to access the supplier'scustomer service department for answers to health, safety or environmental questions.
• How to properly dispose of unused products, wastes and containers.

Chapter 5, Selecting Safe Janitorial Cleaning Products: What to Avoid and What to Look For, Cleaning for Health, INFORM,
http://www.informinc.org/cleanforhealth.php

MAY/JUN 2004

ROOFING

Probably the most important part of any structure is its roof. When compared with other portions of a building envelope, the roof has a shorter life, is much less durable and less energy-efficient. Over the normal lifetime of a building, the average roof needs to be replaced four times. Over 75% of roofing work in the US is re-roofing, and it is the second largest contributor to solid waste generation in the US.

The goal is to keep rain, sleet and snow out and to shield the interior as much as possible from the sun'sheat. There are many choices of roofing materials, but probably true that the more costly the roof, the longer its expected life. Choice of roofing materials depends mostly on location, i.e., how hot or how cold temperatures can be. Geographically, roof system choices should be determined with regard for that area'sweather conditions.

The simple fact is that white reflects heat while black absorbs it, so dark roofs in hot areas are unwise. Light-colored roofs can have a reflectance value as high as 85% while a dark roof may have a reflectance value of 10% or less. Cool roof membranes reduce air conditioning energy required to maintain comfort and substantially reduce the peak roof temperatures. Reduced roof temperatures improve the durability and extend the life of the system. One study by the Florida Solar Energy Center found that AC energy use was reduced by an average of 23% via increased roof reflectance. Significant differences were also found in attic temperatures. A minimum energy savings of 10-20% is expected from an energy-efficient roof that incorporates a radiant barrier and light-colored roofing material.

In areas where hot weather is predominant, white reflective, lightweight roofing membrane is a common choice as well as single-ply or aluminum cap sheet roofs. Where wet winter weather is predominant, EPDM membrane or built-up roofing are the systems of choice. In cold, dry areas, insulated PVC membranes work well. Very wet areas require roofing that can tolerate standing water for long periods.

Moisture tolerance and wind resistance are the two major factors that improve the energy efficiency and durability of low-slope roofing systems. Moisture is the precursor to premature failure of roofing systems because the insulation is degraded, metal components such as fasteners and metal decks corrode and excessive weight is added to the roofing system. A study found that if low-slope roofing could be kept dry, over three-fourths of a quadrillion Btus of energy could be saved each year in the US.

Wind is the second largest contributor to premature roofing failure. About ten billion dollars is paid out in insurance claims each year to compensate for natural disaster losses, most of which are caused by wind. Approximately 50% of that money goes to replace roofs that have been damaged or lost because of wind.

Currently, the roof of a typical commercial building has an average life of 12 years and a 12 R-value. The goal of Oak Ridge National Laboratory'sR30/30 roofing program is to demonstrate the marketability of new roof systems that have an average service life of 30 years and a 30 R-value. For further information on the study, see http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/research/R30.htm.

Roofing Terms:

• Asphalt Shingles: Composition, Fiberglas or organic. White shingles are available with 40% reflectance. Crushed granite granules are pressed into the shingles while hot and soft. Usually contain an additive to inhibit biological growth to avoid roof discoloration. ISP Minerals of Hagerstown, MD, has developed a whiter white roofing granule which can be fabricated into shingles with reflectance exceeding 50%.
• Bitumin: Various mixtures of hydrocarbon products which can be natural or created through the distillation of petroleum or coal.
• Built-Up Roof: Also referred to as “tar and gravel” or “hot mopped” roofing, multiple layers create a flat or low-sloped roof. Layers alternate between felt and hot tar with a top layer of fine gravel.
• Cementitious Roofing: Tiles are made of steam-cured cellulose fiber-reinforced portland cement or concrete and are very durable, resisting weathering, insects, fire and fungus. Wind uplift is resisted by their weight.
• Clay Tile Roofing: Made of kiln-fired clay, it is one of the oldest and most durable of roofing materials. Extremely weather-resistant, fire-proof and insect-proof. Usually requires strong structural roof decks. Fastened with clips and fasteners. Cools quickly when temperatures drop.
• Coal Tar Pitch: A water-proofing material made of bituminous material used with tar and gravel built-up roofing.
• Coatings: Range from white paint to elastomeric, ceramic and aluminized coatings. Choose a reflective product that maximizes reflectance. Not all white or light-colored products are highly reflective. Choose long lasting products because they're good for the environment, are suitable for your application and have lower VOC levels.
• Fire Rating: Fire resistance ratings for roofs range from A (highest) to C (lowest). Some materials do not carry a rating. Choose a B rating, at a minimum. Products should be rated by an independent, third party organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories.
• Flashing: Whenever roofing is stopped and started again, or stopped, this seal prevents the entrance of water or wind.
• Longevity: Products with long lives are environmentally more efficient since they create little or no additional manufacturing, shipping, installation, disposal or environmental impacts. The value of the property can also be increased. GHA suggests products with a life of 20+ years be chosen.
• Membrane Roofing, Plastic: Also known as burnt-on roofing because it is flame sealed, this system is like a large, shrinkwrap sheet covering the roof frame and underlayment. The membrane may be made of a variety of materials, from rubber to thermoplastic. Common types are EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), CPE (chloro-polythylene) and CSPE (chloro-sulfonated-polyethylene).
• Metal Roofing: Available in aluminum, copper and steel, it can be purchased painted or coated. It is very durable and insect and mold resistant. Though it can be reflective, metal can get very hot.
• Recycled/Recyclable Products: These materials can reduce manufacturing energy consumption and pressure on landfills. Examples are aluminum panels made of recycled drink cans or tile that incorporates fly-ash (by-product of coal combustion) as fillers.
• Reflectance: Roofing material'sability to reflect the heat of the sun. A totally reflectant surface has a reflectance rating of 1 (or 100%).
• Standing Seam: A joint or connection which can be used on metal roofing
• Wind Resistance: In areas that receive high winds, look for products that have been rated for wind resistance or tested by an independent lab under simulated high-wind conditions.

For low-slope Florida roofs, roofing systems with one, two or three layers of conventional Fiberglas felt underneath work well. Also, coal tar pitch, either cold or hot applied, tolerates standing water and is probably the most durable. Metal standing seam systems fully enclosing the rooftop or installed as facades on the outer edges of the roof with a flat area inside the metal are appropriate.

Foot traffic on a roof is a critical issue when choosing a roofing system. When HVAC or mechanical systems are on the roof and must be maintained, foot traffic shortens the life of the roofing system. Tools and equipment can be dropped, damaging roofing. Any equipment on a roof should be sitting on mechanical curbs rather than directly on the roofing. The best choice by far is to have any equipment enclosed in a separate structure with a roof over it and raised off the roofing system. Built-up roofing is most common where foot traffic is an issue.

The height of the building is also important criteria when choosing roofing. If a building is more than two stories high, hot asphalt-applied systems are not advisable. The hot asphalt must be pumped up from the ground which means the temperature drops during application. Because of the danger of having a kettle of tar with an open flame on a roof, it is illegal in many municipalities because of the fire hazard.

Preventative maintenance is key to keep roofing doing what it'ssupposed to do—keeping water and wind at bay. Some maintenance suggestions of the Hostmark Hospitality Group are:

• Weekly: Walk the roof. Check to be sure all drains are open and functional. Remove any debris. Inspect for tears in the roofing system or damaged flashing.
• Every Six Months: Inspect rain caps. Caulk as necessary. Check all rooms under roof for staining from roof leaks. Repair as necessary. White roofs must be washed down about twice a year to maintain reflectance. Weather-degraded or dirty roofs are less reflectant.
• Yearly: Have the entire roof infrared scanned. Evaluate water concentration in images. If under warranty, a manufacturer'sor installer'srep should inspect the roof.

Many companies are now offering a truly green roof for flat roof spaces—a roof covered with grasses or sedums. These aesthetically-pleasing landscaped roofs provide the environmental benefits of clean air, reduced water run-off and energy conservation. The system replaces the conventional exposed roof surface of asphalt, concrete or stone ballast with an engineered system of plants, soil and drainage over a highly-reliable waterproofing membrane. The low-maintenance system also provides ecological benefits and contributes to municipal goals of decreasing roof areas while increasing green spaces.

Simon, Elaine Yetzer, “Roofing needs to be covered throughout a hotel'slife,” Hotel Operations, H&MM, July 1, 2003, p. 38, 40.
Building Envelopes Program (BEP), http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/index.html
Roofing: Keeping Cool Topside, Choose Green Special
Report, Green Seal, 1997, 10p
http://eande.lbl.gov/coolroof/asshingl.htm
http://www.arcat.com/arcatcos/cos33/arc33385.cfm
Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing, 800/527-7092, http://www.carlisle-ccw.com

MAR/APR 2004

ANTIMICROBIAL PRODUCTS

The US Environmental Protection Agency'sOffice of Pesticide Programs describes antimicrobial products as those “used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms” which are bacteria, viruses or fungi on inanimate surfaces, but not in humans or animals. Because many terms are used to describe antimicrobials, it is important to distinguish them by their properties.

Please note that antimicrobials should not also be used as cleaning products. The surface should be cleaned first with a true cleaning product, and then an antimicrobial product should be applied to rid the surface of harmful microorganisms remaining.

The most common antimicrobial products used to control microorganisms infectious to humans are:

• DISINFECTANTS are used “on hard inanimate surfaces and objects to destroy or irreversibly inactivate all forms of microbial life but not necessarily their spores” which are the developmental reproductive form of a microbe. All disinfectants do not kill all types of microbes and viruses, but the label of each product should reveal the microorganisms against which the product is effective.
• The EPA says a product may be labeled a “general” or “broad-spectrum” disinfectant “if (it) is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.” A disinfectant product may be labeled hospital- or medical-grade only if it meets the requirements of a general disinfectant and is also effective against the nosocomial bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Tuberculosis or HIV microbes are not necessarily killed by hospital-grade disinfectants.
• SANITIZERS are “used to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate microorganisms . . . to levels considered safe as determined by public health codes or regulations . . .. Non-food contact surface sanitizers include carpet sanitizers, air sanitizers, laundry additives and in-tank toilet bowl sanitizers,” according to the US EPA.
• STERILIZERS are products “used to destroy or eliminate all forms of microbial life, including . . . their spores.” Sterilizers are primarily used on medical instruments that enter the body in health care settings.
• ANTISEPTICS are products used to destroy a variety of microbes, but because they are used in or on people or animals, they are not generally referred to as antimicrobial. Instead, they are considered drugs and are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not used by housekeeping staff in their work.

All antimicrobials (except those intended to treat animals or humans) are considered pesticides by the US EPA, and they are registered and regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Manufacturers must also provide detailed information on the product'schemical composition and documentation of its effectiveness against specific microorganisms and any hazards associated with its use. Despite these regulations, remember that “unreasonable adverse effect” is open to interpretation—many registered pesticides will have some adverse effects on human health and the environment.

The status of a registered pesticide along with information on its efficacy can be found at California Environmental Protection Agency USEPA/OPP Pesticide Related Database Queries page at http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/epa/epamenu.htm.

It is important to use antimicrobials where they are needed, but their use should always be evaluated carefully. The use of antimicrobials is a hotly debated issue among public health professionals, some of whom are concerned that widespread use of these agents in consumer products is contributing to the growth of strains of bacteria that are resistant to standard antibiotics. Also, some environmentalists are concerned that antimicrobial chemicals can be toxic to users and to the environment in general, and that they are overused in some settings.

Common Active Ingredients and Their Health Effects

The most common antimicrobials used in disinfectants, sanitizers and sterilizers, their uses and their health effects are:

• QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS, collectively known as “quats” include the commonly-used benzalkonium chloride (alkyl dimethylzylammonium chloride). Effective as disinfectants or sanitizers on many types of bacteria and some viruses, they are at times combined with other chemicals such as alcohols to form disinfectants that kill a wider range of microorganisms. Because the presence of blood, soil or other materials reduces the effectiveness of quats, surfaces should be cleaned before the quat is used. Be aware that quats may stain floor tile.

  Occupational asthma, allergies or skin sensitization can be caused by repeated exposure to quats. Though very concentrated solutions are corrosive, most off-the-shelf preparations are not concentrated enough to corrode the skin. Benzalkonium chloride is listed as a suspected gastrointestinal and liver toxicant on the Environmental Defense'sScorecard (http://www.scorecard.org). Other quat products may have the same attributes. Goggles and gloves should be worn by the users of quat products.

• 
  

  PHENOLS are often effective on a wider range of organisms than quats, and many are effective against tuberculosis (always check the label). Usual phenolic compounds used in products are ortho-phenylphenol, o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol, and p-tert-amylphenol. These products may discolor and corrode plastic and painted surfaces or cause rubber to deteriorate. Phenols are usually more expensive than quats or chlorine bleach.

  The environmental impact of phenols is considered to be “high” by the Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project. All of these products can be very irritating to the eyes and skin. The State of California lists ortho-phenylphenol as a carcinogen, and p-tert-amylphenol can be absorbed through the skin. MSDSs and product literature should be consulted and proper precautions should be followed when using any product containing phenol or phenolic compounds.

• 
  

  CHLORINE BLEACH, usually a 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite is, unfortunately, a commonly used disinfectant in medical, commercial and household settings. Different dilutions are appropriate for different applications. A clean surface requires no more than a 1:10 dilution to be effective against many viruses, molds, mildews and bacteria, including many spores and tuberculosis. Manufacturers often recommend higher concentrations, usually 1:5, but they are selling chlorine! Surfaces must be cleaned before chlorine bleach is used because chlorine is not a cleaner, and becomes less effective in the presence of organic matter, dirt, etc. Bleach deteriorates rapidly, even in a closed container, and loses half its potency after one month. Bleach is highly toxic when mixed with ammonia or quats, forming chloramine gas. Bleach can also produce chlorine gas when mixed with or used in conjunction with strong acids, such as toilet bowl cleaners. Bleach can also discolor fabrics and is corrosive to most metals.

  Concentrated hypochlorite contact can cause corrosive damage to the eyes, skin, nails and mucous membranes. Household bleach at a concentration of 5.25%, however, is not corrosive unless exposure occurs over a long period. Breathing in the fumes of cleaners containing a high concentration of chlorine can cause irritation of the lungs which is particularly dangerous for those with heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems. Safety goggles, masks, gloves, aprons or other protective clothing should be worn by those handling concentrated solutions of chlorine bleach. A plentiful supply of fresh air is necessary.

  A further concern re chlorine bleach is when the manufacturer uses a mercury cell process which leaves contaminant mercury in the product. Though the concentration of mercury may not be high enough to cause health risks, it may be sufficient to trip the mercury limit allowed in water discharged down the drain to a water treatment plant. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin responsible for many environmental and health problems, which have resulted in government agencies issuing advisories against the consumption of many types of fish.

• 
  

  ALCOHOLS commonly found in disinfectants are ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) which are usually combined with phenolic compounds or ammonium quats in commercial products. Alcohols alone are effective against some bacterial and fungal species—combined with other ingredients, their efficacy range may be expanded.

  Ethyl and isopropyl alcohol in very concentrated solutions can have significant safety and health effects. They are very volatile, flammable liquids in concentration and produce poisonous gases in a fire. Alcohol products should be stored in a cool area, away from heat and sparking equipment. Alcohol is 100% VOC.

  Ethyl and isopropyl alcohol are absorbed through the skin and can irritate the skin, eyes, upper respiratory tract and throat. Prolonged exposure in an enclosed or poorly ventilated area to products that are 10%+ alcohol can also cause dizziness, headache, decreased pulse and blood pressure, vomiting and collapse. Staff who handle concentrated alcohol solutions must be provided with ventilation and protective equipment and with solvent-resistant clothes and gloves, splash-proof goggles and face shields.

• 
  

  ALDEHYDES (glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde) are most often used as sterilizers, but they may also be found in some disinfectants—particularly those used in medical, agricultural or manufacturing settings.

  These substances are very toxic, and should only be used with protective equipment, and can cause severe skin, eye and respiratory irritation, headache, nausea and vomiting. Products containing these ingredients should be avoided.

• 
  

  IODINE in iodine products can be effective against some bacteria, viruses and tuberculosis. However, it'snecessary to check the label to determine on what types of organisms the product is effective. Iodine products are not cleaners, so surfaces must be cleaned first.

  The Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project classifies iodine as having a “high environmental impact.” Concentrated solutions can cause severe skin irritation, burns and allergic reactions. Iodine vapor can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Breathing iodine can cause coughing, shortness of breath and pulmonary edema or fluid on the lungs. Because this chemical has limited effectiveness and several unhealthy and unpleasant effects, it should be avoided.

• 
  

  OXIDIZERS such as hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid (also known as peroxyacetic acid) are less common disinfecting ingredients. They are considered “environmentally preferable” by some because of fewer toxic by-products than quats or chlorine. Peracetic acid is almost never used in janitorial cleaners, and is much more toxic than hydrogen peroxide. It can be corrosive to the skin at concentrations below 10% and can cause irreversible eye damage at concentrations as low as 0.2%. Exposure to high levels of peracetic acid can cause liver and kidney damage and pulmonary edema.

  Though hydrogen peroxide is corrosive to the skin at concentrations higher than 50% and will cause irreversible eye damage at concentrations over 10%, few commercial janitorial cleaners contain over 10% hydrogen peroxide. Dilutions that are ready-to-use normally contain less than 2% hydrogen peroxide, which should not be irritating to the skin. At high concentrations, hydrogen peroxide can be irritating to the nose, throat and lungs.

  Concentrated solutions of hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid are highly reactive and have a low flash point. Considered explosion hazards, they must be stored with care to avoid contact with combustible materials, with each other and with other chemicals. Check the MSDS of each product to determine if the concentration is high enough to warrant special storage conditions. Like bleach, concentrates are best stored separately from other cleaning products.

Minimizing Use of and Exposure to Disinfectants

Disinfectants can be the most toxic chemicals used by housekeeping staff. Proper use and protection techniques will reduce environmental and health impacts, making choices about which disinfectants are necessary under which circumstances and substitution of nontoxic or less toxic alternatives when possible extremely important.

Using Disinfectants Correctly

Use the following suggestions to help make informed choices about disinfectant use.

• Select the correct product by determining the targeted organisms, and choosing products that contain the specific US EPA-registered ingredients needed to kill.
• Determine how often to disinfect by evaluating the amount of traffic, by identifying the surfaces that are touched most often and by checking US EPA disinfection guidelines, as well as the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) and other agencies info.
• Properly dilute products according to the manufacturer'sinstructions. Using disinfectants at full strength is seldom necessary, is wasteful and is dangerous to the users.
• Always clean before disinfecting. Almost all disinfectants require that the surface be clean (free of dirt, grease, oil and organic substances such as blood) in order for the disinfectant to be effective. Once the surface is clean, the disinfectant may be applied and left in place for the time period recommended. It may be appropriate for the housekeeper to apply the disinfectant and then perform other tasks for the recommended time period before rinsing the disinfected surface.

Though combination products are available, the two steps are still required. Because a disinfectant is not required on the cleaning step, using two different products reduces the amount of disinfectant used.

Diluting and Storing Disinfectants

To reduce workers use of and exposure to disinfectants, dilute products correctly by:

• Determining the equipment needed to ensure proper dilution and easy use.
• Calibrate dispensing equipment carefully and often—at least every time a new container of disinfectant is opened.
• Calibrate equipment using water instead of the chemical product.
• When calibrating, check the equipment for leaks and malfunctions.
• Measure the concentrate before putting it in the dilution tank.
• Use pumps and spigots to decrease the likelihood of spills and contact with skin.
• Use the lowest concentration recommended to achieve the necessary level of antimicrobial activity. Using higher concentrations than are recommended will not increase the effectiveness, but may increase the likelihood of injury, equipment damage and environmental pollution.
• Use the least amount of the solution to obtain the desired level of microbial control which will minimize waste and reduce the potential for microorganisms to increase resistance to specific chemicals.
• Mix only the amount necessary. Do not mix a gallon when only a quart is needed.
• Always label diluted disinfectants by dilution, name and date of dilution.

Manufacturer'sinstructions should provide information on determining an expiration date of diluted disinfectants preventing inappropriate use and disposal.

Products must be stored and handled correctly:

• Keep containers tightly closed when not in use.
• Store disinfectants on lower shelves in their original container, and be sure labels are tightly affixed.
• Disinfectants must be stored in compatible containers, e.g., corrosives must not be stored in metal containers.
• Transfer of disinfectants from one container to another must be minimized.
• Spills must be cleaned up immediately. Refer to the MSDS to be sure the residue of spills is properly managed.
• Drip pans under spouts are necessary to catch and contain drips.
• Written procedures for disinfectant use based on current needs and equipment must be established. Post disinfectant use procedures and train all staff. If products or conditions change, be sure procedures are revised and staff is updated.
• Containers should be checked regularly for leaks, breaks, rust or other corrosion. If a leak or break occurs, transfer the product into another properly-labeled container.

Experts Disagree on When to Use Disinfectants

Disinfectant use is growing in the US for several reasons. Bacteria contamination of food, a cultural aversion to germs, lack of understanding regarding the power to remove microbes of non-disinfectant cleaners as well as regulatory mandates in health care settings are all involved. Because disinfection can result in the substitution of a chemical hazard for a biological one, disinfection should only be done when the biohazard outweighs the chemical hazard.

There is some disagreement regarding the need for routine disinfection of public spaces. The CDC suggests that thoroughly cleaning all hard surfaces that people touch frequently is the most important step in preventing the spread of disease. However, some experts suggest that staff also use a disinfectant to kill any bacteria and viruses that may remain. The Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project suggests an institutional-grade disinfectant for daily use on hard surfaces in high-traffic restrooms and food preparation areas. In addition, milder antimicrobials (sanitizers) “May be used on carpets or in toilet tanks where the goal is to reduce germs to a safe level (typically 0.1%) rather than completely eliminate them.

Other experts disagree, suggesting that the use of a disinfectant be carefully evaluated and note that disinfectants poison the organism but do not clean hard surfaces. In contrast, a thorough cleaning not only kills most microbes but also removes the food and water they need to survive. Undoubtedly, the best approach is to ask whether disinfection is really necessary. Unless a surface or equipment is likely to come into contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, general surface cleaning can be accomplished by washing with a detergent, rinsing and thoroughly drying.

The guiding principle is to prevent the accumulation of germs on surfaces we touch. Cleaning products can often accomplish this goal by themselves. It is not absolutely essential to actually kill these organisms before removing them.

Dishwashing detergents and hand soaps intended for general restroom use often contain antimicrobial ingredients such as triclosan. In most cases, there is no need for these antimicrobials, as concern is growing that their widespread use is producing resistant strains of bacteria. Instead, thorough hand-washing provides the best everyday protection.

Chapter 4, Antimicrobial Cleaning Products, Cleaning for Health, INFORM, http://www.informinc.org/cleanforhealth.php

JAN/FEB 2004

“GREEN” BUILDING PRODUCTS

by Patricia Griffin, President

Recent attendance at two “green” building shows (Austin, TX and Pittsburgh) resulted in finding many interesting “green” products that can be used in renovation or new build situations. We think this is one issue you—ll look back at from time to time as you find you need these products. So, “green” building products make up the majority of this issue. These products can be difficult to find, and we want you to be sure to find them, purchase them and support the companies, so here goes:

• Earthblock, Encore! Building Solutions, Inc., 4201 Geraldine Street (Rear), St. Louis, MO 63115, 314/389-4157, http://www.earthblock.com, encorebldgsol1@aol.com. 8”x8”x16” green building block made with 99% recycled materials (waste wood and fly ash). Termite proof, fire proof and will not decay. Accepts wood nails and screws. Employs thinnest mastic instead of mortar. Can be sawn and drilled. Horizontal and vertical raceways for electrical wiring and rebar. No Portland cement used.
• Durisol Concrete Wall Forming System, 67 Frid Street, Hamilton, ON CN L8P 4M3, 905/521-0999, http://www.durisol.com. Durisol, a proprietary material using only natural ingredients, is composed of specially graded raw wood shavings and chips, which are neutralized and mineralized, then bonded together with Portland cement. It can be molded to suit any desired shape, texture and thickness. Hardened Durisol is lightweight, porous and very durable. It does not rot or decay, is vermin, termite and insect proof and does not support fungus growth. Durisol is totally environmentally safe, does not contain or emit any toxic elements, and is fully recyclable. Durisol is a modular, insulated, stay-in-place, concrete forming system. The wall forms are simply dry-stacked and filled with concrete and reinforcing steel. The forms incorporate mineral-fiber (rockwool) insulation that is non-combustible, moisture resistant and positioned towards the exterior of the wall, resulting in additional energy efficiency. The lightweight, thermally insulating Durisol Wall Form, first manufactured in 1946, has expanded to include roof panels, floor forms, noise barriers, retaining walls and bridge panels.
• Concrete Block, SealTECH™, 800/634-9185, http://www.sealtechblock.com. Architectural concrete masonry units. Non-porous surface means less permeability and water resistance. Stronger, yet 10% lighter reduces shipping and labor costs. Available in 16 colors, painting unnecessary. 10% recycled content.
• Borate Pressure-Treated Wood, Advance Guard, http://www.smartguardproducts.com. Pressure treated with an EPA registered borate wood preservative for protection against termites, carpenter ants and fungal decay including dry rot. For use in above-ground weather-protected structural framing not exposed to wetting conditions. Lumber, plywood and wood composites such as OSB.
• Commerical Roof Insulation, http://www.greenpolyiso.com. HCFC-free “Green” Polyiso rigid board-type roof insulation for thermal protection. Reduced maintenance/replacement costs over the life of the building. Energy conservation. Improved occupant health and productivity. Lower costs associated with changing space configurations. Greater design flexibility.
• Blown-In Insulation, air krete®, P. O. Box 380, Weedsport, NY 13166-0380, 315/834-6609, http://www.airkrete.com. A blown-in cementitious insulation made of foamed minerals: magnesium oxychloride cement (derived from sea water) and a particular variety of ceramic talc mined in NY. These minerals are mixed with a proprietary foaming agent (“glorified soap suds”) and sprayed with pressurized air through a foaming gun. Most effective at filling cavities, especially odd-shaped or hard-to-reach spaces. Not flexible after it cures, nor does it bond to surfaces. Most notable as a firestop material, and will not create smoke or contribute to flame spread. Especially effective as a retrofit insulation for uninsulated walls. Recommended around bathtubs and Jacuzzis because it holds in the heat and dampens vibrations, creating a more solid feel for Fiberglas tubs.
• Erosion control, subsurface drainage, building and construction, waste containment and soil improvement, Enkadrain Drainage and Waterproofing Systems, Colbond, Sand Hill Road, P. O. Box 1057, Enka, NC 28728, 800/365-7391, 828/665-5050, http://www.colbond-usa.com. A family of 95% open space, three-dimensional, multilayer drainage products consisting of a core of fused, entangled filaments and one or two nonwoven geotextiles attached. Designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure from soils abutting below grade structures, this “fabric” provides a lightweight alternative to sand and gravel drains. The geotextile filter allows water to pass through to the polymeric core as it retains the surrounding soil. Ground water is then channeled through the Enkadrain to a perforated pipe, weep hole or other discharge system before it ever reaches subsurface walls—keeping the structure dry.
• Earth Surface Protection, Invisible Structures, Inc., 1597 Cole Blvd., Suite 310, Golden, CO 80401, 800/233-1510, 303/233-8383, http://www.invisiblestructures.com. Surfacing and stormwater solutions. Grasspave allows driving or parking on grassed areas. Gravelpave holds gravel in place for high-traffic porous parking lots. Rainstore provides underground “tank” storage for stormwater. Slopetame'sthree-dimensional “blankets” contain slope soil. Draincore is a heavy-duty subsurface void for water drainage/air filtration. Beachrings2 is a portable beach boardwalk.
• Polyguard Underseal XT Waterproofing Membrane, Polyguard Products, Inc., Ennis, TX 75120-0755, 972/875-8421, http://www.polyguardproducts.com/products/Underseal/index.htm. Provides protection against subterranean termites and as a waterproofing membrane for floors and walls. Stops Formosan termites. Stops moisture. Stops residual pesticides. Stops radon.
• Thin-film ultravoltaic solar energy panels, Uni-Solar panels, United Solar Ovonic LLC, 3800 Lapeer Road, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, 800/843-3892, 248/475-0100, http://www.uni-solar.com/bipv_comm.html. This roofing technology incorporates thin, flexible solar collectors weighing less than one pound per square foot providing everything for complete electricity generating solar roofs. Glass-free. Water-tight quick connect system. Convert steel roofs and shade structures into an energy source. Systems for membrane roofs require no roof penetrations and employ a bonding laminate.
• Flexible, lightweight solar panels, Spheral Solar Power, 250 Royal Oak Road, P. O. Box 32100, Cambridge, ON N3H 5M2 CN, 519/650-6513, http://www.spheralsolar.com. Produce electricity at considerably lower cost than conventional solar technology, and on a cost-par with fossil-fuel based electricity in many regions of the world. Spheral Solar cells are flexible, durable, bendable and virtually unbreakable. No glass, no aluminum frame, not fragile. Cells are ultrasonically welded together to form modules, without the need for soldered straps. Made of silicon and aluminum and can be applied to virtually any surface.
• Fiberglass Window Frames, Thermotech Windows, Ltd., 42 Antares Drive, Ottawa ON CN K2E 7Y4, 613/225-1101, http://www.thermotechwindows.com. Unique ability to manage heat gain and heat loss. Energy savings can be as high as 18%. Help address indoor air quality by being chemically stable and using an ultra low VOC paint. Insulated frames and spacers offer maximum resistance against mold growth caused by condensation.
• Pentaglas® and Quadwall® Glazing Systems for Standard Translucent Skylights, CPI International, 28662 North Ballard Drive, Lake Dorect, IL 60045, 847/816-1060, http://www.cpidaylighting.com. Skylights, canopies and walkway covers, retrofit, wall lights, pool enclosures—all incorporating daylighting. Stunning lighting quality—inherent prismatic diffusion broadcasts a greater quantity of pleasing light over a broader area, with no glare or hot spots. Achieves a rich, non-industrial visual appearance and delivers high durability, insulation and UV protection. ControLite® controls the amount of daylight via rotating transparent half cylindrical louvers with opaque flat surface built into translucent polycarbonate panels. Available in full range from simple manual operators to motorized operators to technically-advanced, fully-automated systems.
• MechoShade Solar Window Shading, MechoShade, 42-03 35th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, 718/729-2020, http://www.mechoshade.com. Visually transparent roller shading systems promotes energy efficiency through manual, motorized and automated solar shading systems. Maximizes daylight opportunities. Computerized solar tracking for maximum performance and energy efficiency.
• ***Roof Penetration Seals, ChemCurb System, ChemLink Advanced Architectural Products, P. O. Box 51511, Kalamazoo, MI 49005-1511, 269/344-3330, http://www.chemlinkinc.com. These polyester composite curbs surround through-the-roof pipes, exhausts, etc. on flat or low-slope roofs and protect against water damage after filled with 1-part or 2-part pourable sealer. No solvents. No VOC. If your property has a flat or low-slope roof, be sure to check this one out! Other products, including standup caulk gun, KnuckleHead mechanical supports, and SnowShoes, are worth checking out as well.
• UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, Bonded Logic Inc., 411 East Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85225, 480/812-9114, http://www.bondedlogic.com. Batts made of natural fibers. No formaldehyde. Environmentally safe. LEED eligible. No itch or skin irritation. Class-A fire rated. Treated with an EPA registered anti-microbial agent to resist mold, mildew, fungi and pests. Superior acoustics. Maximum thermal performance. Sustainable building product.
• ComfortTherm Building Insulation, Johns Manville, Denver, CO, http://www.jm.com/marketing/insulation/formaldFree/index.html. JM is the first and only fiber glass insulation manufacturer to offer a full line of naturally-white formaldehyde-free products, using instead a technologically advanced acrylic resin. The products maintain the highest quality energy-efficient thermal and acoustical properties. A minimum of 25% of the product is recycled glass. ComfortTherm'sunique poly-wrapped batts significantly reduce dust and itch for a cleaner, more comfortable installation. Designed to fit any framing cavity, perforated EasyFit delivers a faster and easier installation process thanks to vertical perforations in the fiber glass batts that eliminate the task of cutting. Yellow insulation means formaldehyde has been added. All bonded, pink, fiber glass insulation products also contain added formaldehyde.
• Self-Cleaning Glass, Activ™ Pilkington Building Products, P. O. Box 799, Toledo, OH 43697-0799, 866/882-2848, http://www.activglass.com. The world'sfirst solar-powered glass uses the sun to clean itself. A special PhotoActiv™ surface uses the energy from the sun to actually break down, loosen and destroy dirt and other organic matter. The coating reacts with ultra-violet (UV) rays from natural daylight to break down and disintegrate organic dirt which is defined as having come from living plants and animals (e.g. bird droppings or tree sap). Rain water runs down the glass to wash the loosened dirt (both organic and inorganic) away so windows dry without spots or streaks. Inorganic dirt will only be removed by water. The pyrolytic surface is an integral part of the glass, not just a coating.
• Interior Sheetrock Panels, Fiberock® Brand AquaTough, United States Gypsum Company, 125 South Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60606, http://www.usg.com/Product_Index/newprod_fiberock.asp. A new era in substrate performance, designed for wall assemblies in high-traffic areas where moisture, mold and fire resistance are especially important. The 5/8— panels are UL Classified for fire resistance (FRX-G). Made from 100% recaptured gypsum and 100% recycled cellulose fibers from scraps from cardboard box manufacturing. Fiberock Brand Sheathing uses the same technology.
• SoftWalls™ Inc., 7620-D Rickenbacker Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20879, 301/212-9880, http://www.softwalls.com. Sustainable acoustical and tackable stretch fabric systems for walls and ceilings offers a solution for all acoustical situations including meeting and conference rooms, restaurants, lobbies and theaters. SoftWalls uses a wide range of edge profiles, core materials and finish fabrics to effectively resolve an acoustical problem.
• Dual Flush Toilets, Caroma USA, Inc., http://www.caromausa.com/innovate/idea_1.htm. Pioneer of the two-button dual flush cistern contributing to worldwide water conservation. Half flush uses 0.8 gallons while full uses 1.6 gallons. 4” trap throughway assures unsurpassed flushing efficiency. Ten to 12-inch adjustable rough-in range. Potentially can reduce water usage by up to 67%.
• Waste and Water Vacuum Systems, Evac Environmental Solutions, 1702 Hutchins Road, Rockford, IL 61115, 888/438-3822 (GET EVAC), 815/654-8300, http://www.evac.com. Evac vaccum toilet systems mean savings through low water usage and low sewage volume. Easy to install and maintain. Uses only 3 pints (1.2 liters) water per flush. Smaller diameter vacuum piping means lower material costs and substantial design, installation and operational costs. Can minimize costly structural modifications in historic buildings. Vacuum drainage systems for kitchens, galleys, pools, Jacuzzis eliminate need for trenching for traditional water and wastewater lines.
• Hot Water on Demand, Metlund D—Mand Systems, 3176 Pullman Street, Suite 119, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714/668-1200, http://www.gothotwater.com. Hot water in 15-30 seconds without wasting a single drop and by using only a fraction of a penny'sworth of electricity. Circulates the ambient temperature water in the hot water pipes (water that is normally lost down the drain) back to the water heater.
• Rigid Fiber Glass Air Duct Systems, NAIMA (North American Insulation Manufacturers Association), 44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703/684-0084, http://www.naima.org/pages/products/ah.html. Prevent air duct leakage, achieve superior thermal performance and acoustical insulating properties with rigid fiber glass duct board.
• Fabric Air Duct Dispersion Products, DuctSox 4343 Chavenelle Road, Dubuque, IA 52002-2654, 866/382-8769 (DUCTSOX), http://www.ductsox.com. Written about years ago in this newsletter, fabric duct air dispersion is a simple, inexpensive alternative to metal ductwork for HVAC systems. Refined over the last five years, the product is almost a fashion statement in open-architecture areas such as indoor swimming pools, workout rooms, meeting, conference and ball rooms. Perhaps the greatest advantage over metal is its air dispersion characteristics which typically employ a factory-installed linear pattern of orifices and/or vents diffusing a gentle, non-drafty air flow along the entire length of the duct. Fabric duct is a lighter, quieter, faster-to-install air movement system boasting reduced maintenance. When required, sections may be unzippered and laundered to eliminate excessive mold, dust and particulate build-up on inside and outside surfaces helping maintain high indoor air quality.
• Ventilation Monitoring, http://www.AIRxpert.com, 781/862-4739. A continuous, multi-point, multi-parameter monitoring system specifically designed to diagnose and document ventilation effectiveness in any large building. Know a new or renovated ventilation system is working as intended, satisfying local demand for outside air as occupancy varies. Also know when and where energy is being wasted through over-ventilation. The AIRxpert 7000 provides a data-driven solution by continually monitoring CO2. Free CD.
• EXIT Signs +, LUNAplast™, Noesis, Inc., 4100 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203-1663, 703/741-0300, http://luna.noesis-inc.com. Non-electric photoluminescent safety solutions including EXIT signs that exceed NFPA and UL brightness requirements for 75 foot EXIT signs. Investment break-even in about 3 years. Other luminous products such as path markings.
• ***All-Natural Carpet and Padding, Bio-Floor, Earth Weave, Carpet Mills, Inc., P. O. Box 6120, Dalton, GA 30722, 706/278-8200, http://www.earthweave.com. The only 100% natural, non-toxic, soft floor-covering padding we—ve found is the wool padding this company offers. Carpet is made of pure wool. No dyes, moth-proofing pesticides or stain protections are applied. The wool yarns are locked into place with a natural adhesive derived from the rubber tree and is VOC free. The primary backing of the carpet is a combination of hemp and cotton. Hemp fiber is durable, strong and resistant to mold and mildew.
• Linoleum Flooring, Marmoleum Flooring, Forbo Linoleum, P. O. Box 667, Hazleton, PA 18201, 866/MARMOLEUM, 570/459-0771, http://www.forbo.com. Marmoleum linoleum flooring is made of natural ingredients—linseed oil from flax, wood flour, rosins, limestone, pigments and jute—all natural, biodegradable, non-hazardous and renewable raw materials. Adhesives used to install the flooring are totally free of solvents and meet all low VOC requirements. No lead, no formaldehyde, no chlorine. Benefits include durability, positive acoustic properties and thermal insulation. Over 100 colors available.
• Eco-Tile, Quarry Tile Company, 6238 East Utah Avenue, Spokane, WA 99212, 800/423-2608, 509/536-2812, http://www.quarrytile.com/ecotile.htm. A commercial grade, glazed ceramic tile made from recycled solid waste which is 70-75% post-consumer recycled glass, post-industrial grinding paste from the computer industry and post-industrial mining waste from the sand and gravel industry. 50+ colors and five field tile sizes are available by special order.
• Glazed Porcelain Stone Tile Flooring, Geostone EcoCycle, Crossville Porcelain Stone/USA, P. O. Box 1168, Crossville, TN 38557, 931/484-2110, http://www.crossville-ceramics.com/2002/products/eco-cycle.htm. 12”x12” tiles made 50-100% from unfired raw materials, reclaimed from the manufacturing process. Made of naturally-occurring clays and minerals mined in Tennessee and neighboring states.
• ***Art+ Recycled Glass, TriVitro Corporation, 18420 68th Avenue South, Suite 101, Kent, WA 98032, 425/251-8340, http://www.trivitro.com. Since 1996 this company has recycled 25,000 tons of glass into a variety of art, architectural and industrial products. Their four product lines are: Glass Aggregates (Specially sized and colored glass for use in terrazzo flooring, tiles, counter tops, panels and craft purposes.) Tumbled Glass (Frosted, translucent glass pieces that provide a unique, colorful material for many art, craft, interior and landscape design applications.) Abrasive Blasting Media (Crushed glass for abrasive cleaning, surface preparation, and blasting.) Water Filtration Media (Finely crushed glass for pool, industrial, and environmental filtration-a direct replacement for silica sand.) Perfect for cigarette ash stands?
• Natural Cork Flooring, Natural CORK, 1710 North Leg Court, Augusta, GA 30909, 800/404-2675, 706/733-6120, http://www.naturalcork.com. Pre-finished natural cork parquet tile and floating flooring is protected with 5 coats of durable UV cured acrylic finish. Regular maintenance requires only routine sweeping and vacuuming. Wet maintenance is forbidden. Cork provides a comfortable cushion underfoot that is gentle on feet, back and joints. Cork does not spread flames nor does combustion produce toxic gases. The air-filled cells allow cork to provide excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.
• Recycled Rubber Flooring, ECOsurfaces Commercial Flooring, Dodge-Regupol, Inc., 715 Fountain Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601, 877/326-7873, http://www.gerbertltd.com/eco/eco.htm. Meets stringent LEED criteria. Attributes include outstanding slip resistance, unbelievable durability, cushioned resilience, stain resistance, low VOC emissions, consistent color wear, easy installation and maintenance. E-Grip II is a low VOC, one component urethane adhesive. It is a moisture-cured, non-sag permanently elastic adhesive that has excellent adhesion to elastomers, concrete and wood and is engineered for indoor and outdoor applications. Rolls and tiles can be cut, shaped and tweaked to any length. Molded as interlocking pavers or rectangular tiles. (Check odor levels. pg)
• Flooring Adhesives, Henry GreenLine products, The W. W. Henry Company, Ardex Engineered Cements, Inc., 400 Ardex Park Drive, Aliquippa, PA 15001, 724/203-5000, http://www.henrygreenline.com. High performance adhesives with ultra low emissions and odor. GL23 is a multipurpose adhesive for the installation of commercial carpets and felt-back sheet flooring. GL33 is a VCT adhesive for the installation of vinyl composition tile with the lowest available emissions. GL62 is a carpet adhesive for commercial carpets in heavy traffic areas. GL83 is an adhesive for commercial linoleum sheet flooring.
• EcoSpec Coatings, Benjamin Moore & Co., 800/622-0550x400, http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_search.asp?search=Eco+Spec&k=result&l=srch. A premium system of low odor, low VOC, 100% acrylic latex flat that provides high hiding, excellent touch up and a uniform flat finish. Painting can be done at any time of the day, with minimal disruption because of fumes or odor. Downtime reduced. Light colors only.
• 100% Acrylic Regal Matte Finish Paint, Benjamin Moore Paints, 800/622-0550x500, http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_search.asp?search=Regal+&k=result&l=srch. A premium quality acrylic blended latex coating with a spatter-resistant formulation. Regal® Wall Satin® produces a high hiding flat finish that is washable and scrubbable. It features easy application with no unpleasant paint odor, fast dry and soap and water cleanup. Very low VOC paint featuring excellent stain resistance. No deep colors.
• Schreuder Dutch Paints, Fine Paints of Europe, P. O. Box 419, Route 4 West, Woodstock, VT 05091, 800/332-1556, http://www.finepaints.com. High performance paints are produced to be the best paints they can be rather than meeting a pricing level. “Super-conditioning” and the use of the finest ingredients are the keys to Schreuder'sperfection of their distinctive high-solids formulations. Free sample pot. Martha'sFine Paints are three premium color collections produced in collaboration with Martha Stewart Living and can be purchased at http://www.finepaints.com or http://www.marthastewart.com.
• 100% Natural Earth Plaster Wall Surface, American Clay Enterprises, LLC, 2786 Agua Fria, Suite B1, Santa Fe, NM 87507, 866/404-1634, http://www.americanclay.com. Clayote is a 100% natural earth plaster, providing a wholesome environment. A unique combination of clays, aggregates and natural pigments are used to create the colors and textures that make it a natural choice for warmth and beauty. Clay naturally controls climate by regulating arid and humid air, absorbing and releasing moisture in response to environmental changes.
• 100% Natural Textured Wall Surface, Terramed, Med Imports, 1710 North Leg Court, Augusta, GA 30909, 866/363-6334, 706/364-6334, http://www.medimports.net/main.htm. Terramed is a natural ochre plaster made of clays from the Mediterranean basin combined with sand and cellulose. Cellulose slows the drying process and binds the clay and sand. No addition of chemicals. Only natural pigments are added to enhance some of the naturally colored clays.
• Natural Hydraulic Lime Mortars and Plasters, TransMineral USA, Inc., 201 Purrington Road, Petaluma, CA 94952, 707/769-0661, http://www.transmineralusa.com. Limestone plaster is a 100% natural product and does not contain any additives. In production for over 150 years. No need for blending. Free lime content responsible for workability and self-healing. Elasticity minimizes shrinkage and cracking. Free of any chemicals such as acrylics, resins, etc.
• Paste-the-Wall Strippable Wallcoverings, Paperez™, Eisenhart Wallcoverings Co., 40 Pine Street, Hanover, PA 17331-0464, 800/931-9255, http://my.eisenhart.net/paperez.asp. Paperez goes onto the wall dry. The recommended adhesive is applied to the wall, and a dry piece of Paperez is placed directly onto the pasted wall. The paper is thicker and has a beautiful fabric-like feel. When you want to take it off, Paperez is completely strippable—in full sheets! It can be cleaned with a sponge and a mild solution of soap and water. Printed with environmentally-friendly, water-based inks, Paperez “breathes” so that the potential for mold and mildew are reduced. A primer sealer must be applied to the walls first to assure strippability.
• Moment Environmental Contract Wallcoverings, Roos International Ltd., 1020 North West Sixth Street, Suite H, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, 800/888-2776, http://www.borastapeter.se/tapeter/moment.htm. An extra strong wallcovering based on a cellulose/polyester mix, especially formulated for contract use. A protective finish makes it scrubbable and resistant to grease, coffee, etc. An extensive range of 40 choices. Non-vinyl, breathable, durable, washable, Earth friendly, no PVCs, no chlorine, water-based inks, Class A fire rated.
• ***Translucent resin panels, Varia Collection, 3form, 2300 South 2300 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119, 800/726-0126, http://www.3-form.com. Absolutely beautiful light-weight (approximately 50% weight of glass). Extremely impact resistant (will not crack or shatter). Non-off gassing. Resistant to most chemicals. Environmentally friendly (40% recycled content). Heat-formable. Easy to cut, drill, polish or sand. UV-stable exterior grades. Fire resistant. Use as frameless doors, transaction tops, work surfaces, tables, backsplashes and balustrades, ceiling tiles, light diffusers, 3D ceilings, lighting, wall cladding and partitions and furniture.
• Tackboard Panels, PINnacle, Homasote Company, 932 Lower Ferry Road, West Trenton, NJ 08628, 800/257-9491, http://www.pinnacleboard.com. Install lightweight, durable, clean and flexible PINnacle tackboard or pinboard, with 98% post-consumer content, to protect walls from pin, tack and nail holes. Does not contain toxic additives such as formaldehyde or asbestos and is moisture resistant and integrally protected against termites, rot and fungi.
• Online Fuel Cell Information, Fuel Cell Technology Update, http://www.fuelcells.org. Free monthly e-mail newsletter to keep you in the industry loop. See full issue or subscribe at http://www.fuelcells.org/fcnews.htm.
• Fuel Cell Association, Fuel Cell Connection, U. S. Fuel Cell Council, National Energy Technology Laboratory and National Fuel Cell Research Center, http://www.usfcc.com. Dedicated to fostering the commercialization of fuel cells in the US. News and information. Monthly e-mail publication.
• Recycling Containers, Fibrex Products, 3734 Cook Boulevard, Chesapeake, VA 23323, 800/346-4458, http://www.fibrexgroup.com. Sustainable designs built to last, manufactured with maximum recycled content and require almost no maintenance. Benches, picnic tables, dumpsters, etc.
• Electronic Ballasts, Universal Lighting Technologies, 26 Century Blvd., Suite 500, Nashville, TX 37214-3683, 615/316-5100, http://www.universalballast.com. ULTim8™ High Efficiency ballasts deliver up to 8% additional energy savings over standard electronic ballast and even more when used with the new F32T8/ES (30 Watt) or F28T8 (28 Watt) lamps. The new Triad T5 and T5HO ballast family incorporate the latest in circuit design and manufacturing technology. These ballasts offer the industry'ssmallest cross section for maximum fixture design flexibility. Universal voltage circuitry reduces inventory and ensures you have the right voltage ballast every time.
• http://www.greenbuildingpages.com is a free web database and easily accessible design tool providing current product information for the environmentally and socially responsible designer, builder and client. Selection criteria includes LEED credit categories, recycled content, toxic chemical off-gassing, testing, certifications, company social and environmental profiles, transportation, manufacturing processes and resource consumption. 2,500 “green” products in 38 categories. Company information is transparent, publicly accessible and updated regularly.
• Building America, U. S. Department of Energy, http://www.buildingamerica.gov. Working with American builders for energy-efficient, green and sustainable buildings. Goal is buildings that are more energy efficient, comfortable and affordable as well as to accelerate the development and wide application of energy efficient measures. See web site for workshops and instruction manuals. Links to top 25 web sites of energy-efficient buildings.

*** Patricia Griffin'sfavorites

NOV/DEC 2003

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE STAFF

Management must be aware that physical hazards, chemical hazards and infectious agents all can impact the health and safety of cleaning and maintenance staff. Washington State'sworkers— compensation data indicates that six out of 100 janitors suffer chemical injuries each year; 20% of which are serious burns to the eyes or skin. Risks of carcinogenic or chronic health problems to the endocrine, neurological, respiratory, reproductive or other systems of the body are not included in the figures.

It must be management'sand staff'sgoal to institute a strategy that reduces risk for biological, physical and chemical hazards.

Staff at risk for these hazards must be trained to avoid illness and injury. The main areas for training needs are:

• Chemical Hazard Communication - OSHA
• Bloodborne Pathogen Standard - OSHA
• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Interpretation - Local occupational health agency or various guides
• Infection Control Precautions - Riskiness of setting may determine needs for training
• Proper Lifting and Ergonomic Precautions

Preventing hazards in work and preventative precautions that should be taken to avoid them are:

• PHYSICAL HAZARDS - Training can prevent many injuries from physical hazards:
• Slips and Falls - Proper footwear with traction required. Movable, readily visible signs and blockades should limit access to wet or slippery floors.
• Ergonomic Injuries - Training to instill proper lifting techniques and proper posture for handling vacuums, buffers, buckets or any heavy item required. Repetitive motion injuries can be prevented by varying tasks or using ergonomically-designed equipment.
• Accidents with Machines - All workers must be trained in using any machinery.
• Falls While Climbing - Climbing should be on sturdy ladders only. Chairs, boxes, shaky ladders, etc. must not be used. Chairs or desks on wheels must never, ever be used for climbing.
• INFECTIOUS HAZARDS - General information about infectious hazards should be part of staff training. Thorough hand washing is the simplest and most basic protection. Staff must be instructed to wash their hands before eating, drinking, smoking, using the bathroom, rubbing their eyes or applying makeup.
• Tuberculosis - Staff training on prevention of tuberculosis may be necessary.
• Puncture Wounds - Being alert to improperly discarded needles and other sharps which could be between mattress and box springs, in bedding, on the floor, in waste baskets, on counters, etc. is extremely important. In the event of a needle stick or sharps injury, the individual must report to their supervisor immediately to seek post-exposure medical care to minimize the risk of infection from bloodborne pathogens. Staff should never pick up broken glass with their hands, even when wearing gloves. A brush or tongs are the only acceptable methods to remove broken glass.
• RESPIRATORY HAZARDS - Fumes from on-the-job chemicals, including cleaning chemicals, can cause irritation of the respiratory tract. The American Lung Association confirms that occupational asthma “may account for as many as 15% of all newly diagnosed US cases of asthma in adults, and it is the most prevalent occupational lung disease in developed countries.” Exposure to on-the-job substances may also cause inflammation of the lungs, and continuing exposure could lead to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis, making breathing more and more difficult. The ALA says cleaning and building-service jobs “entail exposures to an array of noxious chemicals, as well as to maintenance systems that are often the source of biological contaminants associated with critical allergic reactions.”
• Fungi and Mold - Untrained staff must NEVER remediate serious fungus and mold contaminations. US EPA'sIAQ Coordinator'sGuide (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/guideh.html) or EPA'sguide to Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds) should be consulted. Information on reducing fungi can be found in New York City Department of Health'sguidelines (http://www.fixr.com/info/guidelines-on-assessment-and-remediation-of-fungi-in-indoor-environments.html). Water damage repairs must be accomplished quickly. Mold in bathroom caulk must be removed and replaced as soon as possible.
• Pet and Pest Dander, Dust Mites and Dust - Damp dusting, damp mopping and deep vacuuming will reduce these hazards. Staff should wear a respirator while cleaning affected areas.
• CHEMICAL HAZARDS - Using less toxic products than traditional ones will reduce chemical hazards. Staff should wear gloves and goggles as well as ensure that fresh air is available in work areas.
• Eye and Skin Injuries - When using or diluting cleaning chemicals, staff should wear protective equipment such as splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, full-coverage clothing and sturdy shoes covering the whole foot. Whenever possible, less toxic, corrosive or concentrated products should be substituted for more toxic or hazardous ones. Products containing ingredients absorbed through the skin (see MSDSheets) should be avoided. To learn more about types of gloves needed to prevent contact with a specific ingredient, see the Chemical Resistant Gloves Guide (http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/glovesbychemical.html).
• Respiratory Irritation and Injury - Inhalation risks are posed by products emitting large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in enclosed areas (such as ozone machines). Alcohol is 100% VOC. Choose the product with the lowest VOC that will accomplish the job (see MSDSheet). Products other than those that contain VOCs can also be irritating to the respiratory tract. Wearing respirators or using other precautionary equipment, as indicated on the MSDSheet for each chemical, will reduce the hazards.
• Latex Allergy - Latex is found in many types of gloves and other medical products, and more people are becoming allergic to latex every day. Severe latex allergy can result in respiratory arrest and death. Most vendors supply latex-free gloves and accessories.
• Chemical Spill - Prevent spills by training staff in the proper handling of chemicals. All chemicals must be stored properly. Purchase products that are as safe as possible and concentrated to reduce the risk of injury from spills. Automatic dilution equipment reduces the risk of spills and splashes. (GHA recommends that automatic dilution equipment be set at rates preferred by hotel management rather than the vendor.) Staff must not be allowed to clean up significant chemical spills without professional help. Call your city'senvironmental health and safety office to be sure the clean-up is conducted properly by trained workers. Be sure all laws regarding reporting and disposal are obeyed.
• Chemical Safety - Staff should understand chemical safety, know how to get information about the products they work with and feel free to speak with supervisors if risk is suspected.
• How to Get Product Information:
• MSDSheets - All suppliers must provide material safety data sheets on the products sold. These sheets should be kept in a location available to all staff as well as to emergency workers in case of a fire or chemical emergency.
• Manufacturer'sCustomer Service - The phone number of the manufacturer must be readily available to obtain answers to any chemical safety questions not available on the MSDS or the label. Telephone assistance should be available 24 hours a day to accommodate all shifts.
• Training available from the manufacturer or vendor regarding safe and effective use of the product should be required for appropriate staff.
• How to read MSDSs:
• MSDSs can contain inaccurate or incomplete information necessary to make a decision about a product. They can be written by a secretary or a scientist. However, they are generally the most easily available source of product safety information. Areas covered are:
• Product Identification: Product brand name and the manufacturer'sname, address and telephone number
• Ingredients: Ingredients are listed by chemical and common name and by Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) number (which uniquely identifies every chemical). All ingredients are not required to be listed. Chemicals subject to reporting requirements under Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, also called the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), are required to be listed if they are present in quantities over 1% of the total product. Any carcinogen present in quantities over 0.1% of the product must also be listed and labeled as a carcinogen. OSHA also requires manufacturers to list any other ingredients known to be hazardous, but that determination is made by the manufacturer.
• How to use this information: Since many chemicals have a number of different names, the CAS number indicates whether a particular chemical is actually present. Avoid products with carcinogens and ingredients subject to the reporting requirements of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Ingredients in these categories will be labeled as such.
• Health Hazards: Health hazards associated with handling the product
• How to use this information: Most cleaning products are irritating to the skin and eyes, but products that carry a risk of severe illness or injury should be avoided. Avoid products that can cause blindness, cancer or harm to the reproductive system, and products that are highly corrosive to the skin. Compare the health hazards of one product with those of other products in the same category.
• Special Protection: Any protective gear, such as gloves or masks, that workers should wear when using the product.
• How to use this information: Make sure staff uses the protection specified. Choose products that require the least amount of protection.
• Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project http://www.westp2net.org/janitorial/jp4.htm) and City of Phoenix training materials
• Working Safely with Cleaning Chemicals
• Chemical injury can be prevented simply by using products that are less toxic. The highest risk janitorial or cleaning products are generally those that are flammable or emit toxic fumes which are absorbed through the skin or are corrosive to the eyes or skin. A survey examined 250 janitorial products and found that:
• 7% of the products should not be used because they contain ingredients that can cause cancer or can harm the environment by depleting the ozone layer or contributing to global warming.
• 56% of the products require extreme care because they contain ingredients that can cause blindness or severe skin damage, interfere with the endocrine system or be absorbed through the skin or inhaled and subsequently cause damage to the blood, liver, kidneys, nervous system or a developing fetus.
• 37% of the products require routine care because they contain ingredients that may temporarily irritate the eyes and skin, can evaporate and affect indoor air quality or may exceed a building'sallowable sewer discharge limits for zinc or hydrocarbons.
• Information on some of these hazards is available on a product'sMSDS. A phone call to the chemical supplier'scustomer service desk may be required to learn about all hazards.
• Precautions to Prevent Chemical Injury
• Simple precautions taken by management will help staff work safely with chemicals being used.
• Safety training programs should be implemented and made an integral part of all cleaning and maintenance staff training.
• A safety manual must be available on-site and written in a language staff can understand. Information included should help if staff has a question or in the event of a hazardous situation such as a spill.
• All MSDSs must be readily available to staff on-site, and should be read by any staff member before using a product.
• Staff must not be allowed to mix products with incompatible ingredients, use them on the same surface or pour them down the sink one after the other. The most common example of dangerous reactivity is between ammonia-containing and bleach-containing products, which combine to form deadly chloramine gas. Products containing incompatible ingredients should be stored separately or at least on different shelves and not one above the other. Information about incompatibility is available on the product'sMSDS.
• Staff must be instructed on the safe handling of concentrates since they are usually the most dangerous form of a chemical.
• Buy the safest possible products
• Be sure staff wears appropriate protective clothing and gear, such as goggles, aprons and respirators as indicated on the product'sMSDS.
• Allow only trained staff members to mix products.
• Be sure eyewash stations are available where corrosive chemicals are used.
• Train staff in safe lifting methods to reduce the risk of dropping or spilling heavy containers of cleaning products or equipment.
• A dispensing system should be considered because it will automatically dispense the correct amount of a concentrate without splashes or spills. Again, GHA suggests the dilution rate should be determined by hotel management rather than by the vendor.
• Reducing Chemical Use
• Hazardous chemical use could be reduced if staff uses any or all of the following pollution prevention methods:
• Substituting less toxic chemicals
• Using fewer chemicals, only when necessary or in a diluted form
• Add 10% water to ready-to-use products if the product will still get the job done
• Clean only when necessary
• Use 2 cleaning products instead of one; mildest for general use and the more toxic for occasional stubborn problems
• Minimize use of floor strippers:
• Use a high-quality, durable floor finish.
• Coat the floor with 6 to 12 coats of finish and never let the finish wear down to the floor. Instead, deep scrub with a floor cleaner and re-coat as necessary.
• Wet mop regularly to preserve the finish.
• Install doormats at entries to minimize dirt and grit.
• Schedule floor renewal work for specific areas of wear.
• When required, thoroughly rinse the stripped floor to neutralize the surface before new finish is applied. With many products, neutralization is not necessary; check with the vendor.
• Using improved management techniques such as avoiding aerosol products.
• Use frequent strong-suction vacuuming to maintain doormats at entries.
• Practice good inventory control, rotate stock and use up products that expire.
• Store acids and other corrosive products in secondary plastic containers to contain potential leaks.
• Eliminate aerosols because they usually contain large amounts of propane or other hazardous chemicals. Aerosols also contribute to respiratory irritation. Any aerosol or spray product used should be sprayed into a cloth held over the nozzle.

Chapter 3, Health and Safety Concerns of Janitorial Workers, Cleaning for Health, INFORM, http://www.informinc.org/cleanforhealth.php

A significant contribution to Cleaning for Health was a result of the Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project.
For more information, see http://www.westp2net.org/janitorial/jp4.htm or contact Thomas S. Barron,
lead consultant at tsbarron@attglobal.net.

SEP/OCT 2003

Improving Indoor Air Quality Through Better Cleaning Methods

Cleaning will always be an important part of improving the quality of indoor air. Even buildings without an air pollution problem can benefit from an environmentally-designed cleaning program. The cleaning program will improve air quality through reducing total suspended dust particles, total VOCs as well as bacteria and fungi.

A “sick building” cannot be cured through cleaning practices. Improving indoor air quality may require changes in maintenance, construction and cleaning approaches. However, any building will continue to have poor air quality no matter what changes are made in maintenance, construction and cleaning practices if:

• The HVAC system is undersized, contaminated or dirty.
• The relative humidity is continuously under 30% or over 60%.
• Emissions from another part of the building or area are allowed to enter.
• VOC (volatile organic compounds) offgassing from furnishings and building materials is significant.

As related to routine cleaning, improved cleaning techniques can improve indoor air quality significantly. A recent study found the following reductions in biopollutants resulted from improved cleaning techniques:

• Total airborne bacteria - 37%
• Total airborne fungi - 62%
• Total non-floor surface bacteria - 29%
• Total non-floor surface fungi - 25%
• Total carpet-dust bacteria - 84%
• Total carpet-dust fungi - 93%
• Carpet-dust endotoxins - 72%

Cleaning for Health

General principles of cleaning to manage the indoor environment for better health of occupants include:

• Cleaning being focused on specific objectives, such as:
• Protecting health
• Maintaining or restoring valuable property
• Cleaning being coordinated with other basic environmental management plans such as:
• Controlling pollution at the source
• Limiting polluting activities
• Ventilating buildings to dilute indoor contaminants
• Designing buildings and their ventilation systems to optimize indoor air quality
• Cleaning following basic environmental protection guidelines, such as:
• Maintaining the safety of all staff and guests
• Cleaning with health in mind first and appearance second
• Maximizing removal of pollutants (particles, gas and biopollutants)
• Minimizing pollutant exposure of all humans
• Cleaning to improve the whole environment
• Properly disposing of cleaning waste

Even though these principles may seem obvious, they are actually radically different from the traditional idea of “whiter than white”, “sparkling clean,” etc. that is ingrained in the thinking of many regarding cleanliness. Alternative cleaning product manufacturers have reported that some who use unscented products occasionally have problems when guests or customers who fail to smell a sharp odor such as chlorine or the synthetically-sweet smell of air fresheners need reassurance that bathrooms are really clean. In fact, cleaning is really the science of controlling those contaminants.

Reducing Dust and Dirt

Biopollutants such as pollen are generally in direct relation to the airborne dust mass in a building. So, minimizing dust and dirt will reduce pollens and not exacerbate allergies. The less dust and dirt in a building means fewer cleaning chemicals used and less time needed to remove dust, dirt, etc. The study found that total airborne dust was reduced by 52% through simple but critical methods such as:

• Placing entryway mats measuring at least five steps long at every exterior door. Vacuuming the mats often, preferably in both directions. Using vacuums with brushes, beater bars and strong suction.
• Placing mats around sandboxes and cat litter boxes and such.
• Vacuum or damp mop instead of sweeping.
• Being sure all vacuums have high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and be sure that all vacuum cleaners are designed to be used with HEPA filters.
• Being sure all vacuum cleaner bags are high-efficiency microfiltration bags, which are able to contain dust particles in the 3 micron range or smaller. Though these bags are more expensive, they definitely reduce cleaning costs. Changing the bags before they are completely full.
  
  Of course, microfiltration filters on all HVACs or PTACs are critical in limiting the dust and dirt brought into the property. The filters must be changed on a timely basis.
  
  Be aware also that bathroom tissue can be a huge source of paper dust. Choosing a brand that does not release a huge amount of paper dust is an important choice.
• Dusting using a damp, folded cloth or a cloth-covered feather duster. Using a wiping motion rather than a flicking or sweeping motion to be sure the dust stays on the cloth or duster. Changing cloths often. Cleaning the feather duster outdoors often. Microfiber dust or cleaning cloths are an excellent new way to control dust and dirt without cleaning chemicals.
• Treated dust mops are not recommended, but if they are used, order them from a laundry service or spray the mop heads outdoors. The petroleum products used on treated mop heads can be unhealthy for staff and guests.
• Using buffing machines at medium speed to reduce dust and chemical particles rather than at high speed. A vacuum attachment on a buffing machine will also mean a huge improvement in air quality.

Reducing Microbial Growth

The need for antimicrobial products— can be reduced through basic steps such as:

• Using a two-step process for microbials. Clean first, then apply disinfectant. Wait the period (usually at least 10 minutes) recommended before rinsing. Other tasks can be performed while the antimicrobial is taking effect. Disinfectants are not cleaners, and are only effective on clean surfaces.
• Disinfectants should only be used when and where necessary. Ordinary detergents should remove more microbes than bleach alone.
• Mop heads, sponges and cleaning cloths should be changed at least daily. Cleaning water should be changed often.
• Pans where water collects and condenses, such as refrigerator and AC pans and humidifiers, should be cleaned carefully to minimize mold and mildew growth.
• Flushing toilets and running sink and shower water at least once a week will keep drains clean and P traps full of water, limiting the entrance of foul odors. If clogs or drain odors are a problem, add an enzyme-type drain maintainer.
• Dehumidifiers should be used in humid areas to collect moisture and maintain comfortable indoor relative humidity levels.

Managing Carpet Pollutants

Carpets can be a problem as a source of biopollutants, dirt, dust and VOCs. VOCs emit from almost all new carpet and the adhesives or pads installed with them. Later, pesticide and cleaning product residues (such as stain removers) will slowly volatilize and rise up into the air. Recommendations to control air pollutants from carpet are:

• Choosing a wool carpet or alternative to carpet such as scored concrete flooring or hardwood floors would be an excellent choice.
• Prevent stains so that the use of stain removers is not necessary. Clean up spills as soon as possible using clear, cold water and blotting cloths. Having spill kits ready and available for housekeeping staff is very important. Most carpet spot cleaners contain a high level of VOCs as well as carcinogens such as tetrachloroethylene.
• When carpet becomes saturated with water, clean and thoroughly dry it promptly. Preventing carpet loss or growth of mold and mildew can be prevented with quick action. Discard moldy carpet carefully. Dealing with water-soaked carpet may require special training. Carpet restorative products may contain tributyl tin and must be avoided.
• Minimize use of carpet shampoos and bonnet-cleaning products. Overuse of these chemicals may require extraction cleaning more frequently.
• Deep clean carpet as necessary. Periodically, dirt, biopollutants, moisture and cleaning agent residues may need to be removed from carpet. Dry vacuum first, then use a wet-vacuum, water-extraction machine. Rapid drying of the carpet is recommended. Pre-sprays applied carefully and left for an appropriate time may reduce chemicals required. Extraction products may contain hazardous ingredients such as acid rinses (hydroxyacetic acid) and solvents (butoxyethanol), and should be avoided or very heavily diluted.

Particularly toxic products must be avoided. Carpet restorative products containing tributyl tin, formaldehyde and other toxic antimicrobials must be avoided.

For more information on air duct cleaning, see http://www.nadca.com/consumer_info/commercial_info.asp and http://www.nadca.com/standards/standards.asp

For more information on reducing moisture, mold and mildew, see http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tfs/guideh.html and http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/

For more information on reducing fungi, see http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.html

For more information on carpet cleaning, see http://www.westp2net.org/Janitorial/factsheets/carpetcleaning.htm

Chapter 2, Cleaning Methods for Improved Air Quality, Cleaning for Health, INFORM, http://www.informinc.org/cleanforhealth.php

JUL/AUG 2003

MANDATING HOSPITALITY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

By Patty Griffin, GHA President

Last fall GHA had a call from a staff member of the City of Rio Rancho, an Albuquerque suburb, stating that a proposal was before their city council to make towel and sheet cards mandatory at area hotels¾a revelation! The proposal is still under consideration at this point. However, we—ve learned that other cities already have provisions in place mandating the hospitality industry'sprotection of our environment.

In December, 2000, Albuquerque, New Mexico'scity council passed their “Water Conservation Water By Request Ordinance” to:

• Educate water system customers and hospitality industry clientele about and eliminate the unnecessary use of water by reducing the frequency of washing of sheets, towels and other linens. The ordinance says “all lodging establishments shall offer customers the option of not changing sheets and towels in private rooms for stays of less than five days.”
• Eliminate unnecessary use of water in restaurants by serving water to customers only when requested, thereby reducing water served and water used to wash glasses. The measure states “all restaurants shall provide drinking water only as specifically requested by the customer.”

Assessment of Fees: Any responsible party who violates Albuquerque'sprovisions of this ordinance shall be subject to progressively higher fees until the violation ceases. The schedule for assessment of fees is as follows:

First violation	$20
Second violation	$50
Third and additional violations	$100

Albuquerque establishments are welcome to display their own conservation signs, or the City will provide hospitality signs by request. The hospitality cards state, “Our water. Our future. Protect it. Conserve it. Replenish it. Albuquerque'scitizens have been practicing water-saving habits for years. We hope you—ll do the same during your stay. This hotel participates in Albuquerque's“Water Watch” program. To reuse your towels, simply hang them on the towel rack. Otherwise, we will change your towels daily. If you leave this card on the pillow, we will make your bed but not replace your bed linens. Otherwise we will change your linens daily.”

Ten years ago, at the 1993 NYC Hotel & Motel Conference, only one meeting was scheduled regarding environmental issues and it was very sparsely attended. The main message of that meeting was “if hotels do not make these (environmental) changes, they will be mandated.” So, it was a “do it now, or do it later, but you will do it” message. As you know, the environmental movement within the hospitality industry has been a slow one. Now, environmental issues have become more urgent. Water shortage issues are everywhere in the news and a severely critical issue in many areas.

It is time to encourage mandating environmental protection within the hospitality industry. Now that cities in most urgent need of protecting water resources are creating a knowledge baseline, all cities should pick up the gauntlet and protect resources before the need becomes desperate. GHA encourages green hoteliers— urging local governments to enact these mild ordinances requiring conservation in the hospitality industry.

Even though Denver had a record-setting snowfall in May, the mountain snowpack was below average for the winter. So, reservoirs were not filled sufficiently. In addition to all the usual lawn watering restrictions, hotel and golf courses are being pinched by new restrictions. Hotels have been barred from changing bedding more often than every four days for longer-term guests. Denver golf courses are limited to 50% of the water they used in 2001.

Hotels in Barbados will be urged to practice a more environmentally proactive approach through a 150% tax write-off that is in the works. Hotels and all local businesses will be warned that if environmental improvements are not seen, they will be forced to live up to their social responsibility. Their government intends to continue to fund and encourage implementation of environmental projects.

GHA would be most interested in learning of other local ordinances related to the hospitality industry and the environment. GHA would like to serve as a clearinghouse for the verbage of such ordinances.

http://www.enn.com/news/2003-04-22/s_3911.asp
“Tax reward for environmental action,” Barbados, greenhotelier, July, 2003, p. 6

MAY/JUN 2003

POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Installed at The Golden Hotel

By Derek Wood, General Manager

Management of The Golden Hotel, Golden, CO, made a $20,000 investment in energy conservation recently that is expected to go a long way in reducing electric bills. Their electric bills have averaged $3,800/mo over the last 12 months. Rocky Mountain Energy Reduction Inc. installed Ener-Tech Manufacturing'sRedi-Volt II System IV Power Management System which is guaranteed to reduce electrical consumption a minimum of 20%.

Ener-Tech also promises the system will:

• Extend the life of all electrical components including light bulbs, motors, compressors, etc. by removing most of the surge activity so equipment will operate cooler and more efficiently.
• Protect ALL electrical equipment from both interior and exterior surges. The manufacturer guarantees a $100k connected equipment warranty per unit should their power suppression device fail, and they include a full lifetime warranty with NO maintenance charges as well.

This power management system suppresses and grounds electrical power surges. Suppressing power surges means grounding all spikes in electricity before they can enter a facility through the electrical wires. Surges occur on electrical lines regularly, especially during thunder and lightning storms. Surges are known to damage, burn up and shorten the life of telephones, televisions and any and all electrical equipment that is plugged into a wall outlet. Power surges also, of course, run up electrical bills.

The 62-room Golden Hotel has 4000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space and a full service restaurant. The property is equipped with about 50% fluorescent lighting. Management has chosen to pay for the power management system with a lease option at about $500/month for 60 months. 20% savings on their $3,800 monthly bill will provide savings of $760/mo. So a positive cash flow of about $260/mo should be seen until the lease is paid in full, at which point the real savings kick in.

Average payback for most commercial installations is under 2.5 years (when interest is not included). Payback for The Golden Hotel should be 40 months (because of the interest added to the $20,000 cost) based on the guaranteed savings of 20%.

Once a site inspection determining requirements of the property was completed, a proposal was prepared and presented to The Golden Hotel'smanagement.

Installation was accomplished by a licensed electrician contracted by Rocky Mountain Energy Reduction, and took less than one day. A suppression unit, as shown below, was attached to each of 22 electrical panels and unprotected disconnects in the building. The units are approximately 5x5x2 inches, and mount on the side of the box or disconnect. Each has three LED lights, the illumination of which indicates proper function.

Although 20% is the guaranteed electric consumption savings, many facilities experience substantially more savings. Red Rocks Community College, Arvada, CO, experienced a 51% reduction in their electric consumption and a 35% reduction in their electric bill in December, 2002, solely because of installation of the Redi/Volt II System IV power management system.

Ener-Tech Manufacturing has been producing the Redi-Volt suppression units for more than 15 years and is experiencing rapid growth in the US as power issues and electric expenses continue to escalate.

The Golden Hotel'smanagement felt the investment made excellent sense in long-term utility savings, but even more important was the intangible reduction in cost of light bulbs, repairs on electrical equipment, computers, HVAC equipment, etc. when damaged by power spikes. Reduction in energy usage saves our resources and reduces bills, but it also reduces smog and dirty air because less coal (or other resource) is burned or consumed to generate the electricity.

Greg Riska of Rocky Mountain Energy Reduction will be pleased to answer any questions. Also, feel free to contact Derek Wood (derek@golden-hotel.com, 303/279-0100) at The Golden Hotel for more information on their new energy efficient power surge suppression system.

Ener-Tech Manufacturing, 800/242-9360, http://www.redivoltmfg.com
Rocky Mountain Energy Reduction, 303/947-4327, http://www.rmerinc.com

Energy Management Advances
WIRELESS BEDSIDE CONTROLS

A speakerphone'stouchscreen is Inncom'swireless bedside control device allowing guests to operate lights, lamps, heating, air conditioning, drapes, shades, television sets, videocassette recorders, stereos and digital video disc players. They need simply touch the phone'sscreen to change the room temperature, dim the lighting or open window treatments. At night the guest can turn off the lights, turn on the phone and a bathroom light can be dimmed to 10% to provide a nightlight. Electronic guestroom locks are an integral part of the system.

Currently, this product is generally installed in high-end or five-star properties because it provides a special convenience and luxury factor to a guestroom and because of the cost.

The speakerphone displays all the services in several languages, and incorporates an alarm clock and times in cities around the world. The communication mode is infrared, so any item or device with an infrared receiver can be controlled through the device. This patented two-way communications protocol does not need line-of-sight to communicate. Each item to be controlled must have a receiver, so each item added increases the cost.

BTX Window Automation (http://www.btxinc.com) offers motorized window treatments, and works with the property and/or Inncom (http://www.inncom.com) to motorize any type of window treatment. The motors for drapery range from $300 to $1,000, remote controls cost $300-400 and each switch costs about $30. Because of the wide variety of window treatments, most motorizing projects are custom jobs.

For reporting purposes, the system can interface with PBX, housekeeping, mini-bar, security, in-room safe and other systems.

The wireless energy management technology is offered with control devices other than a speakerphone. A tabletop control panel, handheld remote controller or a lamp control module might be used separately or in conjunction with a speakerphone in a suite.

This wireless control product provides a unique, dramatic commitment to guest satisfaction, and certainly adds sizzle to the stay.

Adams, Bruce; “Energy management lies at the heart of wireless bedside controls,” H&MM, July 15, 2002, p. 32, 34

Bathroom Energy Savings for the Hospitality Industry

Energy savings opportunities were identified as unnecessary extended operation of hotel guestroom bath lighting in a DOE-funded study several years ago. The goal of a more-recent partnership of Berkeley Lab, SMUD, DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento and the California Energy Commission is to develop a product based on that fact which will provide energy savings while maintaining guestroom lighting quality.

“More than 75% of the energy used by these fixtures occurs when they are left on for more than two hours at a time,” says Berkeley Lab lighting researcher Michael Siminovitch. The study revealed that bathroom lights are on for the longest periods of time in occupied hotel rooms—an average of 8 hours, compared with less than 5 hours for bedroom lights and 2 hours for desk lights.

The common solution to lights being left on is the occupancy sensor, automatically turning lights off when guests leave the room. Hotel managers, however, want to be careful not to irritate guests by turning lights on and off when guests are in the bathroom for longer periods. The partnership researchers determined that occupancy sensors installed in the bathroom with set times of one hour or more would still provide significant energy savings. The largest energy savings occurs when guests leave lights on when out of the room for more than 2 hours or when the bathroom light is left on all night to serve as a night light.

An occupancy sensor for the bath will be combined with automatic nightlighting in the form of an energy-efficient LED night light which will provide sufficient illumination for nighttime use of the bathroom. The Watt Stopper, Inc. is the chosen manufacturer of this hospitality-special energy-saving fixture which will first be installed in all 400 DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento guest bathrooms. Bob Hughes, regional director of DoubleTree says, “We are very excited about the potential of this device to save energy in a manner that will not impact guest comfort.”

GHA will follow this study, and provide updates as we learn more.

http://cw.groupstone.net/Scripts/WebObjects-3.dll/CMWebRequest.woa/wa/displayContent?...

MAR/APR 2003

Grass Thrives With Salt Watering

A trendy, new accompaniment to expensive meals is salicornia, a bright, green grass also known as sea asparagus, samphire, pickle weed and sea beans. The condiment costs $10 a pound at Whole Foods. Grown on Mexico'sBaja Peninsula, the grass is the center of a huge experiment the purpose of which is to reduce demands on the world'sfresh water. Acres and acres of green rows of salicornia are reclaiming land long considered dead for farming purposes.

It is the first commercially grown food product irrigated completely with seawater. It is being used as a base for establishing other crops or grasses that can be grown with salt rather than fresh water. “Every plant on earth has ancestors that once lived only on seawater,” says Dan Murphy, the man behind the mission. He continues, “The trick is to figure out which ones we can grow commercially.” In 1999, the American founded Saline Seed Mexico SA. Mr. Murphy'splan is to select species of plants that can be “trained” to thrive on seawater over many generations.

Factors that make the project viable are cheap Mexican labor along with the increased demand for organic specialties in the US. Industrial farming has depleted underground water on the Baja, leaving the dirt barren. The aquifer'sfresh water depletion has allowed sea water to contaminate the fresh water that remains.

The taste of the legume is an acquired one—said to be so intense that diners— eyes bug out. Salicornia is often used as a salt substitute—with chopped bits in a salad or a rice dish. One chef likes to offer it with fish.

The long range hope is not to thrill the palates of organic diners, but rather to encourage coastal cites and counties to conserve fresh water on which they currently spend billions of dollars a year by watering their public lands, parks and golf courses with seawater. Mexico'sbiggest problem in developing resort areas is water resources that would keep golf courses green.

In another location, research is ongoing to grow landscape grasses and plantings that can tolerate sea water. Forage crops such as alfalfa are also on the radar screen, the success of which would be a major coup. Experimental forage crops have been found to be pleasing both to the cattle and the cattlemen.

What a fabulous plan this is. It'sso amazing to learn what clever, creative, innovative minds can do!

Millman, Joel; Trendy Sprout Thrives on Water From Sea, The Wall Street Journal, February 26, 2003, p. D1
http://ari.calstate.edu/FundedProjects/Irrigation.htm

JAN/FEB 2003

What'sin your cup of coffee?

Do you know that up to 30% of your cup of coffee can legally be “defects?” US law allows a maximum of 495 defects in about ¾ of a pound of coffee. A “small” stick is one defect; a “medium” stone is two. Other defects are unripe, musty or rotten beans, insects, twigs, gravel, etc. Pre-ground and instant coffee are most likely to contain the defects because the defects can'treadily be seen. So, how pure is your coffee? How bad or good does it taste?

The past two years have seen the quality of coffee deteriorate dramatically. In fact, the quality has gotten so bad that the International Coffee Organization (ICO) has ruled that coffee-exporting countries must improve their product—or stop bringing it to market. The ruling is good news for coffee drinkers because the new ICO standards are much higher than US government regulations.

Globally, wholesale coffee prices are very low and have been for a couple of years, which should mean good coffee drinking. However, that'snot the case. One of the biggest changes is the fact that Viet Nam was an almost non-player 5 years ago until their government chose to stimulate production. Viet Nam is now flooding the market with some of the cheapest and lowest quality beans in the world, and currently owns 12% of the world market. Viet Nam has no minimum export grades, produces low-quality beans and exports some of the most impure coffee in the world. Coffee processors apparently find themselves unable to avoid buying the cheap Vietnamese coffee simply because it'sso cheap. So, they buy it, blend it and sell it without any pricing discounts, assuming coffee drinkers are too dumb to know better.

A professional coffee taster and industry consultant says, “There are two kinds of off tastes in coffee. One is a —compost— taste, and the other is —old shoes in the back of the closet.— Vietnamese robusta combines both.” Yuck . . .

Viet Nam is now the No. 3 coffee supplier, after Brazil and Colombia. High quality producers are Colombia and Guatemala, and they are being badly hurt. Their output is down about 25% because of the flood of beans from Viet Nam.

The US House of Representatives— concern is revealed in a resolution to “adopt a global strategy to respond to the coffee crisis.” They recognize a need for quality standards, and the fact that low prices are creating a humanitarian crisis among the world'ssubsistence coffee farmers. There is also concern that Central and South American coffee farmers unable to make a living growing coffee will turn to farming illegal drugs such as coca and opium.

There are only two main coffee bean types:

• Arabica: Usually the best tasting bean. Most of it comes from Latin America. The bean of which most specialty coffee is made. Has almost 40% less caffeine than Robusta.
• Robusta: Cheaper to grow, a hardier plant, but less taste. When not used in a blend, is bland or worse. Viet Nam is flooding the market with this cheap bean.

Coffee is best when the beans have been roasted in the last 2 days. Specialty coffee shops should post “roasted on” dates, but rarely do so. The roasted color of the best tasting coffee beans is a rich color between caramel and chocolate. Beans roasted to a very dark color can lose their flavor because the beans have actually been burned.

The only way to be assured of good coffee is to grind the beans yourself. At least you can see the whole beans and know that sticks, gravel or musty beans are not there. The wonderful, aromatic smell of the grinding is an added benefit.

The origin of most packaged, ground coffee is unspecified unless the company is proud of it. For instance, Yuban coffee says it's“100% Colombian.”

Meanings: Fair Trade coffee means growers received a higher price through fewer middle men. Shade Grown coffee means the beans were grown in the shade for tastier beans. There is also the implication that birds are protected in this way. Single Origin coffee means the beans are all from one country, and lesser quality beans have not been added.

Quality coffee beans are becoming more difficult to find because low prices are forcing coffee farmers to cut back on careful cultivation, such as hiring extra picking hands when beans are at peak maturity. Consumers of quality coffee may find prices considerably higher next year because quality beans will be in shorter supply.

Are you wondering what'sin your cup of coffee?

McLaughlin, Katy; Coffee That'sGood to the Last Twig, The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2002, p. D1, D3

NOV/DEC 2002

NEW ROBOT VACUUM CLEANER

Wouldn'tit be nice to have a robot vacuum carpets and floors while housekeepers clean bathrooms and make beds? A new small, flat battery-powered (no cords) vacuum is now available for about $200 to do just that.

The Roomba vacuum is 3.625” high, has a diameter of 13.4” and weighs less than 6 pounds. On a battery charge of 10 to 12 hours, the vacuum can run 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the flooring surface. A fast recharger (2 hours) is available for $60. It has the usual complement of parts for a vacuum such as a brush and wheels, but also has computer chips and sensors that allow it to follow walls and not fall down stairs.

The diminuative disk-shaped vacuum is considered a limited, light-duty vacuum and would not be a replacement for a standard vacuum cleaner. Things would need to be picked up off the floor, as is usual before vacuuming. A pile of papers, a too-low couch, fringe on a carpet, etc. will stop the Roomba. Should it become hopelessly stuck, it will shut itself off. Preparation such as folding rug fringe underneath the rug or raising a too-low couch or chair by placing the legs on casters or blocks will allow the Roomba to do its job with greater ease. The Roomba is designed to work without human contact, though watching it in operation is said to be almost hypnotic.

When ready to vacuum, a button should be pushed that tells the machine the size of the room—small, medium or large. It is then placed in the center of the room. As the machine takes off, it toots a couple of notes enthusiastically. It will work in a spiral, moving one foot per second, until it reaches an obstacle such as a chair leg. It will then work back and forth in straight lines zipping under chairs, tables and couches. Though it may vacuum the same area many times, it does do the job.

Two small containers hold the vacuumed dust. They need to be emptied on a regular basis—especially, before the vacuum is picked up or turned over. A filter needs to be replaced if punctured or if there is a decline in the cleaning performance. Replacement filters are priced at 3/$10.

Four sensors are used to control navigation of the spiffy little vacuumer. A Wall Following Sensor allows the machine to move along a wall while cleaning up. A Cliff Avoidance Sensor keeps Roomba from bouncing down the staircase. To control the space in which the Roomba works, a Virtual Wall Sensor delineates the area. Roomba'sbumper uses a contact sensor while the other 3 sensors control movement by recognizing the reflection of an invisible light being projected by the vacuum. Accessories include extra Virtual Walls at $40 each.

The Roomba, by iRobot, is available at http://www.roombavac.com as well as at Brookstone, Sharper Image and Hammacher Schlemmer web sites.

Amazingly, a little web crawling finds that many other companies are at least testing, if not bringing to market, their version of a vacuuming robot. However, prices on other robot vacuums range from $1,500 to $3,800 so far.

Interestingly, the Atlanta Hobby Robot Club is holding an annual household vacuum robot competition with the goal of creating a task-oriented robot to autonomously vacuum a typical household room. The contest rules, awards, etc. can be found at http://www.botlanta.org/Rally/vac_rules.html.

How exciting to learn the time may be near when a robot will do a lot of our vacuuming for us!

Mossberg, Walter S.; The Mossberg Solution, A Vacuum That Even A Couch-Potato Could Love,
The Wall Street Journal, September 18, 2002

SEP/OCT 2002

CHLORINE BLEACH ALTERNATIVES

When chlorine reacts with other substances that contain carbon, organochlorines or chlorinated organics are created. These organochlorines are considered to be persistent, toxic, damaging to the ozone layer and possibly carcinogenic by environmentalists. DDT and dioxin are examples of organochlorines.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is an advisory agency founded in 1909 to assess problems and progress in the Great Lakes region by the US and Canadian governments. Both countries have been advised by IJC since 1992 that a time frame to “sunset” or phase out the use of chlorine, especially in industrial usage, should be determined. IJC'sstudy of the effects of organochlorines includes a chart summarizing endocrine damage in wildlife, including bird, fish and turtle eggs failing to hatch.

In a 2,000 page report, the US EPA assessed research gathered by 100 independent scientists who concluded that even low levels of dioxin may suppress the human immune system and adversely affect the reproductive system.

The Chlorine Institute and the Chlorine Chemistry Council reviewed these studies and refute the connection between chlorinated chemicals and human health as unsubstantiated. Of the refutation, a senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund says, “The Chlorine Chemistry Council has as much credibility as a cockroach around here.”

Making and transporting chlorine can be dangerous. Water and sewage treatment plants often use chlorine gas. Swimming pools, floor or wall cleaning, laundry and sterilization of dishes and utensils use hypochlorite solutions that can react with other chemicals to release chlorine.

Health problems from chlorine gas exposure include respiratory effects such as burning and/or congestion of the nose, throat and chest as well as tearing of the eyes, headache and central nervous system problems including impaired recall, difficulty concentrating, difficulty following directions and balance.

Minimizing the use of chlorine bleach for cleaning and laundry is an important determination by executive housekeepers in order to protect the health of staff. Linens bleached unnecessarily will have a much shorter life and a worn appearance because bleach will break down fabric fibers by a process called oxidation.

Never, ever mix bleach with any other chemical because of the possibility of creating a deadly gas.

Regarding disinfection, remember that one tablespoon (yes, one tablespoon) of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water is a hospital-grade disinfectant. It should never be necessary to mix a stronger solution than that for disinfecting.

Non-Chlorine Bleach Products for Whitening Fabrics:

• Hydrogen Peroxide - Purchased at any drug store, hydrogen peroxide applied to a stain with a cotton swab will diminish or remove spots and stains. Apply hydrogen peroxide and allow to dry. Launder as soon as possible. Hydrogen peroxide is especially good to use on delicate or sensitive fabrics. However, always test.
  
  The main ingredient in most commercial bleach alternatives is hydrogen peroxide.
• Vinegar - Vinegar is a solvent and also a mild bleach. It is safe to use as a laundry rinse, fabric softener and presoak. To brighten whites, add one or more cups to the machine during the presoak cycle if desired. Because it is a solvent, however, it can make cheap dyes and fabric colors run and fade. Always test on non-white fabrics. Add 1/4 cup to wash cycle for greying fabrics. Vinegar is available in 5%, 9% (for canning) and 20% (for landscape use) acidities.
  
  About 25 drops of apple fragrance or a few orange or lemon rinds can be added to a gallon jug of vinegar for an improved smell.
• Sodium Perborate - Use 1 to 3 T. of this natural bleach made of borax and hydrogen peroxide on white fabrics. About $50 for 10 lb. See http://usachemical.com/Sodium-Percarbonate.htm or http://www.chemistrystore.com/Sodium_Percarbonate_uses.htm.
• Sodium Percarbonate - Washing soda and hydrogen peroxide make up this bleach alternative. Dissolve in hot water. Cool solution. Add only stained area of fabric to solution. Allow to soak.
• Washing Soda - 1/4 C. can be added to the wash cycle to whiten. Sodium carbonate, is also known as soda ash or sal soda.
• Borax - Add 1/4 cup to the wash cycle to brighten whites and colors. Sodium tetraborate decahydrate. 20 Mule Team brand borax can be purchased in most grocery stores.
• Zeolite Powder - Add 2 to 3 T. to the rinse cycle. Also absorbs odors. 100% nontoxic, natural mineral resulting from volcanic activity. It is the only negatively-charged mineral in its natural state, which means it naturally absorbs pollutants from the air. See http://www.88stink.com/products.html, http://volcanic_zeolite.tripod.com/product_info__photos.htm as well as other sites. 25 lb. for about $45.
• Lemon Juice - Daub on stains (fresh from used or unused lemons in the kitchen or from extract). Diminishment of stains will be boosted if the fabric is placed in direct sunshine. Wash. 1/4 cup can be added to the wash cycle.
• Sunshine - With or without a citric juice (lemon, grapefruit, orange, etc.), the sun will whiten fabrics.
• Bleach Substitute Recipe - 1 cup hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup lemon or grapefruit juice + 12 cups water. Store in labeled plastic jug. Add 2 cups per load.
  
  The Dirt Doctor'sDirt

Commercially available chlorine-free bleach products:

• Ecover Natural Non-Chlorine Bleach, Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, water; 64 liquid oz., Mfg: Ecover, Commerce, CA, $3.99 at Whole Foods, biodegradable in 3-5 days, http://www.ecover.com
• Bi-O-Kleen Color-Safe Chlorine-Free Oxygen Bleach Plus, with natural boosters, water conditioners and mildew stain and odor inhibiters, Ingredients: Natural clays, percarbonate oxygen bleach, vegetable fiber chelators and natural anti-corrosive compounds; 32 oz. granules, $5.99 at Whole Foods, Mfg: Bi-O-Kleen Industries Inc., 503/557-0216, http://www.bi-o-kleen.com
• Natural Non-Chlorine Bleach; Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach stabilizer, dionized water; 48 fluid oz. (16 loads), $3.49 at Whole Foods, Mfg: Seventh Generation, Burlington, VT, Free & clear of perfumes & dyes, non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, biodegradable, 802/658-3773, http://www.seventhgen.com

Any of these products or recipes should be tested on a small hidden area of the fabric before using extensively. Absolutely, positively do not combine any of these products with chlorine bleach.

Alternative to Chlorine Bleach Alternatives: An even better way to get chlorine bleach out of your laundry room and out of your life would be to switch to non-white linens. Off-white linens or colored linens (preferably dyed with natural dyes) do not need to be whitened.

Kilburn, Kaye H., Chlorine-Induced Damage
Documented by Neurophysiological, Neuropsychological, and Pulmonary Testing, Environmental Health, January, 2000.

Reilly, Lee, The dirt on bleach, Vegetarian Times, December, 1995.

Berthold-Bond, Annie, Clean & Green, Ceres Press, Woodstock, NY, 1990.

DRYING LINENS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY

Clotheslines! They're back! If you—ve ever crawled between sheets that have been freshly dried in the sunshine, you—ve not forgotten the sweet, fragrant smell and the comforting feeling of the crisp, clean sheets. It'sa very special pleasure. Perhaps some of your guests would appreciate unheard-of sunshine-and-fresh-air-dried sheets.

Of course, few hotels have a yard or acreage where a clothesline can be accommodated, but every hotel has a roof, and most of them are flat. Consider whether your special guests and the protection of valuable linens might be worth the trouble of drying linens outdoors. Bed sheets made of fabulous linen, cotton and silk fabrics with up to 500 thread counts are on the market today, and these beautiful, expensive linens will last longer and feel better to the touch if they are given special care and do not suffer extreme temperatures while being dried in a dryer.

There are a number of choices of retractable, collapsible line dryers available.

Butts Manufacturing makes a variety of air-drying devices, but does not sell direct except in bulk. Their array of line dryers is available online and by stores such as Lowe—s, Wal-Mart, etc. Stacksandstacks (http://www.stacksandstacks.com, 800/761-5222, 510/215-5995, Fax 510/215-5993) and http://www.buychoice.com (800/973-6664) offer a number of line dryers online.

A few line-drying choices are:

• Rotary lightweight “umbrella” drying rack, 73” high, 154 linear feet of continuous plastic clothes line, $100
• Outdoor 6—x5— rectangular drying rack, 30 parallel lines, 182— linear feet, $46
• 5-line retractable 15” wide, 12.25— long, 61-3/4— of line, $11

Interestingly, one of the features of a winning design in the recent Eco-Lodge Design Competition is “reduced need for mechanical dryers by drying clothes in the —drying yard.—”

Another advantage in addition to extending the life of linens is reduced energy cost. Your property'sutility bills can be reduced through air drying bed linens indoors or out. Should your property decide to line dry some linens, special guests should be thrilled beyond measure.

JUL/AUG 2002

SALINE POOL TECHNOLOGY

Saline Pool Technology, discussed here, is all about creating chlorine gas from salt tablets to provide sanitation for swimming pools or spas. It is not about creating a salt-water swimming pool. The purpose of this method of chlorinating a swimming pool is to NOT use chlorine bleach for disinfecting because of the problems encountered when handling, using and storing chlorine bleach as well as the negative aspects of having guests swim or soak in diluted chlorine bleach.

Problems with using liquid chlorine bleach include:

• For Staff:
• Spillage resulting in bleached spots on carpet or elsewhere
• Detrimental health aspects of touching, tasting and breathing chlorine fumes
• For Swimmers:
• Stinging eyes
• Green-tinted hair
• Smell of chlorine
• The suggestion that chlorine bleach could be the cause of some cancers

Technology: Saline pool technology is a process of creating chlorine gas though electrolysis. Salt tablets are simply table salt compressed into puck-sized tablets. The tablets are added to water in the anode cell of the system where chlorine gas and oxygen are generated. Pool water passing trough the system absorbs the gas and returns to the pool as chlorinated water. A safety system warns when the salt and water in the system are used up or when the system vacuum is lost. The exact operation of the system can best be explained by the manufacturer. It is our understanding that the only provider is Purichlor, R&M Collier Mfg. Ltd., BC, Canada (Richard Collier, 604/271-0851, cell 604/230-5375, rcollier@lynx.bc.ca).

The Fairmont Hotels (formerly Canadian Pacific) have used saline technology for their pools and swear by it because of the safety of getting chlorine into the water. Jack Harding (jack.harding@fairmont.com), Regional Director of Engineering, located out of Hotel Vancouver, says, “We—ve had the Purichlor Chlorine

Gas Generator system at four out of five hotels since 1983-84. Our Purichlor system has been upgraded over the years, but remains basically the same. At Hotel Vancouver, our 40—x20—x4— deep lap pool, 8-person Jacuzzi and 12—x12”x1” deep kiddie pool are all treated with this technology.”

Mr. Harding continues, “Saline pool chlorination is a very efficient technology, very inexpensive, there are no moving parts to deal with, no pumps, very little maintenance and it'scontrolled with a computer. The absolute only problem that ever occurs is when the system loses vacuum, and when that happens, an alarm goes off and shuts down the system. The system is, appropriately, checked on a regular basis.”

The chlorine gas is dissolved into the water and cannot evaporate into the air. Smell poolside is said to be akin to freshly-washed clothing.

Cost of the Purichlor saline technology system for a 20,000-gallon commercial pool is approximately $2,300. For larger pools, systems are used in tandem. Cost to operate the system is about six cents a day.

Positives of Purichlor'schlorine generator saline pool technology:

• Saves labor
• Saves chemicals
• Running costs are lower
• Water feels softer and smoother
• No widely fluctuating chlorine levels
• No widely fluctuating pH levels
• Water does not need to be shocked

Mr. Collier reports that the company is now responding to requests for chlorination systems for drinking water purification.

A “Green” Pool is a Good Thing

Jack Robertson, owner of GHA PARTNER MEMBER Grand Strand Inn & Suites (843/448-1461), Myrtle Beach, SC, purchased a Pool Weasel Vacuum System in April, 2000. When Jack was introduced to the Pool Weasel he agreed to a demonstration basically to be cordial to a fellow GHA member. He was, however, also curious because a new hotel was being built next door to his hotel. In the bottom of the new hotel's80,000-gallon pool was at least 1/4— of sand, palm fronds, etc. Forty minutes into the demo, the pool was free of all debris and no water had been wasted. Mr. Robertson vowed laughing, “I would never have believed it if I hadn'tseen it happen first hand.”

With the Pool Weasel in place at The (soon-to-be Best Western) Grand Strand, 65% of the water it took previously to operate the pool and lazy river water feature is being conserved and the sewage load has been reduced by the same amount. Remember too that all pool water is chemically treated and often heated.

How can one machine conserve so much? The Pool Weasel Vacuum System, GHA ALLY MEMBER, works independently from your pool'sfiltration system. The water is filtered manually poolside with a 22” or 29” steerable vacuum head, and water is returned to the pool. There is no backwashing of filters; therefore, water is saved, sewage water is lessened and chemicals are conserved. Chemical savings are usually 25-30%. All of this creates a good thing—a “green” pool.

The Pool Weasel is so efficient and easy to set up that labor cost of vacuuming can be reduced by 60%-75%. The Pool Weasel easily picks up hair, sand, coins, glass, hairpins, Band-Aids, etc.

Save water, energy and chemicals. Systems are designed to best fit the customer'spool, spa and/or water features. Pricing starts at $2,930, and leasing is available. A $150 discount awaits those who call within 30 days. Learn more about ALLY MEMBER Pool Weasel'svacuuming system at http://www.poolweasel.com or call “T.” McLeod at 704/906-1376 today.

MAY/JUN 2002

NON-SMOKING HOTELS

Many years ago hotels began introducing non-smoking rooms for their guests—maybe a few rooms, then adding 10 more, then a section of one floor, then a whole floor, etc. Today, almost certainly, the majority of guestrooms at most US hotels are designated as non-smoking.

As the years have passed, we have all come to understand that tobacco causes cancer. Second-hand smoke has also been proven to be detrimental to our health and possibly cause cancer. Legislation and lawsuits regarding tobacco use have impacted our society so profoundly that tobacco use and its effects have been hugely reduced. As a result, there are fewer smokers today than ever before. Smoking and non-smoking sections are mandated in most restaurants, and many buildings are designated “non-smoking” facilities.

Hotels have progressed with the times and the downturn of tobacco usage in classifying more and more guestrooms as non-smoking rooms. Many hotels have reduced smoking rooms to only 10-15% of their inventory.

The cost of cleaning smoking rooms compared to the cost of cleaning non-smoking rooms is significant. In fact, one owner told us, “It is impossible to clean a smoking room correctly in the 30 to 45 minutes that housekeepers often have to clean a room before it is turned.”

So, more managers are making their hotels completely non-smoking facilities. Any hotel that has reduced smoking rooms to 10% or less should be able to become a non-smoking facility rather easily.

Vinjay Danfani, owner of an 80-room Comfort Inn in Manhattan'stheater district, reports that his motivation to make the change to a non-smoking property was a strong business reason. He said, “Demand is high for non-smoking rooms. Since the smoking rooms were already reduced to only 10%, the change was easy.” He also sees the change as fulfilling a health need—he'sa non-smoker, as is most of his staff.

When reservations are made, guests are clearly and explicitly informed that the property is totally a non-smoking facility. Signs at the front desk stress that smoking is not allowed in any of the guest rooms, should a smoker arrive for check-in and be unaware. The reservation section for this hotel at the company'sweb site clearly states, “This is a non-smoking hotel.” Though the company web site does not brag about the benefits of being a delight for non-smokers, GHA believes management would do well to use that marketing tactic to bring in even more of those of us who would really appreciate the clean air and refreshing smell of a non-smoking property.

When smokers do choose to stay at the property even though they say they were unaware of the policy at check-in, “there is very little complaining—they almost always go ahead and take the room and then they simply step outside the front door to smoke.” says a front desk clerk. “After all, this is New York City!” Should a smoker prefer not to take the room reserved, the front desk staff is pleased to arrange a room for the guest at another company-owned property nearby where smokers have not been banished.

Mr. Danfani says when, on the rare occasion, housekeepers do find that a guest has smoked in the room, the guest is politely but firmly asked to leave if they were to stay further nights. No fine is charged for the extra cleaning required by the indiscretion of the cheating guest, mainly because the incidents have been minimal.

The NYC Comfort Inn'srevenues are down as a result of 9/11, but they are down less than other comparable properties. Vinjay does not attribute the reduced downturn to the non-smoking policy because he has no way of making that determination. However, he feels sure there are money savings resulting from being a smokeless inn. “Money is saved because it takes housekeepers less time to clean a non-smoking room, and the need for cleaning products is certainly reduced,” Vinjay says.

How do the housekeepers like the change? Vinjay laughs as he replies, “They're thrilled with the change! They're no longer breathing second-hand smoke!” A reduced workload because of dealing only with non-smoking guests is also a big plus for housekeepers.

The 100-room Howard Johnson Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia is in a far different setting, and so can make different decisions concerning its non-smoking program. “First of all, we're in Virginia—in the tobacco belt. So, making the change was a tough call from that aspect of business,” says Shelley Miller, General Manager of this Howard Johnson. Prior to making the change, the property had 20-25% of its rooms designated as “smoking rooms.”

Shelley continues, “There are several different areas where smokers may lounge outdoors while they smoke. We—ve gone to great lengths to make sure smokers are comfortable outdoors. Smoking is allowed outside the front doors where benches and ashtrays are provided, around the swimming pool area on lounge chairs there, in a covered underground parking area where benches are provided or at a sitting area outside their video game room.” So, the few guests who arrive and wish to smoke certainly have choices.

“Amazingly enough,” Shelley says, “even smokers love the fact that the property is a non-smoking facility. Smokers say they love it because —the rooms are cleaner, the air fresher.— Families arriving at this historic tourist destination really appreciate the smokeless policy—it'shealthier for their children as well as for themselves.”

“As for revenues, this Howard Johnson Hotel was a small percentage up in 2001 over the year 2000, but we're very proud that we—ve held our own when other properties are really struggling,” reports Ms. Miller. “We're unsure how much credit we can give to our non-smoking policy for the uptick, but we know it sets us apart. We're very happy we—ve made the change,” she says.

Can your property become a non-smoking facility? What percentage of your guestrooms are now non-smoking? Can you determine the extra cost in time, equipment and cleaning products for cleaning a smoking room? Can you accommodate those smokers who do decide to stay at your property with an appropriate area outdoors where they can smoke? Consider polling your staff, especially the housekeepers since they breathe more of the second-hand smoke than other staff members, as to their thoughts on working in a non-smoking environment.

If your property includes a restaurant or bar, considerations would need to be made so that smoke cannot drift into the lobby or other public areas.

Management should see measurable differences in the life of guestroom softgoods when a property does not allow smoking. Bedspreads, drapes and carpeting will need cleaning less often, so will have a longer life. Pillows will last longer because they have not absorbed smoke. Windows will need to be cleaned (inside) less often. Painted walls will remain fresh longer. Management of a non-smoking facility should see huge economic benefits.

Marketing your property as a smoke-free facility is an important next step. Be sure to brag about the benefits of the fresh, clean air, the healthy aspects of a non-carcinogenic environment, etc. Guests and clients will really appreciate the “fresh and clean” atmosphere of your smokeless property

MAR/APR 2002

EARTH DAY RESOLUTIONS!

By Patty Griffin, President, GHA

Let'sall make some resolutions to celebrate Earth Day! We—ve all made resolutions for so many New Years, and the majority of them were all about dieting and exercise. Uhhh. Let'stake a new tack—and go for new and exciting resolutions that will MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our world. Here are some ideas for starters.

Begin with http://www.earthday.net/ to get an overview and some history on Earth Day as well as news and volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer with an environmental group. Your volunteer work helping in an office, making telephone calls from home or as a nature guide or mentor will be most welcome by non-profits. Your volunteer work in any capacity will reduce the expenses of the non-profit, give you great satisfaction and MAKE A DIFFERENCE! You—ll know you're doing some good with your time and your special talents. Your work with local, national or international groups will be welcomed with open arms. Choose an area of environmental work in which you are most interested and feel passionate about—the seashore? turtles? a forest? teaching a class? taking a group on a nature walk? Whatever works best for you.

Next, decide how much time you have to volunteer. Is it an hour or so each week or each month? Or, is it one day a year for a beach cleanup or to help with a bird count?

If you—d like to work with a local group, pull out your phone book and look under “Environmental, Conservation & Ecological Organizations.” Call a few and/or go to their web sites to look for volunteer opportunities. Another resource when looking for local environment groups is at http://yellowpages.msn.com/simplesearch.aspx?KWD=environmental+organizations.

You—ll enjoy the work, you—ll make new friends with your same interests and you—ll truly, personally be helping protect our environment. For state or national groups, another choice is to go to GHA'sGuidelines and Ideas “Environmental Groups of Interest” section and to the web. You—ll love the work and the feeling of satisfaction, and Mother Nature will love you!

For longer term volunteering, one choice is to contact the Student Conservation Association which organizes Americans of all ages (but mostly young) in national parks and forests with the hope that they will choose careers in conservation. Internships from 12 weeks to a year are available in all 50 states. Call 603/543-1700 and check out their web site at http://www.sca-inc.org for further information.

Learn something new about the environment. Study birds for a month. Go on an educational wildlife or nature trip. Take an environmental class at a local museum, library, center or university. Read and study a (used?) book with an environmental bent. Rachel Carson'sSilent Spring is always good, if you haven'talready read it. Commit to a new ecological project at your hotel with your new knowledge. Visitors would love to see a bulletin board of all the ecological opportunities in your area. Perhaps your studies could include putting together such a bulletin board and keeping it updated.

Teach others about nature. Help start a teaching program at your hotel about birds in the area, your waterfront, the stars, etc. Set up a hands-on display about nature in your area of interest in the lobby. Lead a nature walk in a nearby nature area for anyone who wants to go. Take your children, grandchildren, neighbor children, anyone else or just get up and go by yourself to a park, a waterfront, nearby woods, to a nature preserve or just to someone'svegetable garden. Visit a turtle research facility, goat farm or any farm. Look more closely at leaves, insects, birds and animals. Study them. Use binoculars, or not, for birdwatching. Use a jeweler'sloop or a magnifying glass to examine a bug more closely. Give nature books, bird feeders or related items as gifts. Of course, you can always call a few hospitality associates/friends and tell them about GHA. You, the people you involve and the group you help will remember these nature-related events for many years. Some of them may even be turned onto environmental hobbies and work.

I—ll still be picking up at least one piece of litter every day, but for 2002 I resolve to learn more about the turtles that live in our oceans—how they can be protected both when the female lays her eggs and when the babies race to the ocean shortly after hatching—and how I can help. Julie Crone, GHA'sExecutive Assistant, and her two 14-year-old foster daughters will be out on Galveston Island'sbeach helping with their annual cleanup this year.

Make your Earth Day (Monday, April 22, 2002) resolutions today, write them down and carry them out. You're almost undoubtedly already making a difference environmentally, but with these new 2002 Earth Day resolutions, you—ll be MAKING A DIFFERENCE for yourself, for 2002 and for the future!

As a footnote, my litter-picking-up paid off this week with a find of a roll of about fifty 34-cent stamps. To encourage any of you further, a guy picking up trash along a Texas highway found a winning scratch-off ticket for a $60,000 house!

JAN/FEB 2002

ASTA'sENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

By Patricia Griffin, President, GHA

We're still excited that “Green” Hotels Association® won the American Society of Travel Agents— coveted Environmental Award for 2001. In the hopes that many of you will apply for, and hopefully win, the award for 2002 and future years, following is further information on applying for and winning the award as well as attending the awards ceremony.

ASTA'snomination form for its Environmental Award specifies that a 150-word essay explain why an individual, destination or organization deserves the award. Attachments and enclosures may be sent in with the nomination form. Two winners are chosen each year. Nominations must be received in ASTA'soffice no later than June 30. You may nominate yourself or your organization. Winners are announced in August and the award is presented at ASTA'sWorld Congress which is held the first week of November each year. Following is GHA'snomination essay.

“GREEN” HOTELS ASSOCIATION® is committed to encouraging, promoting and supporting ecological consciousness in the hospitality industry

Significant impact has been achieved through our:

• towel and sheet cards which ask guests to reuse towels and not have sheets changed daily
• catalog of environmental products which offers low-flow aerators, showerheads, recycling baskets, books, etc.
• professional association which provides information and recognition to our elite corps of green hoteliers
• 200+ members representing 18,500+ guestrooms
• “Guidelines and Ideas”, a cornucopia of smart conservation ideas and techniques
• member newsletter packed with savvy, practical greening information
• printed cards help educate the traveling public
• media attention which brings new business to member hotels— doors

Lasting contributions include:

• elevating environmentalism in the hospitality industry worldwide since 1993
• creating awareness that hotel guests can help protect beautiful destinations
• partnering with travel agents, tour guides, government agencies and meeting and convention planners in making ecologically-positive choices
• serving Mother Earth by saving millions of gallons of water, lowering energy usage and reducing solid waste through our member and customer hotels

The awards ceremony at which “Green” Hotels Association® was recognized as ASTA's2001 Environmental Award winner took place on Tuesday, November 6 in NYC at the Jacob Javits Convention Center during ASTA'sWorld Travel Congress. The afternoon awards ceremony was attended by several hundred travel agents.

Following we give you a complete verbal replay of the presentation so that you can feel more a part of this important award.

Chair of the American Society of Travel Agents— 71st World Travel Congress, Ralph Ferrara, made the presentation. Mr. Ferrara began the environmental award presentations with, “This award recognizes a different kind of achievement. The growth of travel and its economic benefits continue to have a major impact on the global economy. This growth, however, is also taxing on the environment, and the way we address those challenges today will have a major impact on the future of tourism. ASTA is proud to dedicate its efforts to increasing the public'sawareness of the conservation efforts being made and the overall trend toward environmentally responsible and sustainable tourism. It is an honor to recognize outstanding individuals, destinations and organizations for their efforts to preserve and share the resources of our planet. The ASTA Environmental Award not only recognizes programs and individuals making real contributions, it encourages and supports those who strive to protect and preserve the environment. We have two winners this year. (The second winner was Chaa Creek in Belize.) Let'slook at the first winner.—

As the room darkened, a video accompanied by background music began to play. Photos of me, GHA'sprinted cards, products and flags were shown on mammoth screens on each side of the stage. As the slides changed and the music played, an announcer said, “Green Hotels Association® is committed to encouraging, promoting, and supporting ecological consciousness in the hospitality industry. Founded in 1993 by Patricia Griffin, a Houston entrepreneur and a self-described inveterate tree hugger, the association'spurpose is to help lodging properties care for and protect the beautiful destinations we all love to visit. This association takes an educational and consultative role, offering its members guidelines and resources for conservation tactics, methods and ideas. Low-flow showerheads, a towel and sheet program, recycling containers, to name only a few, afford hoteliers savings on water, energy and labor while ultimately benefitting the environment. GHA has proved that hotel members can turn over a new leaf and turn a profit at the same time.”

“The ”Green— Hotels Association®'sflag proudly flies at lodging destinations from B&Bs to military installations, to some of the largest hotel chains in all 51 states, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and Europe. The 2001 ASTA Environmental Award is presented to “Green” Hotels Association® for elevating environmental awareness to new heights in the hospitality industry. Accepting this award on behalf of “Green” Hotels Association® is Patricia Griffin.—

As I walked between the curtains and onto the huge stage amid applause, I was greeted by 3 broadly- smiling ASTA officers and handed a beautiful 8-inch round glass trophy that reads, “2001 ASTA TRAVEL & TOURISM AWARDS, ASTA'sEnvironmental Award, ”Green— Hotels Association.— After photos were taken, I accepted the award with these words.

“In 1993, I—d been laid off three times, when ”Green— Hotels Association® came into being. It felt like a gift then, and every step of the way since has felt like a gift. Today'saward feels like another spectacular blessing, and I thank you very much. Our 200+ members representing almost 20,000 hotel guestrooms also most graciously thank you.

We—ll put this incredibly important ASTA award to work to reach more business and pleasure travelers and more hotel managers, with the help of travel agents all over the world, to further protect our one and only Earth.

We look forward to a continuing close relationship with ASTA members realizing what a DIFFERENCE we can make together.— The audience'sapplause brought the ceremony to a close.

Following the awards ceremony and a roundtable with tourism executives, a festive reception was sponsored by Hawaii (where next year'sASTA congress will be held). Drinks, fabulous hors d—oeuvres, and live music delighted everyone. This was, without a doubt, the sweetest part of the award for me, not because of the festivities, but because a number of travel agents came up and congratulated GHA with very kind words saying what a wonderful job we're doing.

Travel agents are very important to any tourism business, and they're certainly important to all of us. Please be sure to visit any travel agents— office in your area, and take a copy of the enclosed press release with you. Please feel free to add a paragraph about your property'senvironmental activities. It might be wise to e-mail it to all travel agents (not as an attachment!) in your area as well.

We hope all our members will consider applying for ASTA'sEnvironmental Award. Call or e-mail today for an nominating form for next year'saward. Call Jerry Brown, Government Affairs, ASTA, at 703/739-6840 or fax him at 703/549-7987. We're hoping that for many years to come, ASTA'stwo Environmental Award winners each year will also be GHA members. Start today by making that phone call. Start today thinking about a trip to Hawaii next November! Ummm . . .

NOV/DEC 2001

ASTA 2001 Environmental Award Goes to “Green” Hotels Association®

We're All Winners!

Give yourself a pat on the back. “Green” Hotels Association® and all of its members have been awarded the American Society of Travel Agents— (ASTA) 2001 Environmental Award. The award was to have been presented at ASTA'sannual conference in Seville, Spain on Saturday, November 10. Al Gore was to have been present. Barbara Bush and Erin Brockovich were to have spoken earlier in the week.

However, because of the tragic events of September 11, ASTA chose to relocate its meeting to New York City November 4-8, which was undoubtedly the correct thing to do.

This article was written before the presentation of the award took place, so the next newsletter will give more specifics of the event. We have requested, and have great hopes that each member will receive a certificate noting the award and each property'sGHA membership. Our next newsletter will bring a press release that every member should forward (perhaps with a paragraph about your property'smembership) to local newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations. Let'swork at getting all the media attention we can for this award to benefit our elite corps of “green” hotels. We—ve earned it!

Congratulations! You're a winner!

SEP/OCT 2001

COMMUTER CHOICE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

A voluntary government program for employer-provided commuter benefits has been established by the US EPA and the US Department of Transportation. The goal is to challenge US employers to help employees commute to and from work in ways that:

• Cut air pollution and global warming pollution
• Reduce traffic congestion
• Increase employee job satisfaction
• Improve employee recruiting and retention
• Reduce parking space demand and expenses
• Cut taxes for both employers and employees

An employer can meet the program'sfirst level of requirements by offering at least one of the following benefits at each qualifying work site:

• Free or reduced-cost passes for public transportation, such as subway cards, bus tokens or train tickets
• Transit or vanpool vouchers which can be used to pay for those services
• Services to facilitate carpooling and vanpooling such as providing vans, ridematching and a guaranteed ride home
• Telecommuting options (so employees can work at home more often)
• Proximate Commuting is a program that matches employees of multi-site employers to the branch office nearest their home
• Incentives to bike or walk
• Parking cash out: Employees can trade employer paid parking space for cash or other benefits

Participating employers at the top level of participation agree to provide three additional commuter benefits from a long menu of options including:

• Shuttles to and from transit stations (provided directly or through a service)
• Ridesharing or carpool matching
• Preferred or reduced-cost parking for carpools and vanpools
• Compressed work schedules
• Facilities or financial assistance for biking or walking to work
• On-site amenities (e.g., convenience store), and
• Employee commuting awards program

Employers at the top level need to provide employees a contact for commuter benefits, a central place (e.g., a web site) to get information about commuter benefits and services, and periodic updates on their commuter benefits. To remain in good standing in the partnership, employers must ensure that a minimum number of their employees are using the benefits.

What are the Benefits for an Employee?

• Reduced commuting costs and reduced congestion.
• Environmental protection through lessened smog and pollution.
• Parking Cash Out.

What are the Benefits for an Employer?

• Tax Savings. Employer-paid benefits can be deducted from Federal business income taxes. No US payroll taxes or other payroll related costs are required on the benefits either.
• Improved employee recruiting and retention. Commuter benefits help employers stay competitive by attracting and retaining the best talent.
• Increased employee job satisfaction. Employees arrive at work on time, relaxed and ready to work. They're also less likely to lose work time due to traffic accidents.
• Save money. Employers can save money in many ways, depending on their circumstances: reduced parking expenses, reduced facility costs and reduced income and payroll taxes. Employees also enjoy financial savings on parking, commuting and taxes.
• Reduced traffic, air pollution and energy demand. Employers meeting the requirements are making a substantial contribution to reducing traffic, energy demands and air pollution.

What do EPA and DOT Provide?

• Public recognition and employee recruiting. EPA and DOT provide credible, third-party public recognition to employers who meet the requirements, helping these employers gain recognition for being commuter-friendly and environmentally responsible.
• AMA training course. The American Management Association, in cooperation with EPA, DOT and the Association for Commuter Transportation, has developed a training course to help employee benefit managers implement the commuter benefits.
• Technical briefs and assistance. EPA, DOT and their partners have developed briefs that answer questions about implementing and managing commuter benefits. EPA and DOT also provide technical assistance.
• Web tools. EPA has developed a web-based tool that will enable an employer to assess the overall financial, environmental and traffic impacts of the commuter benefits.
• Exchange ideas. EPA and DOT will convene a forum for exchanging ideas among employers who meet the requirements for employer-provided commuter benefits.

American Express— Brian Pietsch, Director of Government Relations, Public Policy Affairs, says of their commuter program, “Overall, people love this program, and it enables us to attract and retain the best employees.”

Hotel Success! Doubletree Hotel Lloyd'sCenter, Portland, Oregon, reports huge success with their Commuter Choice Program Partnership. Amy Molony, HR Director, reports that 50% of their staff participates by taking the light rail or bus to and from work. The hotel purchases 6-month passes, which normally cost $50/month, for only $11/month. Employees have $11.20 deducted from 13 paychecks, a cost of $145.60. Amy says, “employees— arrival is like clock work. If they're 5 minutes late, I start to worry about them.” Once in a while the hotel is shorted if an employee starts work during the 6-month period of the pass; but for the most part, cost is a wash.

Emergencies are provided for as well. Some parents with children in day care may not want to take public transportation for fear something would happen at day care and they wouldn'tbe able to get to their child right away. Should an emergency arise, a free taxi ride is available for Commuter Choice participants— employees. The hotel, as a member of the initiative, is provided with a few free taxi passes each year. The hotel pays for any other emergency taxi rides that are required. Should employees have to work past the time when public transportation is running, the hotel pays for the taxi ride home. Bike riders can readily ride the bus since there are bike racks on the back of all the buses in Portland.

Amy has generously agreed to answer further questions should you have them, and can be contacted at amolony@cybcon.com.

Move your property into the fast lane! Commuting is good for business, good for the environment, good for your employees and you!

How To Get Started?
Contact Richard Rogers, ICF Consulting, at 202/862-1571, Fax 202/862-1144 or rrogers@icfconsulting.com for further information. See http://www.epa.gov/oms/transp/comchoic/f98029.htm. Or, call the hotline at 888/856-3131.

JUL/AUG 2001

ENERGY WOES CONTINUE
Energy Surcharges

During the last year, because of skyrocketing electricity bills, west coast hotels began adding surcharges to guestrooms fees. The surcharges now range from $1.50 to $5 and have spread across the nation. Sometimes guests didn'tknow about the charge until they read their folio. Most guests have apparently been accepting of the surcharge under the circumstances. However, some were clearly not happy.

At least four lawsuits have been filed so far against hotels for these energy surcharges. Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood and Marriott have all been the target of these energy-related suits because “they are advertising one price and charging another.” The suits claim that guests are being “blindsided” with the extra fees, and that guests are unaware of the extra charges until checkout.

The class-action suits request that all guests who have paid the energy surcharges be allowed to file for reimbursement. Enforcement of an injunction to prevent these hotel companies from “engaging in fraudulent and deceptive business practices” is another part of the suits.

What can hotels do to charge these fees and, hopefully, prevent lawsuits? Disclosure is the key. The electricity surcharges are not illegal. However, the worry and pain of possible litigation will certainly motivate hoteliers to be upfront and clear about the extra charges.

Liability from suits regarding electricity surcharges can be minimized by the following actions:

• Educate staff about the surcharge so that they can more readily explain the reasons for it to guests
• Antitrust laws prohibit hoteliers from talking among themselves, so staff must not discuss the surcharge with other lodging properties
• As soon as possible, let guests know the energy surcharge will be added to their bill. When reservations are made, guests should be informed of the surcharge just as they are informed of local tax add-ons. Written notice at check-in is imperative. The notice should have a space for the guest'sinitials which front desk clerks absolutely must obtain at check-in.
• Printed posters or cards should be available at the front desk, in the lobby and in the guestrooms informing guests of the surcharge.
• Energy and water conservation educational information should be posted in all guestrooms.
• Let guests know that the hotel is working to conserve energy and would appreciate their participation.

Especially when imposing extra charges for energy, the hotel must recognize and meet their own responsibilities regarding resource savings by:

• Having an energy audit completed as a first step. The energy audit will reveal where and during what time periods energy is being used.
• Doing everything reasonable to reduce energy and water usage
• Installing energy-efficient lighting
• Installing water-saving aerators and showerheads. Reducing water usage of older toilets or installing 1.6 gpf toilets. Toilet tank fill diverters ($1 or less from GHA) save about 3/4 gallon of water per flush when installed on older toilets. They're absolutely the best thing on the market for reducing water usage in older toilets.
• Don'tpurchase anything with an electrical plug attached (TV, VCR, refrigerator, computer, etc.) unless they sport the US EPA'sEnergy Star logo. That logo helps to identify the most energy-efficient models available. See http://www.energystar.gov for an up-to-date list of manufacturer'smodels that have been approved to wear this important logo. Just with the purchase of one Energy Star TV, energy usage can be reduced by 75% and carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 100 pounds per year. That'sthe equivalent of planting 11 trees!
• Offering GHA'stowel and sheet program saves energy to heat water to wash the linens, water used to wash the linens, detergent, wear and tear on linens, wear and tear on laundry equipment as well as your staff'stime and labor. You, your staff and your management will also be wowed at your guests— positive response to a hotel linen program.
• Managing energy usage in the hotel and guestrooms through more efficient HVACs, programmable thermostats, an electronic energy management system, etc.
• Maintaining HVAC systems with timely filter changes, cleaning coils, thermostat calibration and damper adjustments.

GHA feels guests may be understanding of energy surcharges at hotels in California and perhaps Oregon and Washington. However, hotel energy surcharges in other states where energy costs have not risen so dramatically may be looked at with a jaundiced eye. Hotels in other than the western states, which are adding energy surcharges, appear to be merely jumping on an opportunity for a fresh revenue source. These hotels are ripe for criticism.

Walsh, John P., Lawsuits challenge energy surcharges,
H&MM, June 18, 2001, p. 1, 60.

MAY/JUN 2001

ENERGY NEWS

Energy news is everywhere these days, isn'tit? We all probably hoped the problems would not expand from California and the West Coast, but it looks like more of the US will, unfortunately, suffer with the energy woes. GHA is hearing from the media on a regular basis now, and reporters want to know what hotels are doing about the energy problem. How are energy-saving tactics impacting guests? Involving your staff? Please call or e-mail us with energy-saving ideas you—ve chosen to put to use at your property.

Here'san update on what other hotels are doing to address the energy issue.

“Power Down Under” Contest Encourages Guests— Participation

Encouraging guest'sparticipation with the opportunity to win prizes is a great idea. There'sjust nothing like a contest to encourage participation! When a guest signs a pledge card agreeing to help save energy at participating properties, their name is entered into a drawing. Top prize is a 7-day trip for two to the Australian Outback valued at $5,000. The second prize is a $3,500 3-day river rafting trip on the Colorado River. Monthly prizes, until the contest ends on September 4, will pay for one pledge signer'spersonal energy bill up to $250. The staff member who signs up the monthly winner will have their home energy bill paid for the month as well.

The Rim Corporation based this contest for its 16 California-based hotels on the “Survivor” TV shows. The guest pledges to “do my part and assist the hotel and its community to conserve energy during my stay” by following these suggestions:

• Turning off the TV and all the lights when leaving the room
• Not letting hot water run longer than needed
• Maintaining the heating/air conditioning unit on low or off
• Reusing towels and not having sheets changed daily

The Rim Corporation invites other properties to participate in the contest. For further information, see http://www.powerdownunder.com.

Starwood Offers Porsche for Energy-Saving Ideas

Yes, it'strue, Starwood Hotels and Resorts will reward one lucky employee at the hotel with the best energy and conservation initiatives a 2001 Porsche Boxster convertible. The Energy Committee at each hotel developed an energy management plan for their hotel. Then, each team sent in a one-page summary of their plan to reduce energy usage at their property. Energy experts retained by Starwood and Enron will determine the winning hotel. Enron is partnering in this contest, and paying for half of the car.

Who gets the Porsche? A drawing will decide who drives away in a fine new vehicle. Each part-time employee will get one chance in the drawing, full-time employees 2 chances and Energy Committee members 3 chances. From that group of names, 15 finalists will be drawn. They will win $100 each, and of that 15, one name will be drawn to receive the car as an outright gift.

The contest has been exciting and energizing for the 120,000 employees at Starwood's725 properties in 80 countries.

GHA is excited too because we plan to share with you some of the ideas that result from Starwood'scontest.

“Energy Crisis” Surcharges

California and West coast hotels— skyrocketing electric bills this year have resulted in surcharges to guests ranging from $1.50 to $3 per night plus sales tax. Guests are reportedly being understanding about the crisis and the added fees.

However, a May 1 Houston Chronicle article reported that a state senator railed against the Houston Galleria-area DoubleTree Hotel for charging an extra $3 while blaming the “energy crisis” in Texas. Texas electricity is still regulated and energy bills have not yet increased dramatically. The reporter also found that one other upscale hotel has added a $2.11 fee “to cover energy costs.”

Guests may be understanding about the West'senergy problems, but hoteliers elsewhere who add energy-related surcharges will deservedly meet resistance.

Energy Usage Will Continue to Balloon

We all continue to use more and more electricity each year. Everything we buy, it seems, comes with a wire that has a plug on the end.

A recent Wall Street Journal article spoke of the “new” hotel amenities—all high-tech equipment that uses electricity. The high-tech offerings at hotels will include high-speed Internet connections, cyber cafes, laptops, printers, two phone lines, fax machines that know when a guest is napping, remote controls for drapes, motion detectors for lighting, monitors that track the weather, TVs in bathrooms, bathroom telephones, wireless transmitters for e-mail and Internet access, DVD players, etc. Panels at bedside can close the drapes, dim lighting, turn the TV on and off and light up the “do not disturb” screen outside the door. Wow!

The technology available now and being developed is just astonishing, and guests will be thrilled with the tech offerings in hotels. But, more and more, smart hoteliers will wisely consider energy efficiency as a major component of the purchasing process when choosing electrical items.

US EPA'sEnergy Star web site at http://www.energystar.gov has product lists for office equipment, appliances, light bulbs, exit signs, heating and cooling products, home electronics, transformers, windows, etc. Be sure to check this site when evaluating or purchasing any product that comes with an electric plug!

Environmental Award Entries Become Case Studies of Good Practices

The International Hotel & Restaurant Association, Paris, France, began offering an environmental award in 1995. They—ve received many applications for this award. They selected 15 of the applications to publish as case studies of hotels. The case studies share information on what each of the hotels were doing environmentally so that others could make good use of the information.

Of the 15 hotel entries that were compiled for the case studies, only two hotels in the US were included. We are very proud to tell you that one of the US hotels included was one of our own—Habitat Suites in Austin, Texas—a Charter Member of GHA since 1995.

We—ve chosen some of what we think are the best, and perhaps most unusual, ideas from the case studies to share with you.

• Kingfisher Bay Resort & Village, Fraser Island, Australia:
  The site encompasses a 152-room hotel, 75 self-contained villas, a 114-bed Wilderness Lodge, a day-visitor pavilion, the staff village, 3 restaurants and conference rooms for up to 300 people.
  
  Roads and buildings were planned around the major trees.
  
  All buildings were designed to harmonize with the environment using Queensland-style architecture made of wood with open verandas and curving tin roofs to mimic the sand dunes. Colors reflect the surrounding bush vegetation.
  
  The hotel central complex (conference rooms, reception, lounge rooms, restaurants, administration offices and toilets) is designed without air conditioning. Natural convection currents are created by windows and vents at the upper and lower levels of the building. In summer, cool air is drawn into the building throughout the day while hot air escapes through the large ceiling vents. In winter, vents are closed to trap warm air resulting in a “glass house” effect.
  
  All rooms and public areas have enough natural light during daylight hours to eliminate the need for artificial lighting on fine days. Insulation has been maximized in all rooms.
  
  Impact on the dunes and swamps is minimized through the use of either hardwood boardwalks or wood chip walking tracks.
  
  Thousands of plants were removed prior to construction and held in an on-site nursery for replanting later. A further 150,000 native plants were raised from seeds and cuttings. The on-site nursery continues to provide for all the resort'slandscaping needs.
  
  A key card is required to power each room. This ensures that all energy is turned off when the room is vacant. Air-conditioning units have to be switched on manually.
  
  Kingfisher Bay'sparent company, Queensland Tourism Industries Ltd., offers five grants each year to postgraduate students doing ecotourism research.
  
  Regarding visitor communication, a four-stage program is in place; promotion, orientation, involvement and reinforcement. Within this framework several programs, self-guided tours, displays, publications and videos are available to guests. The interpretation programs include guided walks, four-wheel drive tours, marine tours and “meet the ranger” activities. Kingfisher Bay employs 13 full-time rangers on these programs.
  
  
• Neptune Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark:
  133 guestrooms including 16 executive units and 5 conference rooms for up to 70 persons make up this property.
  
  All individual air-conditioning units in guest rooms are computer controlled and are set at a standard temperature. Guests can turn the units on and off, but they must contact the front desk to regulate the temperature.
  
  Guest rooms are supplied with two waste baskets, one for burnable items and one for non-burnable items such as plastic containers and empty aerosol cans.
  
  
• Hotel Nikko Hongkong:
  This 462-room, 17-floor hotel is situated on the waterfront of the Victoria Harbor. Its ballroom can accommodate 460 while four other function rooms can seat 55 to 230.
  
  The chiller plant is operated on a sea-water cooling system, which eliminates the use of scarce fresh water.
  
  The hot water boilers are switched off between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
  
  
• Budapest Hilton, Hungary:
  With 322 guest rooms, 3 restaurants, 2 bars, a wine cellar, a ballroom, 7 meeting rooms and a business/meeting center, this hotel accommodates over 100,000 guests annually. It incorporates the remains of a Dominican church and cloister from the 13th century.
  
  The use of energy-saving light bulbs has reduced the energy bill by 13% or US$40,000 per year.
  
  Waste paper including stationery, office paper used on both sides and newspapers, metals cans and clear and colored glass are collected, separated and sold for recycling. A waste compactor which reduces waste volumes by 50% was purchased at a cost of US$10,000. Through recycling, the hotel'swaste volume was reduced by more than 30%. Waste handling fees were reduced by US$10,000 in 1995, enough to offset the cost of the waste compactor.
  
  When the hotel was awarded the environmental prize of the Hotel Association of Hungary, the prize money was distributed among line employees who demonstrated a strong environmental commitment.
  
  The Budapest Hotels— Collective Waste Management Program: The Budapest Hilton and the Budapest Marriott initiated a collective waste management effort for all members of the Budapest Hotel Association. In 1994, 12 hotels started recycling office paper, then added newspaper and cardboard. With some difficulty, glass was added to the list of recycled items. Plans were underway to extend the list of recyclables and to include other member hotels throughout the country. Savings are made on waste collection fees since the trucks collect recyclables from several hotels in one trip. The program is reported to save the participating hotels collectively around US$70,000 per year.
  
  
• Hotel Guestline Days, Tirupati, India:
  Affiliated with Days Inn, the hotel has 142 guestrooms, two restaurants, a health club, a conference room and business center.
  
  The hotel is designed in a Y shape to optimize the use of natural light.
  
  The ceiling on the top floor is lined with a 75 mm thick layer of expanded polystyrene which acts as a heat insulator, keeps the indoor temperature at a lower level and brings down air-conditioning costs.
  
  Showers only are in guestrooms; no bathtubs were installed.
  
  Rainwater is collected, especially during monsoons, and used for many purposes. Untreated, it is used for toilet flushing. After being filtered, chlorinated and passed through an ultra-violet filter, the water is used for cooking and drinking.
  
  All wastewater, from flushing and bathing as well as from the kitchen and laundry is collected, separated from waste and treated. After passing through a multi-layer filter, it is stored and used in the hotel garden and fountains. Excess gray water is used on local agricultural land.
  
  Sun control films have been added to all windows in public areas with direct sunlight. Dimmers were added to all public area light switches.
  
  Disposable plastic plates and cups have been replaced by disposable containers made with biodegradable leaf and plant sheaths.
  
  All wet waste (mainly food waste from the kitchen) is composted and used as fertilizer. Excess compost is sold to local farmers, some of whom supply the hotel with fruits and vegetables.
  
  Leftover juices and wines are used to make vinegar, which is used as a cleaning agent.
  
  The hotel makes a conscious effort to use suppliers who buy back their packing for reuse and recycling. Preference is given to purchasing local products.
  
  The air-conditioning unit uses lithium bromide as a refrigerant, a more environmentally friendly alternative to CFC.
  
  Traditional halon fire extinguishers have been replaced with halon 1211.
  
  On-going environmental initiatives among staff include an awareness program on vehicle emissions which has encouraged the staff to carpool and use bicycles. Guests can also rent bicycles from the hotel.
  
  
• Welcomgroup Maurya Sheraton Hotel and Towers, New Delhi, India:
  440 guestrooms, 7 restaurants and 8 conference rooms encompass this property.
  
  Laundry and wastewater are recycled through an effluent treatment plant installed on the hotel premises. Laundry wastewater is first dosed with chemicals to bring down the alkaline level, and then passed through an aerator to reduce the biological oxygen demand (BOD) loads. Suspended solids are then removed through separators, and residual suspended matter, detergents and sludge are removed through dual media filters (DMF). At this stage all organic matter has been removed from the water, BOD levels are lowered and color and odors have been eliminated. A low chlorine dose is added to kill any residual bacteria.
  
  Kitchen wastewater is treated by a similar process, having first passed through a crusher and filter to reduce larger particles of food waste. All treated water is used in the hotel fountains and for landscaping. It also feeds into an aquarium, which indicates the level to which the water has been purified. The backwaters used for washing the filters and softeners in the water treatment plant are also collected and used for landscaping.
  
  A special apparatus for the cleaning of hands in the kitchen uses ultrasonic technology. Water molecules vibrating at 40,000 cycles per second penetrate and remove the dirt particles embedded in the pores of the hands. The use of soap and water is greatly reduced.
  
  Used cooking oil from the kitchen is passed through an oil recycler and then reused for cooking. After the second use, the oil is collected in a common slump and sent to a microbiological laboratory for the manufacture of soap.
  
  Motion sensors are used to turn on and off outdoor lighting. Timing devices have been fitted to corridor lights.
  
  A comprehensive maintenance and energy management program ensures the optimum loading of transformers, and an optimum defrosting system for cold storage and deep freezers. Kitchen exhaust fans are fitted with timers.
  
  Their “Welcomeenviron - We Can Do It” booklet is made available to encourage guests to “do their bit” and lists a range of eco tips for local guests such as: Use leaf plates for picnics instead of plastic containers, collect rain water for various uses, etc.
  
  In an effort to increase environmental awareness among guests, an attractive telephone index of unbleached recycled paper is offered to guests. It includes information on Indian natural history, literary quotations, nature paintings and facts and figures such as: 17 trees are used to make 1 ton of paper, etc.
  
  
• Hotel Inter-Continental Nairobi, Kenya:
  Located opposite Uhuru Park, the hotel has 440 guestrooms, 4 restaurants, a casino and a ballroom which seats over 500.
  
  The cooling towers of the water-chilled air-conditioning system have been replaced by ones which operate on two-speed motors and fans. The temperature of the water entering the cooling towers is gauged automatically so when cooling demand falls and the water temperature is low, the motors operate at a lower speed. An automatic water treatment device to remove limestone and bacteria has also been installed. The noise level of the towers have been reduced by 60%
  
  
• Narayani Safari Hotel and Lodge, Nepal:
  The 37-room hotel and 12-room lodge are located on the periphery of the Royal Chitwan National Park, a 932 km park of the subtropical lowlands of the south central Himalayas.
  
  The facilities were built on land of low agricultural value. Wooden beams, door and window frames from derelict houses on the land were reused for building the single-story cottages of the hotels and lodge. No trees were felled for construction.
  
  Elephant grass was used initially to thatch the cottage roofs. However, because of leaks during monsoons, the grass was replaced by locally-made clay tiles. Every January, the park authorities invite the tourist lodges and villages to cut the elephant grass they require before the remainder is burned so that new grass can grow.
  
  Solar panels are used for water heating. There are no facilities for storing solar energy, so hot water is not supplied at night. Despite the low cost of wood and charcoal, LPG gas is used for cooking.
  
  Lighting is provided through kerosene lamps because park regulations require that no electricity be used.
  
  Employing villagers as staff and allocating a part of profits to rural projects has helped change an anti-tourism attitude. A health center, a vegetable nursery and a secondary-school scholarship program have all been established.
  
  Visitors are asked to limit the use of water.
  
  
• Sanga Saby Conference & Study Center, Sweden:
  Located on Lake Malaren on Faringo Island, 35 km from Stockholm, the main building is a manor house dating back to the early 18th century. 113 guestrooms, restaurant seating for 150 and conference facilities for 350 are all available.
  
  67% of the entire facility is heated and cooled using marine and geothermal energy. Supplementary energy is generated through boilers fueled by rape methyl esters (RME) or rape seed oil. All electricity used by the center is produced from renewable sources.
  
  Lawn mowers are operated on solar energy and rape seed oil.
  
  Disposable items are only used for picnics and excursions. Plastic items have been replaced with starch-based biodegradable materials and cardboard. Portion packs have been replaced by larger bulk packs. The delivery system ensures that all packing is taken back for recycling.
  
  All delivery trucks are fueled with rape seed oil.
  
  Wages include environmental performance-related bonuses for all staff.
  
  Notices in guestrooms ask the guests to switch off TV sets using the main button instead of with the remote control.
  
  Saby reports that occupancy has risen by almost 10% per annum since 1993, and this is largely attributed to its environmental activities.
  
  
• Scandic Hotels, Sweden:
  The largest hotel chain in Scandinavia, Scandic has over 100 hotels located in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland. Hotels are also operated in Germany, Austria, Belgium and Great Britain.
  
  Their 97% recyclable or biodegradable “recyclable room” was first tried out in 1994. 2,500 such rooms have been outfitted in Scandinavia. An additional 1,500 rooms were to be added each year, demonstrating environmental sensitivity through design and choice of materials.
  
  The material content of all materials, parts and design elements in the environmental rooms are labeled, so that the durability of each part can be assessed and they can be effectively reused.
  
  Floors are either wooden or laid with wall-to-wall wool carpets
  
  Curtains and bedspreads are 100% cotton and flameproof.
  
  Wastepaper baskets are made with sheet steel to ensure fire safety.
  
  Cornstarch-based bin liners were being tested.
  
  Armchairs and sofas have wooden frames with steel springs, are upholstered with cotton or wool and reinforced with leather for durability.
  
  The cost of fitting an environmental room is 10% higher than a conventional guestroom. Scandic does not consider this to be an additional cost as each part of the room can be reused. For every 1,000 rooms built or refitted, the consumption of non-renewable resources is reduced by 10 tons of metal and 60 tons of plastic. Scandic reports that the market response to the environmental rooms is very positive—they are always the first sold out.
  
  Bottles of shampoo and bars of soap have been replaced with dispensers made of recycled plastic. Soaps and shampoos use natural products and sugar cane and are biodegradable.
  
  The hotel chain has reduced chemical effluent by 30 tons a year. Plastic and aluminum packing waste has been reduced by 8 tons annually.
  
  To communicate with guests regarding the program, posters and leaflets are exhibited. Environmental magazines are available in all guestrooms and lobby of each hotel. A suggestion box for green ideas is also available.
  
  
• Phuket Yacht Club, Thailand:
  This resort is located on Nai Harn Beach. Their environmental program focuses on increasing environmental awareness, stressing the urgent need to act due to the present state of the environment and developing a positive and caring attitude towards the environment.
  
  Guests are informed that water is a precious commodity. They are invited to reuse towels. As a result, laundry loads have been reduced by 25%.
  
  A heat recovery system is installed in the laundry.
  
  Refrigeration defrost cycles start during off-peak demand periods.
  
  Curtains and blinds are closed to reduce external solar heat transfer.
  
  A reflective roof was installed above the walk-in fridge to reduce energy usage.
  
  Over 1,000 kg of newspapers are recycled each month, and every day five 26-gallon containers of organic waste are sent to the local pig farm.
  
  The Phuket Yacht Club started beach cleaning in response to guest complaints, to offer an example to other hotels and to drive home the message of environmental stewardship to both staff and local communities. To maintain cleanliness, waste bins and collection points have been set up on the hinterland.
  
  A video on the club'senvironmental activities was being prepared for viewing on the in-house TV channel. A tent card in guestrooms invites visitors to “Think EARTH: Energy, Air, Resources, Trees and Humanity”.
  
  What makes their environmental program special is that the benefit of society and the education of people are placed first. It is not only a collection of energy-saving and recycling measures. Each action is used as an educational tool to develop in people a sense of responsibility toward the environment.
  
  
• Dusit Hotels and Resorts, Thailand:
  10 hotels, either owned or managed by Dusit, make this chain the leading hotel group in Thailand.
  
  Their environmental program began with a nationwide effort to plant a tree for each of Dusit's3,000 hotel rooms in the vicinity of the hotels.
  
  Silver reflectors were installed to reduce the wattage of light bulbs used. Energy consumption is cut in half.
  
  Heat reclaim chillers were installed in all hotels.
  
  Unbleached, undyed cotton is used for all linens, towels and laundry bags.
  
  Solar energy is used to pre-heat water at one resort.
  
  
• Derwentwater Hotel, Keswick, UK:
  Located in the English Lake District on 16 acres of conservation grounds, the hotel has 52 bedrooms and 18 self-catering apartments.
  
  All bathtubs were replaced with showers. Water usage has been reduced by 11 liters per day per room.
  
  Individual combination boilers have been introduced in the apartments. The boilers provide heating and hot water on demand. Hot water storage is avoided, so less energy is consumed.
  
  Three gas-fired boilers serve three zones of the hotel, so zones can be closed down at times of low occupancy. More flexibility for maintenance is available and there is less impact when boiler plant repair is necessary.
  
  Ionizers have been placed on the beer lines in the hotel cellar. The beer lines now need to be cleaned only once every 4 weeks instead of once a week.
  
  Only plastic pump-action aerosols are used. Individual toiletries in the guestrooms have been replaced with recyclable and refillable dispensers.
  
  Individual packs of cereal, butter, jam and yogurt have been replaced with items purchased in bulk and served from bowls on the buffet table.
  
  The managing director says, “My advice on starting an environmental program is to give it a go. It may be something small, but it is doing your bit. I am astonished that we have not had one letter of customer complaint about our measures. It just shows what fixed ideas we have.”
  
  
• Habitat Suites Hotel, Austin, Texas:
  Gaining a reputation as a “safe haven from toxic chemicals and environmental ills that travelers must endure in ordinary hotels,” the hotel includes 72 one-bedroom suites and 24 two-bedroom suites.
  
  During refurbishment aluminum window frames were removed, and a reflective roof cover added to avoid heat transfer.
  
  Water-saving sprinklers for landscaping are estimated to save 500 gallons of water a day.
  
  A non-toxic ionization system replaced chlorine in the swimming pool.
  
  Motion sensors turn the lights on and off in guest laundry rooms and public restrooms.
  
  The pool water circulation pump operates during peak hours only.
  
  Paper towels are unbleached, unscented and recycled after use.
  
  The traditional breakfast menu is 100% organic and additive- and preservative-free. A microbiotic breakfast option is also available.
  
  
• Hotel Inter-Continental Miami, Florida:
  This 34-story building in the heart of Miami'scommercial district has 664 rooms, 33 suites, 5 restaurants and over 61,000 sq.ft. of meeting space.
  
  Air conditioning filters are changed once a month instead of every two months.
  
  All suppliers are required to take back crates and pallets or pay for their disposal. The hotel reports, “the results are remarkable.”
  
  Christmas trees are replanted to be reused the following year.
  
  50-gallon containers are reused as recycling bins and garbage cans.
  
  Prior to their recycling program, the hotel generated 1,420 tons of waste each year with disposal costs at $85,000. Now over 30 items and 45% of waste are recovered and recycled. Disposal is down to 679 tons with costs reduced to $31,000 annually. Garbage is now picked up weekly instead of every other day.
  
  Mechanics and grounds-keepers are required to wear ear plugs when working with power equipment.
  
  Monthly competitions are organized to select the “recycler of the month” and the “recycling department of the month.”
  
  

How many ideas did you see in this very interesting list that can be of use to your property?

MAR/FEB 2001

WHITE ROOFS AND DIGITAL METERS

Article after article has been written about deregulation in California and the missteps that have occurred there. Good ideas are almost always a result of negative events. Some of those ideas may be run of the mill, but some are usually pretty exciting.

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on some exciting ideas of Dr. Arthur Rosenfeld, a 74-year old retired physics professor. His current work involves developing strategies and techniques to keep the electricity on next summer in California. He is also serving as the most-recently appointed member of the 5-person California Energy Commission, where he will be able to influence other California energy policy makers.

Dr. Rosenfeld is not a big fan of self-deprivation. Being uncomfortable with the temperature or the amount of light in a hotel, home or office building is not what he thinks will work in seeking answers to getting people to reduce their electricity demand. He thinks the best sort of conservation or the kind that most people are likely to accept “doesn'taffect the way you live.” He believes that simple and unobtrusive conservation measures are the best way to approach the electric power crisis.

For 25 years plus, he has been searching for ways to put that theory to work.

His current proving grounds are two buildings, both of which have reduced their energy demand for lighting and air conditioning by 30% mostly without the occupants noticing the change.

If Dr. Rosenfeld has his way, by summer tens of thousands of commercial buildings in California will have white roofs and new electronic meters. Though some consider his goals too ambitious, Arthur believes usage can be reduced statewide by hundreds of megawatts. When, in the past, Dr. Rosenfeld worked on electricity savings, an associate referred to it as ”negawatts.

California'sGovernor Gray Davis has vowed to reduce electricity consumption in the state by 3,200 megawatts or about 7%. And, so the state has allotted $400 million for conservation-related spending. The funds will be spent on rebates for the purchase of energy-efficient refrigerators along with radio spots, among other things, to encourage completing household chores, such as doing the laundry, after 7 p.m. when demand is lessened.

White roofs: Researchers at the Heat Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found in the 1980s that a white roof can be 90 degrees cooler than a black one, and air conditioning energy needed can be lowered by as much as 40%. Cooler roofs create cooler interior temperatures. Those cooler roofs mean cooler outside air too. Cooler outside air means a reduction in smog, which is more readily formed when temperatures are higher.

The California Energy Commission has $10 million allotted to encourage building owners to switch from black to white roofs. Commercial building owners— costs will be offset by 10 cents per square foot to help pay for making the switch. The $10 million would help cover only 100 million of the 5 billion square feet of California commercial building roofs. Dr. Rosenfeld is hoping that further encouragement in the form of state money will be coming soon.

Digital Electric Meters: Traditional electric meters, virtually unchanged for years, track only the total volume of electricity used so that we can be billed by the utility. Electronic meters with digital readouts are more like a cash register—a technical point-of-sale gateway. The meter can discriminate between services available as well as provide real-time communication between the utility and customer.

One of the most important aspects of reducing costs through deregulation is real time pricing. The cost of energy varies all day, all week, all year. Because the cost of electricity varies so widely, it'simportant to know what it costs, i.e., to do laundry at 11 a.m. on a weekday as opposed to 3 p.m. or 11 p.m. on a weekend. It'spossible that a larger inventory of linens may save more than the linens cost by being able to do laundry when electric rates are cheapest.

Electronic digital meters can track electricity use for any specified period of time, even a few minutes, in real time. There is a smorgasbord of meter choices in a wide range of prices. The information garnered from a digital meter can be put to use by each building owner since the information to regulate demand in accordance with varying prices would be readily available. Dr. Rosenfeld takes it several steps further. He is suggesting that the information garnered from the digital meters should be transmitted to the utility via phone lines. The utility would then be able to notify consumers when it'snecessary to reduce demand. Under one such voluntary-reduction-program already in operation, the involved building owners are reimbursed an agreed-upon amount for every kilowatt hour usage is reduced.

Dr. Rosenfeld believes that if the state spent $40 million to install 40,000 digital meters in commercial buildings, the utility would have the information it needs to ask building management to reduce demand when necessary—mostly without hardship. First of all, he says that most commercial buildings are over lit, so reducing lighting a bit shouldn'tcreate a hardship. Secondly, once most buildings are cool, they stay cool. He is a big advocate of paying consumers to reduce demand during peak hours, and believes a program such as this could reduce demand by 2,000 peak hour megawatts.

A precursor to Rosenfeld'splans was Pacific Gas & Electric's1991 investment of $2 billion over 10 years to reduce anticipated demand by 2,500 megawatts mostly through rebates to customers who purchased energy-efficient appliances. PG&E also spent $7.5 million on an educational center to teach builders, contractors and architects about energy saving designs and materials. When the center'sprogram was tested, a 50% savings was produced. An unexpected discovery resulting from the program was that the savings were mainly produced from off-the-shelf technology. For instance, fluorescent lighting demands less electricity and also produces less heat. Because less heat is created inside buildings from lighting, less air conditioning is needed. AC size and capacity may even be reduced for a building using fluorescent lighting almost exclusively, especially in new, highly-insulated buildings.

A 49-page report of Dr. Rosenfeld—s, “The Art of Energy Efficiency”, can be found at California Energy Commission'sweb site.

Emshwiller, John, California'sShortages Rekindle Its Efforts To Conserve Electricity, The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2001.

JAN/FEB 2001

DEALING WITH THE MILDEW AND MOLD DILEMMA

One of many hotel'smajor maintenance and operational problems involves mold and mildew. Why? Because guests expect clean rooms and rooms that don'tsmell. Because housekeepers and maintenance staff often don'tknow how to deal with an ongoing problem of mold and mildew. Also, because rooms not sold reduce profitability of the property.

Mildew is a growth produced by a tiny plant of the fungus family. It is a thin, usually black, sometimes white, growth produced on many kinds of surfaces by mold. Its name comes from a Middle English word, mealdew, which means spoiled meal. Molds are neither plants nor animals. They're microscopic organisms containing enzymes for digesting and decomposing and spores for reproduction. There are thousands of varieties of mildew and mold.

Mold is of the fungi family which includes mushrooms, yeast and other decay-producing characters necessary to healthy life on this planet. These decay organisms have great value in some circumstances. Trees that topple over in the forest, animals that die and dead vegetation wouldn'tdecompose without these mighty fungi. Problems with mold and mildew arise when they knaw away at things which we don'twant them to eat. When that occurs, mold and mildew can affect the look, smell and structural integrity of a building.

Although mold spores are always present in the air, those that cause mildew require four things to grow:

• a food source
• moisture
• the right temperature
• mildew spores

So, mildew thrives in warm, damp, dark, poorly-ventilated environments such as bathrooms, laundry room, closets, crawl spaces and cellars. A hotel staff'sbiggest problem related to mold and mildew is with guest bathrooms, of course, but kitchens can have the problem too, especially around refrigerator and freezer gaskets.

Mildew is also often found on organic materials, such as cotton, linen, silk, wool, leather, wood, and paper. In fact, almost any material or fabric can sprout mildew, but only if it is dirty enough to provide this mini-fungus with something to eat.

Mold and Mildew Health Issues: It is estimated that about 10 percent of the population are severely allergic to mold. With even slight exposure to molds and spores, sensitive people may experience headaches, runny noses, skin rashes, nausea, sinus problems, memory loss and coughs. They may feel listless for long periods of time. Newborns, the elderly, the sick and those with compromised immune systems can be affected severely, even fatally. But even normal folks will react to unusually high concentrations of mold and spores.

“In the past 25 years, environmental issues around design and construction have come to the forefront, and health issues have come on its coattails, “ says Graham Davis, a green building consultant in Colorado Springs. Changes in the recommended practices for ventilating commercial buildings may increase the potential for mildew occurring in facilities that previously had not experienced problems. An ASHRAE standard outlines the need for greater amounts of outside air to dilute indoor contaminants and prevent “sick building syndrome.” If incorrectly designed or adjusted there is the potential to create significant indoor moisture and mildew problems in humid climates.

A normal building life cycle prevails in the lodging industry, and many properties built in the boom of the 1950'shave massive renovations underway. This life cycle plus the escalating cost of energy and the need to conserve those dollars has resulted in tightly closed buildings. Significant unforeseen health problems have been one of the results of tightly closed buildings. The relationship between energy management and air quality has been an important factor for architects and building designers to recognize. The perfect harmony of moisture and air quality is difficult to attain. Mold and mildew are the result of not achieving that perfect harmony.

Design and Construction-Related Problems: In hotels, moisture is the most critical and the most controllable part of the dilemma'sequation. Minimizing moisture can pose a challenge, especially in extremely humid climates. Unfortunately, hotels are generally designed, built, and operated in humid climates in the same way as in more temperate climates. Types of air conditioning equipment and control packages commercially available in humid climates are almost identical to those available in arid climates, in spite of the fact that the environmental requirements are substantially different.

Another prime example of traditional design practices incorrectly applied to humid climates concerns the location of the vapor barrier in the exterior building walls. Good design practice says that the vapor barrier should be placed on the warm side of the wall system. In more temperate climates, this will be the interior of the building. However, in humid climates it should be installed on the exterior of the building, something which has been overlooked by hotel designers.

Some molds love the cellulose backings of wallcoverings, wallpaper, drywall and insulation. Others adore the glues that hold carpet to their backings. In any case, because these are all located in dark places, should they become damp, mold and mildew can create havoc before the damage is discovered. A roof leak, wind-driven rain or a plumbing leak allowing moisture between inside and outside walls can do untold damage to the building itself as well as create health problems through mold and mildew-spore-filled air.

Controlling Moisture: To control mildew, it'snecessary to decrease humidity and increase air circulation. It'salso important to increase the amount of light inside buildings. The warmth generated from daylight will help reduce humidity. You can decrease humidity and increase air flow with fans, vents, dehumidifiers and air conditioners. Even a heat cable or bare light bulb installed near the floor of a damp, dark closeted area will reduce humidity.

Poorly ventilated bathrooms allow surface mold to grow. Improve ventilation in bathrooms by installing a properly sized exhaust fan. A wall or ceiling-mounted exhaust fan, located as close to the shower as possible, will help keep bathrooms dry. Installing properly-sized automatic exhaust fans with humidity sensors in bathrooms and kitchens or areas with the worst humidity-based problem is an even better idea. The sensor will turn the fan on and off, keeping the humidity at the specified percentage. If the mold and mildew problem is reduced with the automatic fans, consider installing the fans in all areas or rooms where mold and mildew are a problem. The fan should move a minimum of 1.07 cu. ft. of air per minute (CFM) for each square foot of floor space. Be sure to consider the noise factor of any exhaust fan so as to not irritate guests or staff. Exhaust fans can also be wired so that whenever the bathroom light is on, the exhaust fan will also be on. Remember, however, that if the fan is not exceptionally quiet, the fan noise can be irritating to guests. Of course, this technique also increases electricity usage.

A new option in exhaust fans is EPC Development Group'snew Enviro Fan. It'splumbed directly into the water line to a shower. The action of the water, rather than electricity, turns on the exhaust fan whenever the shower is running. No electricity is used. The fan costs approximately $50. See http://www.niceeasy.com/au/plumbing/plumb_news/july00/envirofan.html

Resources:

• Humitrak, Tamarck Technologies, 800/222-5932, http://www.oikos.com/esb/39/Humitrak.html, humidity controller (can control a humidifying or dehumidifying device) only $165 retail
• Nutone, 800/543-8687, nutone.com
• R&I Enterprises, Nutone distributor, 800/525-7194, http://www.rinutonedistr.com/ventilation.htm, Model QT110H, bath exhaust fan with humidity sensor $175 retail

A humidity gauge (the simplest are found in combination with a thermometer and barometer as a desk or office accessory) might help staff understand that humidity is the percentage of moisture in the air. 40% to 60% humidity is generally considered the most comfortable moisture level. Humidity sensors (digital and otherwise) are also available. Laundry staff may see that during certain times of the day (when washers are running perhaps) humidity is higher in those rooms. Staff must understand the problem before they can be expected to help with the solution.

Resources:

• Winland Electronics— (http://www.winland.com, 800/635-4269) humidity sensor, Humid-Alert HA-1 is offered for sale at http://www.smarthome.com/7156.html for $75 along with related products.

NOV/DEC 2000

WINTER'sSNOW AND ICE ARE COMING . . .

Slippery icy steps, sidewalks and driveways are dangerous for guests and associates. Though rock salt is the usual solution for icy steps, a much better alternative for melting ice and snow handily packaged is now available.

The “Salt Stick” is a 32” x 2.25” convenient, reusable cardboard dispenser tube which contains 3 pounds of buffered urea and Crelite (CO(NH2)2H3PO4UP). The ingredients allow for the release of millions of heat molecules per second at temperatures down to 27 degrees below zero. The bottom end of the tube has a plastic dispenser that opens and closes much like a Parmesan cheese container. When the dispenser is open and the tube is shaken, the ice-melting materials are released and spread quickly and evenly.

The ingredients stabilize the chemical and resist changes in pH. The 3 lbs. of material in the dispenser can accomplish as much as 6 lbs. of rock salt.

Women seem to particularly like the Salt Stick because it is not messy and there should be no spillage. The tube can be refilled by removing the plastic cap on the top with a flat screwdriver or spoon handle and using a large funnel (such as one cut from a 1-gallon milk jug) to replace the granules.

Some find it particularly convenient to sprinkle the “salt” pebbles on walkways at night so the walks will be clear of ice the following morning.

The “salt” melts ice and snow faster than rock salt and at lower temperatures. The material won'tstain wood or rust metal, won'tburn landscaping, and is unlikely to be tracked indoors because the “salt” dissolves and dissipates. It is safe for the environment. Completely safe on wood stairs and decks, there is also less residue left on concrete and blacktop. As the “salt” dissolves, it is completely consumed and runoff combines with soil particles to become a light fertilizer for Spring plant growth.

Airports have used urea for years to keep runways clear of ice because of the concern that rock salt will allow rust to develop on aircraft. School managers are excited about the “Salt Stick” because of the reduction of rock salt tracking problems from students— shoes. Police departments are recommending that a “Salt Stick” dispenser be carried in every police vehicle during Winter weather as an emergency item.

Salt Stick dispensers are packed 12 to a carton, and 50 lb. refill bags are available. Unconditionally guaranteed by the manufacturer, the “Salt Stick” is available from “Green” Hotels AssociationÒ. Salt Sticks are priced at $6 each or $3.60 each in quantities of 12. 50-pound refill bags are $60 each or $35 each for a pallet of 40 bags. 2,000 lb. canvas tote bags are also available at $1200. The bag hangs on straps and a bottom chute allows easy removal of the quantity desired.

Winter'ssnow and ice are coming . . . Will your property be ready? The “Salt Stick” will help control ice and snow while protecting the environment.

SEP/OCT 2000

ORGANIC FIBER PRODUCTS
Perfect Additions to a “Green” Hotel

by Patricia Griffin, President, “Green” Hotels Association®

You—ll be interested to know that certified organic fiber is cotton, wool, flax, hemp or other fibers that have been grown and processed using specific methods and materials to protect the environment. The fibers are made into a complete range of bed and bath linens, apparel and robes as well as other items such as pillows, upholstery fabrics, personal care items, diapers and toys. Many of us find the fabrics and items luxurious.

Organic products are grown in ways that protect the health of the environment and are grown without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.

If a product is labeled “certified organic”, an important step in the process is for the grower and processor of organic products to be certified. If a business is certified, it means that an independent certification organization has verified that the grower, processor or manufacturing company meets or exceeds organic industry standards.

An important point to remember is that many products are labeled “organic” or have the word “organic” in their name. However, unless the organic product is certified organic, there is little assurance that the product was grown according to strict “organic” industry standards and has the benefits of certified organic products.

Organic agriculture means:

• replenishing and maintaining soil fertility,
• eliminating the use of toxic and persistent chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and
• building biologically diverse agricultural systems.

The abundance of organic fiber products being offered today relates to the following statistics:

• 67% of US consumers list environmental friendliness as a key criteria in making purchases
• 67% of US consumers agree that buying organic products means buying products that are safe for the environment

Since we believe in protecting the environment, we also know we must support and patronize organic producers, processors and businesses, just as we ask others to support “green” hotels. Most of us want to buy organic products anyway, because they are so wonderful to feel. Many of us also understand the beneficial health safety feature in that toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers are not involved with the production of these products.

The Sheraton Square Hotel in Philadelphia, a member, is using organic cotton sheets, bedspreads and curtains in all 193 guestrooms. Their mattresses and furnishings are stuffed with organic cotton and covered with organic cotton fabrics. The hotel and its management have received kudos aplenty from the media for their strong environmental stance.

In my opinion, if you have not slept on sheets, pillowcases and blankets made of organically-grown cotton or wrapped yourself in a sumptuous organic cotton bathrobe, you—ve missed something very special and comforting. The feel is delightful, and the smell (or, rather, lack of smell) I—ve found to be especially nice. Organic cotton sheets are also available in a color-grown, environmentally-sound unbleached natural white fabric.

I—d like to suggest that you try a set on your own bed first, and then try them on your high-end suite mattresses. Then, ask your guests— opinions of this very special bedding. I personally have found the bed pillows stuffed with cotton or wool too stiff, but, obviously, others do not.

Supporting organic fiber production also supports organic foods. For instance, cottonseed oil is used in cookies, snacks and other processed foods. Cottonseed meal is fed to livestock that produce milk and meat. Sheep sheared for their wool can be eaten as meat, and lanolin from the wool is widely used in cosmetics. Hemp and flaxseed oils are used both as dietary supplements and in salad dressings and other food items because of their high essential fatty acids content.

So, when you choose products made of organic fiber, you encourage the availability of a wide variety of organic food, animal feed and other products.

Once the decision is made to offer organic fiber products in your guestrooms or organic foods in your restaurant, that fact should be used as a marketing tool. Through your brochures and web site, let your guests and prospective clients know about these changes. Encourage the staff'sparticipation by choosing uniforms made of organic fibers. Your web site can be linked to the Organic Trade Association's(http://www.ota.com), so that your guests can learn more about the benefits of organic agriculture. In this new millennium, consider the environmentally exciting option of choosing organic fiber and food for your guests— and employees— benefit.

One of the most difficult steps for most of us who are interested in organic products, has been finding suppliers. Sometimes we—ve found vendors in a small ad in the back of a magazine or in an alternative lifestyle newspaper. A much better, more thorough resource in which to find organic suppliers is now available to assist you.

The Organic Trade Association, based in Greenfield, Massachusetts, recently published a second edition of its comprehensive resource, the Organic Fiber Directory. The 62-page, 7”x10” booklet, lists 200+ businesses involved with organically-grown fibers and related products, provides contact and web address information, a brief description, products or services and date founded. Sections include growers, designers, mills, mail order suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, among others. You—ll find sources for everything from bedding to mattresses, pillows, top-of-the bed products, robes, towels and more. Believe me, it'sall there along with helpful ads from the member companies.

This excellent directory is interesting to read, and offers you key information and contacts regarding locating organically-produced articles for your hotel or home. The Organic Fiber Directory is available from the Organic Trade Association for $25 + $3 shipping and handling at 413/774-7511x12, Fax 413/774-6432 or by e-mail info@ota.com.

The Organic Trade Association, Ally Member of GHA, was founded in 1985 and represents 1,100 members of the organic agriculture industry in North America including growers, processors, importers, consultants and others. They encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of the diverse organic trade.

If you—d like to see a sample page or two of the directory, let us know and we—ll fax or e-mail the information to you.

JUL/AUG 2000

THE GREENING OF YELLOWSTONE AND TETON NATIONAL PARKS

Environmentally Preferable Cleaning Agents

Yellowstone, the world'sfirst national park in the US, is committed to a greening initiative which was started in commemoration of the park's125th anniversary in 1997. With Yellowstone being the origin of three watersheds, and with the water table being near the surface, it lends historical perspective to a pollution prevention project.

Yellowstone has more than 3 million visitors each year. Over 25,000 people may visit just the Old Faithful site in one day during the summer. The park'sseven districts depend on a janitorial staff of 50+. One segment of the greening initiative involved cleaning agents.

S.A.F.E. Consulting first worked with the government of The City of Santa Monica on environmentally safe cleaning agents in 1997. (See net for further info on the Santa Monica study.) Results of the Santa Monica study were used as a basis for the national parks— environmentally preferable cleaning agent project.

In an operation the size of these parks, a wide variety of cleaning agents have been used to maintain facilities such as visitor centers, restrooms, lodging and gas stations. These products are sometimes harmful to the workers who clean all these facilities, and may impact the environment. A decision was made to assess the cleaning products being used at the park and help switch to less toxic products.

The pilot phase of the project involved these key objectives:

• Eliminate or greatly reduce the use of toxic, hazardous and environmentally harmful cleaning chemicals.
• Reduce the quantity and variety of cleaning products in use by consolidating and standardizing product purchases.
• Choose the safest and greenest janitorial products with a proven record in commercial operations. Products should be made from renewable resources, if possible.
• Involve top management, front-line supervisors and working janitorial staff in all aspects of this process.

The pilot phase included an assessment of existing cleaning products, an evaluation of cleaning goals and work practices and implementation of new products and cleaning practices.

It was essential to understand the staff'scleaning practices in order to find replacement alternatives.

Prior to this project, Yellowstone operations used approximately 130 different cleaning products. Another 30 products not in use were on facility shelves. In general, cleaning closets were often neglected, with no measuring devices for diluting concentrate products on hand. Appropriate tools of the trade were missing, and no check-and-balance procedures were in place. There were locations where custodial staff were not informed as to how to use disinfectants, where to get the appropriate sponges or how to mix a cleaning product. One of the serious hazards with cleaning products is mixing of incompatible cleaning compounds. The goal of this project was to assist janitorial staff, supervisors and concessionaires in choice and purchasing of alternative products that meet both their cleaning goals and environmentally-preferable criteria. The process involved: training in improved cleaning techniques that eliminate the need for overuse of certain products such as disinfectants, education in product choices and guidance on when to test different products. Without proper understanding, it is not uncommon that one hazardous product is replaced with an even more toxic product.

There were certain steps involved in getting such a practical and hands-on project off the ground. The foundation upon which the whole project rests is the thorough familiarity with cleaning products and ability to demonstrate state-of-the-art environmentally preferable janitorial practices. Important questions were: What chemicals are in cleaning products? What are their health effects? What personal protective equipment must be worn when using the products? What are the most effective cleaning practices that use the least toxic products? Working from this knowledge base, it was easier for S.A.F.E. Consulting for the Earth, Inc. to build a successful program for Yellowstone and Teton National Parks.

The cleaning agents were tested in two pilot areas of YNP for 6 months before rolling it out to all areas of both parks. Once decisions were made in the pilot areas, and custodians in those areas were convinced of the acceptability of the products, those custodians went to the other areas to train and convince staff of the effectiveness and healthy aspects of the chosen products. This custodian-to-custodian training was most effective. Jim Evanoff, Management Assistant, Maintenance, YNP, says, —If we had tried to implement this project in any other way (than custodian-to-custodian), we wouldn'thave been able to pry their usual cleaning-solution bottles from their hands.—

Top managements— support of the program was necessary for success. Bringing environmentally preferable cleaning products in requires employees and supervisors to be open to change. Reasons for making this change were two-fold: concern for the janitorial employees— health as well as concern for Yellowstone'spristine environment.

Next, it was very important to listen to what staff said about their jobs. Many questions were asked. What are the cleaning goals of the organization? How do they clean? What products are they using? Who established the cleaning goals or requirements? What do they clean? What are their toughest cleaning challenges? How much time do they have to clean? How many people use the buildings or restrooms? How are the building or facilities used? How old are the buildings and fixtures to be cleaned? Are there better ways to accomplish the cleaning goals that don'trequire use of the strongest chemicals? For instance, can a concrete floor be sealed so that less toxic chemicals can be used to clean it? How willing is the staff to change their work practices? What information do they want about new products and in what format would that information be most useful?

After the project managers compiled an inventory of all the cleaning products and practices, identified location-specific needs and listened to the staff and supervisors, a buying guide was developed for new products, dispensing systems and accessories. The buying guide was designed for the best environmentally preferable products that are most likely to do the required job. If, after serious testing during a reasonable trial period, a particular product wasn'tdoing a good enough job, then a new product would be tried. However, the product manager needed to be certain the first products were tested at recommended dilution rates using recommended cleaning practices before switching to another product. After the products were ordered, the project managers prepared a training manual for each site, only including the products to be used at that site. The training manual was designed so that sheets can be removed and added as new products are brought in.

The list of criteria determined to be most important in evaluating whether or not a cleaning agent would be considered for use at The City of Santa Monica and follows:

• Acute toxicity
• Chronic toxicity
• Biodegradability
• Skin irritants
• Flammability
• Volatile organic compound (VOC) levels
• Corrosiveness
• Presence of petroleum or hydrocarbons
• Presence of ozone-depleting chlorinated compounds
• Presence of artificial dyes and fragrances

Chemicals and chemical components that The City of Santa Monica and YNP considered extreme or priority pollutants are:

• Acetone
• Ammonia
• Ammonia Hydroxide
• Ammonia Salt of Nonylphenoxy Polyethanol
• 2-Butoxyethanol
• Butyl Cellosolve
• Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate
• Naphthalene
• Perchloroethylene
• Polyoxyethylene Monooctylphenyl Ether
• Sodium Dodecybenzene Sulfonate
• Sodium Hypochlorite / Hypochloric Acid
• Sodium Tripolyphosphate
• Tetrachloroethylene
• 1,1,1 Trichloroethane
• Toluene
• Xylene

Chemicals and chemical components that The City of Santa Monica and YNP consider to be severe pollutants are:

• Diethylene Glycol Ether - environmental
• Ethanol
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Hydrocarbon Solvent - environmental
• Mineral (Seal) Oils (Teratogen) - environmental
• Phosphoric Acid
• Polyethylene Glycol - environmental
• Potassium Hydroxide
• Sodium Hydroxide / Caustic Soda
• Sodium Xylene Sulfonate
• Synthetic Dye
• Synthetic Fragrance

The degree to which the above-listed chemicals/components are toxic depends on their concentration and formulation. Most of them were found in high concentrations.

During the installation visit or implementation phase, the project managers actually did the on-site set up. At Yellowstone, all old products were removed when the new products were brought in and tested. On-site, hands-on cleaning demonstrations were given to show the staff how the new products work, what proper measuring procedures look like, and how different cleaning techniques improve the performance of environmentally preferable cleaning products. The method of spray and wipe was replaced with rinsing of grime, grease and goo rather than redepositing it.

Once the new practices were accepted, time and elbow grease gave way to effectiveness and new cleaning insights. Follow-up training for the staff was provided, including instructions on proper use of disinfectants and sterilizers which are commonly overused or used inappropriately.

Cleaners should not contain disinfectants. To disinfect an area or surface, the area or surface must first be cleaned. After the surface or area is clean, a disinfectant may be applied. Use of 2 different products (one for cleaning and one for disinfecting) is highly recommended. This reduces the quantity of toxic products being used, and will mean efficient use of disinfectants.

The training manuals were handed out, and if other types of information was needed, those were identified. For example, at Yellowstone, it was determined that a laminated chart that hangs on the back of the cleaning closet door would be very useful.

After the initial round of visits to each location, regular follow-up visits were made. It was necessary to adjust the program to fit into the routines, workload and culture of the organization. The project manager coached the staff and supervisors until the use and performance of the new products was routine. It could be necessary to bring in new products, change order quantities or adjust the set-ups. Dilution ratios or formulations may need to be adjusted for specific needs. Dispensing systems were found to be time and money savers.

At the end of each implementation phase, it was important for the project manager to get feedback from the cleaning staff, supervisors and senior management. Using this feedback, problems could be identified and addressed and the momentum of the project maintained. Solutions could be incorporated into the next phase of the project. Input from the stakeholders provided important recommendations for the next steps or improvements in the process to make it fit better into the organization'sculture.

Another key to success was the staff'sincreased awareness of or interest in the alternative products. The fast buy-in into this project had some roots in immediate health advantages (no sneezing, red eyes, headaches, sore throats) as well as in open-mindedness.

Commitment to the project by employees who had the respect of their peers also made a difference. When this support did not come from the supervisor or the custodial staff, the change to environmentally preferable cleaning products was difficult.

Signs of resistance included:

• Lack of knowledge relating to the hazards of cleaning products
• Failure to attend meetings about the project
• Lack of support by the supervisor
• Expecting failure and/or opposition
• Resistance to change
• Lack of communication and responses with levels of park management
• Individualized product preferences and cleaning practices
• Resentment of more universal purchasing and decision-making processes

Most problems were solved with a strong visible management commitment and good communications. Material Safety Data Sheets

MSDSs are the most commonly known sources for evaluating cleaning products for their hazardous or toxic content. Labels on cleaning products list information which is necessary to more fully understand its content. However, both sources have proven largely incomplete and insufficient for determining product health or environmental rating.

Some examples of flaws in current laws and procedural requirements are:

• Authors of MSDSs are only required to include information —if they become aware of it.— Information relating to chronic toxicity is therefore often missing. Furthermore, toxicity information is required for chemicals comprising 1% of a mixture (or 0.1% if the chemical is a carcinogen). Thus, mixtures which contain a number of chemicals with similar effects (e.g. solvents), all at less than 1%, may together present a hazard, but are not included in the MSDS.
• MSDSs are created by an employee of the chemical manufacturer or the importer. This could be a physician, a floor supervisor or a secretary. There is no requirement that the author have any expertise in toxicology, industrial hygiene or medicine or be able to interpret the significance of animal, human or in vitro data. Quality of MSDSs, therefore, varies and many contain inaccuracies.
• There are no requirements that the relevance of toxicity information be explained, thus causing misleading interpretations and correlations. For example, a chemical with a high oral LD50 (lethal dose that will kill 50% of lab animals exposed to it) might be interpreted as being —safe—, but could cause a reproductive effect like testicular atrophy with repeated exposure.

Labels and MSDSs warn against accidental ingestion, eye contact, etc., however, they are not required to evaluate regular exposure to cleaning agents, synergistic effects using different products on a regular basis and/or long-term effects on human health and the environment.

Environmental Cleaning Products Purchased by Yellowstone

YNP made the determination to go with a single vendor to purchase all of the cleaning products because they were able to find products in a very short period of time that met all of the criteria. When the government of The City of Santa Monica completed their study, they also chose the same vendor. YNP also found it beneficial that management of the company was willing to make adjustments when necessary. For instance, all the products were white or clear at the beginning, but YNP found it would be most helpful if vegetable dyes were added to distinguish between the products. The company also worked directly with staff to create a carburetor cleaner for the park vehicles.

GENERAL CLEANING PRODUCTS:

• Item N-46 - Super Orange Cleaner - all purpose cleaner for floors, surfaces, walls and spotting
• Item N-7 - Basin,Tub & Tile - Bathroom cleaner for sinks, bowls and showers
• Item C-128 - Cycle Disinfect - Disinfectant for disinfecting specific areas such as toilets
• Item N-17 - Enzyme Stain Treatment - for floors around urinals, and wherever organic matter is a problem
• Item C-4 - Cycle-Cid - Delimer descaler for dissolving mineral deposits and as a backup of the bathroom cleaner
• Item N-13 - Natural Glass and Window Cleaner
• Item N-11 - Furniture Protector and Polish - Furniture polish and protector for furniture and log cleaning
• Item N-14 Heavy Duty Degrease - Degreaser cleaner for washing cars, parts, greasy floors
• Item N-4 - Natural Air Freshener - Air freshener for deodorizing restrooms and odor pollutants
• Item N-12 - Hand Soap - Liquid Hand Soap for hand soap dispensers

SPECIALIZED CLEANING PRODUCTS (some products may also contain non-toxic petroleum distillates):

• Item C-23 - Cycle Emulsifier for carpet extraction
• Item N-3 - Natural Solvent - Natural Solvent Spotter for gum, goo and grease
• Item C-54 - Graffiti Remover
• Item N-43 - Drain & Septic Treatment for digesting matter over a period of days
• Item N-41 - Oven Cleaner for employee units
• Item C-12 - Cycle Finish - Floor finish for floor care needs
• Item C-8 - Cycle Strip - Floor finish stripper

The Clean Environment Co., Inc. , P. O. Box 4444, Lincoln, NE 68504, 800/266-2353, 402/464-0988, Fax 402/464-1175, http://www.safegreenclean.com provides the approved products. These environmentally-preferable products (especially enzyme products) work best if applied to a surface and allowed to work for 10-15 minutes before wiping clean.

Jim Evanoff found many positive indirect benefits of the results of this project, including the staff'sfeeling part of a team, a tremendous increase in the staff'smorale, purchasing minimized and the fact that the product containers are both returnable and refillable.

Sophia Wakefield, S.A.F.E., summarizes, —The idea behind this project was to meet the cleaning needs of the parks— custodial staff with green products and improve the staff'sability to do their jobs.—

If your hotel would like to receive free samples of The Clean Environment products, contact —Green— Hotels Association(r) for a checklist.

Sophia Wakefield and Angele Ferre, S.A.F.E., Consulting for the Earth, Inc., P. O. Box 4334, Jackson, WY 83001, 307/734-1546, Fax 307/733-1531

Jim Evanoff, Management Assistant, Maintenance, Yellowstone National Park, P. O. Box 168, YNP, WY 82190, 307/344-2311, Fax 307/344-2306, e-mail: jim_evanoff@nps.gov

Note from GHA: Eco-Lab is said to be very aggressive in trying to convince users that their cleaning products are environmentally safe; however, studies did not find them to be so. Eco-Lab products contain petroleum distillates and other chemicals that are not considered to be environmentally safe or safe for daily and extended use by cleaning staff. Simple Green is another brand that does not fit the criteria of environmentally-preferred cleaning products.

MAY/JUN 2000

RECYCLING
Making Dollars, Making Sense

By Patricia Griffin, President, Green Hotels Association®

Recycling offers many benefits?some you wouldn'tguess! You will, of course, save money with your waste dumpster company by requiring fewer pickups for recycling. The number and size of dumpsters needed for trash at your property should be reduced. And, you may earn income by selling recyclables. Guests should heap praise on you and your associates for doing your part for the community by recycling. But, there are other unexpected benefits for hotels. Let'sstart with two very special success stories:

• Management at the Inter-Continental Hotel New Orleans decided to start recycling in 1993, and they decided to do it —behind the doors—. They hired separators to work in the basement to separate all the material that was normally discarded. Management was absolutely astonished to find that the separators were pulling $1,000 a month of hotel property out of the waste stream. And, all of these hotel materials had all been discarded before they started their recycling program! The hotel continued their recycling program and started earning $600 a month by selling recyclables the following year.
• Our second major success story regarding recycling took place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, a huge 2,019-room convention hotel. They started their recycling program in 1989 and had the same experience as the Inter-Continental New Orleans, except their recycling staff was pulling $3,000 to $10,000 a MONTH of hotel property from the waste stream. The hotel'srecycling program is now responsible for reducing the hotel'swaste hauling costs by 80%!

I suggest that you put a pencil to that figure. Find out what your solid waste costs are now by pulling together waste hauling invoices for the past 12 months. If you multiply 12 months— cost by 20%, you—ll see what your waste costs would be if they were reduced by 80%. It'spossible, that'sbeen proven! Of course, there are many other benefits to recycling besides the cost savings.

Maybe you are thinking of recycling, but don'tknow quite how or where to get started. There'slots of help out there. Just make the decision to get started, seek the help and you—ll be on your way.

A first step would be to find the closest recycling coalition or organization to your city. Recycling coalitions are organizations of local recycling facilities, municipal representatives, haulers and others interested in seeing that recycling is accomplished in the most efficient, beneficial fashion. Representatives from the coalition will normally offer free waste audits and help you assess your particular situation regarding recycling. Every state should have a recycling agency, so that might be the place to start. Once you find your state'sassociation, ask about recycling organizations and vendors in your immediate area.

Your second step would be accomplishing a waste audit. A waste audit will tell you what volume of waste is being generated at your hotel and what materials make up the waste along with their percentage of the whole. For instance, you might find that the property produces 200 tons of waste each year, of which cardboard is 30%, aluminum is 15%, recyclable plastic is 15%, glass is 10%, etc. and trash is 20%.

You can pay a professional to do a waste audit, someone from the recycling coalition may do it for free, or you and your employees may want to do it. If you want to do your own waste audit, it works like this: First, determine how many and what capacity dumpsters are on the property. Your waste hauling company should be able to give you the cubic footage and estimated weight for the dumpster'scontents when full.

Then, for a month or so, you—ll go to each waste dumpster before each time it is to be emptied with a pad and pen. An assessment will be made as to how full the dumpster is, what materials are in the dumpster and in what percentages. You might estimate that the dumpster is perhaps 80% full and holds perhaps 40% cardboard, 15% plastic, 15% aluminum, etc.

In the —Forms— section of your Membership Conservation Guidelines and Ideas, you—ll see a —Solid Waste Analysis— form. This form can be used to estimate the percentages of the materials being sent to the dump. Keep a separate list for each dumpster on the property.

OCC (Old Corrugated Cardboard) Recycling

It has been commonly found that, for hotels, cardboard makes up the highest percentage of materials discarded. If that is found to be so in your case, what that means to you is that you should start your recycling program with cardboard. So, the first hauling vendor you should meet with would be a cardboard hauling vendor. The vendor'srep will discuss with you how the materials pulled out of the waste stream should be stored, how often they will be picked up, whether or not you have enough discarded cardboard to justify a compactor or baler, who will pay who, etc. There, of course, are many sizes and levels of cardboard compactors or balers to be considered.

Some vendors may offer a —free— baler if you give them the cardboard. Be sure you assess the situation carefully so that you are not losing revenue that should be yours. Find out how much is being paid per ton for OCC in your area.

Before spending time searching for baling equipment, find out how much cardboard you expect to bale in a year. Any equipment supplier will need to know how many tons of cardboard you normally discard each year to determine what size baler you will need. Your next question will be to ask what the space requirements are of the equipment as well as of the bales. How much floor space does it take up? How tall is it? What size are the bales? What equipment will be needed to move the bales about?

Creative options regarding current physical arrangements may be necessary to fit in the necessary equipment and containers for recycling. An important point is to place recycling containers as near to the source as possible. For instance, paper collection points should be near desks and the copy machine in offices. Balers and other heavy equipment will need to be at the dock for easy removal of the bales. Don'toverlook fire and safety codes when making placement decisions.

Next, you—ll want to talk to the cardboard hauler to determine how often he would pick up bales (so you—ll know how many bales you would normally need to have storage space for until pickup is accomplished). Would he pay you for the bales, would you have to pay him for the hauling or would he take them away at no charge?

Don'toverlook co-oping with other nearby hotels on recycling programs. Perhaps one of them already has a baler and would be willing to accept your cardboard. Perhaps other nearby hotels would want to join your property in making full use of a baler.

From the equipment suppliers to whom we talked, one of the smaller versions is Harris— V5HD Vertical Baler which costs $7,300. It creates a 700 lb. bale which can be handled with either a forklift or palletjack. This size baler is considered an industry standard and is commonly used by grocery stores and businesses such as Penney'sand Office Depot. Cardboard is currently being sold for $80 to $100/ton, so a property would probably need to discard about 1,000 pounds a week of cardboard to justify buying this size baler.

A super idea came from Jim Lamb, Sheraton Alexandria, PARTNER MEMBER, in Virginia. Jim had a very hard time getting his employees to break down boxes before they were thrown in the collection dumpster. As you know, boxes can fill a dumpster in a hurry if they're not broken down. He asked his cardboard hauling company to modify his cardboard dumpster by cutting a slit in the upper part of the long wall of the dumpster that measured about 8— high by about 4— long. The lid on the cardboard dumpster is kept closed, so employees must break down boxes before they can be deposited through the slot into the dumpster. We—ve seen this type dumpster at several sites since Jim first told us about it. Ask your hauling company to provide this type of collection container for cardboard if you don'thave the quantity of OCC to justify a baler.

Besides the baler, you may also need carts, containers or dumpsters to handle the materials to be recycled. Will housekeeping, the kitchen, engineering and each floor need collection points? Again, your recycling coalition or the hauling vendor can help you determine what other equipment may be required and how much floor space is needed.

If you just want to see what a cardboard baler looks like and how much room it takes, you could ask the manager of most grocery stores or of an Office Depot for a look at their baler.

Once your recycling program is on the move and you're recycling newspapers, aluminum, plastic and/or glass, you—ll want to involve your guests and associates. Attractive recycling containers for each of the materials that you collect will be helpful in the lobby, at drive-up, near parking areas, perhaps on each floor by the elevators and in the offices. Nearby signage that is compelling is a must.

Many hotels start in the guestroom with the collection process. The Canadian Pacific Hotels— very extensive and successful recycling program involves using attractive —blue boxes— in each guestroom for collecting recyclables. Some hotels ask guests to place recyclables on the counter, by the waste receptacle or on the table. At many hotels, each housekeepers— cart is equipped with several large plastic bags to separate the recyclables which are then carried to the dock.

It'strue that compactors may be able to handle more than one type of product, e.g., both cardboard and aluminum. However, the difficulty is in storing one of the materials while making up a full bale of the other. The purpose and advantage of baling is, of course, to make the materials more easily handled and hauled. Thus, more recycling vendors will vie to haul your discards if they are easily handled.

One of the simplest steps you can take was offered to us by David Leverett of Gallatin Recycling. He said, —One of the very best things a hotelier can do regarding recycling is to put recycling containers where guests drive up to the hotel. Guests can empty their car of soda cans, water bottles, trash, etc. right then, rather than dragging them into the hotel where they will have to be handled by the housekeeper as well as by the recycling collectors. Guests are pleased because they can easily clean out their car as well as participate in the recycling program.—

Once your first recycling program is underway and running smoothly, your next step would be to start again with a waste audit. By now you should have smaller or fewer dumpsters or fewer pickups, saving the hotel money in reduced hauling fees. Your next waste audit should not include any material you're already recycling.

More Successes

Randy Urben, Chief of Engineering at the 231-room Sheraton University Hotel, Syracuse, NY, reported on their new recycling program, —I saw results right away. I would say we were doing 2 to 4 tons difference per month. So, that'sa $200 to $400 round-figure savings a month.—

Suzanne LaLonde, director of Onondaga County (NY) Resource Recycling Administration was quoted as saying, —We think about 35% of the hotel trash stream is paper. In our community, the disposal cost is zero when you recycle, and right now, it's$84 a ton when you put it in the trash container.—

Give yourself and other employees a break. Start with one item, get the first recycling program running smoothly before starting a second.

Aluminum Recycling

After determining what material now makes the highest volume of discards, you will also want to anticipate what materials might bring the best monetary return. For instance, your waste stream may be made up of more plastic than aluminum, but aluminum may bring the best return because it can be sold rather than given away.

Recycling aluminum probably will be one of the easiest of materials to recycle simply because it is the most mature of the organized recycling efforts. Development of the system with more than 10,000 recycling centers in place in the US has been ongoing for over 25 years. Vendors are in place, even in many small towns, to purchase aluminum to be recycled. It'strue that the recycling system serves as an above-ground mine for the aluminum industry. Using recycled aluminum requires only 5% of the energy needed to produce a can from raw materials.

The weight of the aluminum can has been reduced by 52% since 1972, and light-weighting continues. Most of the aluminum cans today are already recycled. The average aluminum can contains more than 50% post-consumer recycled content currently. Used aluminum can return as new cans in stores in as few as 60 days.

At the very least, housekeepers should be allowed to take aluminum cans home to sell. One of my most disappointing conversations regarding hotels and the environment ever was with a GM who said, —I used to let the housekeepers take the aluminum cans home, but they started fighting over them, so I decided that no one would take them home (and they would all be trashed).— If there is squabbling over the cans, solve that small problem for the sake of the bigger cause.

In dealing with recycling aluminum, probably the biggest dilemma is dealing with a big volume of empties. You probably won'twant a bunch of plastic bags of aluminum cans lying about. They take up too much room. There'salso the problem of dealing with insects because the cans are not necessarily clean.

Once again, your first step is to determine the volume of cans you expect to handle each year. You will find that number through your waste audit by estimating how many cans, how many pounds or how many square feet of cans are left at your facility. That volume will tell equipment dealers and a hauling vendor how to help you get set up for recycling aluminum.

Before we continue, let me say that two manufacturing sales reps told us they didn'tthink a hotel could justify a baler for aluminum, because they usually cost $40-50,000. One manufacturer'ssmallest baler can handle 41,000 cans an hour. The second rep said that it would take about 390,000 cans a week to justify a baler for aluminum. So, very few hotels will probably have the volume of cans that would justify a baler.

However, there are other options. First, is a crusher or flattener. We—ve seen two types of simple can crushers or flatteners which could be used at sites with minimal need.

Recycling Equipment Manufacturing'sJr. 2-Can crushes 2 cans at a time (using electricity, not muscle!), reduces bulk by 3 to 1, can crush up to 3,000 cans per hour (if you can hand feed them that fast!), measures 22—Wx25—Dx42—H and costs $1,350.

Also for minimal need is CP Manufacturing'sHandi-Can Flattener which can be used anywhere (indoor, outdoor) because it uses no electricity or batteries (muscle used here!) and costs only $40. CP'snext size flattener for low volume users flattens over 1200 lbs. of aluminum cans per hour and costs $8,450.

Some businesses use a flattener and then blow the empties into a semi trailer for storage. The space requirements for this option make it very problematic for most hotels.

Next is equipment called densifiers for aluminum. Densifiers for aluminum create biscuits weighing 13 to 25 lbs. The equipment will be either automatic (fed from a conveyor) or semi-automatic (a worker will feed the cans into the hopper). The advantage of the biscuit size is that they are easily handled. They can be stacked and banded without pallets into approximately 1500 lb. bundles.

One further option offered by a sales rep is for a hotel to contact a local scrap metal dealer and ask them to bring a roll-off container for aluminum to your property. The cans could be flattened or not prior to being deposited in the roll-off. Normally, they will weigh the container after it is picked up and pay you for the contents.

Paper Recycling

Hotels that give newspapers to their guests are good candidates to recycle newsprint.

One hotel that recycles newspapers decided to show their staff and guests just how many newspapers were being recycled by the hotel. They stacked all the newspapers from just one week as a wonderful visual display. Visuals help us all understand any concept more clearly. You—ll also see exactly how much paper you have to recycle.

Probably a good step would be to find a local vendor (the local newspaper?) which will provide a collection container for your newsprint.

There are a number of problems related to paper recycling. First of all, demand and market price vary widely. Economic expansion creates demand for recycled paper that increases faster than available supply. During slow business periods, the opposite is true.

Next, paper mills do not have de-inking capability and the industry is overbuilt, so paper mills are not likely to invest in such an improvement.

Thirdly, pollutants created in the production of virgin paper are also created in the production of recycled paper. Chlorine bleach and dioxins (along with their possible pollution) are required chemicals in the process.

Lastly, paper cannot be recycled forever. Fibers deteriorate with reuse, so successive generations evolve from business paper to cereal boxes and tissue to a dead end. All paper fiber ends up in the landfill at some point.

Fully 1/3 of our waste is paper, and only 42% of that is ever recycled. Sorting grades of paper waste has been too labor intensive and inefficient to be effective. However, technology is now making mixed paper more valuable through sorting. New equipment using optical, infrared and gloss sensors developed by Weyerhauser can sort 2 tons of waste paper an hour, 40 times faster than a year ago. If this technology can be proven profitable, it should spread throughout the world.

While we lean very heavily on money savings to encourage recycling at hotels, there is another very important aspect to it. Employees may not be as interested in profits as they are in principles. Once a recycling program is in place with one material, employees will often be interested in encouraging management'sefforts to recycle other materials with environmentalism and conservation in mind.

Further Successes

The 340-room luxury Turnberry Isle Resort and Club in Aventura, FL, encompasses a golf course, marina and full-service spa. In 1991, they disposed of 1500 tons of discarded material. By 1997, the property recovered 250 tons of mixed paper, corrugated boxes, aluminum and bi-metal cans, glass bottles and jars, plastics #1-3 and yard clippings and debris. Waste was reduced by 250 tons through source reduction. These efforts resulted in reduction of waste by 33%.

Dorothy Lewis-Robshaw is credited with Turnberry Resort'ssuccess. She says, —Education is the key to our success hands-down.— She makes sure that during each new employee'sorientation, they are well informed of the recycling program and it'sdifferent aspects.

Lewis-Robshaw also sees that non-traditional items such as egg cartons, strawberry baskets, 5-gallon pickle buckets, shelving, posterboard and tennis ball canisters are collected. Hotel staff members may claim the items for reuse or the items are distributed for arts and crafts projects to children'smuseums, pre-school and day care centers.

The Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ, started their recycling program in 1995 and find that one of the most valuable benefits is positive public relations. Their container recycling system diverts plastic, metal and glass containers from the compactor. Their environmental manager, Paul Hayes, insists, —Everyone in the organization must be held responsible for sorting recyclables correctly. Shifting the duty to someone else allows for a system breakdown and a high contamination level in collected materials. The key to successful recycling is making sorting recyclables part of everyone'sjob description.—

Contamination

Contamination is a problem in most recycling programs. If a few plastic bottles are thrown in with the aluminum or if a cup of coffee is spilled into a container of white paper, the value on the material can be reduced. Educating staff and guests to this fact is very important.

Record Keeping

Record keeping is very important. Keep complete and accurate records from the beginning of your recycling program. Software programs are available, but a good spreadsheet program should work well. Track solid waste disposed of, commodities recycled, sources of materials and, especially, your diversion rate from the landfill.

As more government entities require businesses to recycle, justifying your position will be easier with accurate documentation. Managers and owners will also have a clear understanding of the benefits of recycling. Visuals will also favorably impress guests and staff.

More Recycling Ideas

If staff members do not have recycling collection available at their homes, encourage them to bring recyclables to work.

If newspapers are not being recycled at your property, encourage staff members who childrens— schools collect newspaper for recycling as a fundraiser to take discarded newspapers home.

A mulcher for landscape clippings can be purchased at Home Depot for $300-500. Chop up your own clippings, and you won'tbe paying to have it hauled away. You also won'tbe spending money to buy mulch for your gardens. One property reported that they paid for their mulcher in only 3 months!

If your property is recycling aluminum and is not recycling plastic, be sure your restaurant, food shop and or vending machines offer drinks in aluminum cans only. If a meeting planner specifies drinks in plastic containers, ask them to reconsider and explain your recycling program.

Recycling Equipment Manufacturers

Please do not consider our findings regarding recycling equipment as final or complete. We contacted several manufacturers and consider our findings typical, but new designs and new equipment are always evolving. Keep searching, and perhaps you—ll find exactly the equipment you need.

Some of the recycling equipment manufacturers you may wish to contact are:

• Alliance Recycle Products, 310 Downtown Plaza, Fairmont, MN 56031-0171, 507/235-8989
• CP Manufacturing, Inc., 1428 McKinley Ave., National City, CA 91950, 800/462-5311, http://www.cpmfg.com
• Harris Waste Management Group, Peachtree City, GA, 800/373-9131, http://www.harriswaste.com
• Prodeva Inc., Jackson Center, OH, 800/999-3271, prodeva.com
• Recycling Equipment Manufacturing, Spokane, WA, 800/745-4736, 509/487-6966, http://www.remfg.com

Resources

• Look in the Yellow Pages under recycling, resource recovery or a specific material such as glass, paper, aluminum or plastic.
• Contact the National Recycling Coalition, 1727 King Street, Suite 105, Alexandria,VA 22314-2720, 703/683-9025, Fax 703/683-9026, recycle.net/recycle/assn/index.html, a non-profit organization representing all diverse interests committed to the common goal of maximizing recycling. This organization may have a list of recycling organizations in your state.
• Check with state and local governmental agencies regarding natural resources, solid waste, etc.
• National Solid Waste Management Association, c/o Environmental Industry Association, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20008, 202/244-400, Fax 202/966-4841, http://www.envasns.org/nswma
• US EPA'sOffice of Solid Waste web site, http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/index.htm
• grn.com is a free-access public site dedicated to recycling-related information.

It'sa fact . . .

One press run of the Sunday edition of the New York Times uses the paper produced from about 75,000 trees.

MAR/APR 2000

CLEANING AND SANITIZING WITH SUPERHEATED STEAM

Vapor Cleaning

Probably the most perfect (environmentally speaking) machine or piece of equipment ever developed for deep cleaning and sanitizing is the vapor cleaning machine. The concept is ideal because it requires NO chemicals, leaves NO residue, creates NO odor, masks NO odor, creates NO noise, is mobile and can be used to clean and sanitize almost any surface. The machine uses only water, which is heated until it becomes dry steam. The surface air dries in seconds. About 15 European and 5 US manufacturers produce these machines. A hotel will, of course, require the commercial model of the machines. Discussion here is about the AmeriVap Vapor Blitz II, but we presume most of these machines generally operate in the same manner. Check out any machine you might investigate for safety features, electronics, ease of use, UL listing, product liability insurance, warranties, etc.

The AmeriVap Vapor Blitz II works like this: Electricity is used to heat water in its tank, creating steam under pressure. When the pressure reaches approximately 65 psi, the temperature of the steam reaches about 290° F. in the tank and the moisture content of the steam goes down to about 5%. An electronically-controlled solenoid valve releases pressure from the tank. The steam travels from the tank to the tip of the wand through a pressure line inside an insulated hose. Pressure between the tank and the tip is regulated with a manual valve similar to a water faucet. By the time the steam reaches the tip, its temperature has dropped to about 212° F.

Water is the nearest thing to a universal solvent3/4it even dissolves mountains! Heat weakens the bond between dirt and the surface. Heat also makes chemicals react faster, so if a cleaning or sanitizing agent is used, less is needed and it doesn'thave to be left on the surface as long. Heat also kills bacteria, spores and other undesirable microorganisms that can be unhealthy. So, superheated vapor (microscopic droplets of water) separates the dirt and grime from surfaces and holds them in suspension long enough to be removed.

To use the machine, one would fill the 2.64-quart stainless steel tank with water and roll it to the area where it is to be used. The machine would be plugged into a 110-volt receptacle, and in 10-15 minutes the water in the tank would be heated to the proper temperature. A light would alert that the machine is ready for use. A tip or accessory for the wand would be chosen to suit the job. Normally, the tank would need to be refilled after about 1-1/2 to 3 hours of use.

At the tip, a variety of brushes or other accessories allows the steam to reach the dirty surface while brushing action is applied, releasing and removing dirt and stain particles from the surface being cleaned. If drapes or bedspreads are to be cleaned, an extension with a flat attachment covered with a fitted terry-cloth towel would be used. To clean a stove, a medium nylon brush, a triangle detail brush and a detail brush may all be used. To clean tile and grout, a detail brush may be best. If a terry-cloth cover is used on the attachment, it should not be necessary to wipe up after using the wand to pass over the surface. However, if one of the other accessories is used to loosen dirt, it will probably be necessary to wipe up the moisture and dirt with a cloth. For instance, if cleaning grime from a stove, one hand would be scrubbing with the wand and brush and the other hand would be wiping up with a terry towel.

Germs and bacteria cannot survive in 200+° F. steam vapor. With a proven kill ratio of 99.0%, vapor deep cleaning technology is being used by hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and food processing companies all over the world.

The machine is only releasing superheated steam. It is not vacuuming up or sucking anything back in. Water is never reused.

From a cleaning checklist offered, these are some of the ways this machine will help keep a hospitality property clean and sanitized:

• Clean tile and grout
• Clean elevator tracks and metal thresholds
• Remove bathtub soap scum
• Clean non-skid bathtubs
• Clean chrome, stainless steel and brass surfaces
• Spot clean carpet stains
• Spot clean bedspread stains
• Clean and remove stains from upholstery and drapes
• Sanitize mattresses, remove odors and stains
• Clean and sanitize walls
• Remove waxy buildup on floors
• Remove nicotine and tar residue
• Clean windows and mirrors
• Clean sliding glass doors and window tracks
• Kill and remove mildew and mold along with their odors
• Remove gum and tar from sidewalks
• Clean and mist plants
• Clean restrooms
• Sanitize phones, TV remote controls and doorknobs
• Clean health-fitness equipment
• Clean marble walls and floors
• Clean acoustical ceiling tiles
• Clean vinyl floor tile
• Clean condensers and cooling fans
• Clean filters and air return vents
• Clean ice machines
• Clean grease buildup in kitchen areas
• Clean grills and vents
• Clean display coolers
• Sanitize walk-in coolers without removing food

The cleaning method was developed by an Italian barkeep who was having trouble getting lipstick off of his drinking glasses. He found that he could take the glasses to his Cappuccino machine, and use the steam to clean the glasses. He realized that if he could capture this cleaning method in a machine, he would have a perfect cleaning machine.

The medical profession has used autoclaves, which use superheated steam to sanitize equipment, for a long time. Currently, a vapor-cleaning process for clothing is being brought to the public as an alternative to dry cleaning. Is the machine dangerous? The answer is, a sharp knife could be dangerous if used improperly. Safety devices have been built in to monitor the pressure. Materials and design insulate against the heat. The tools have been designed to be tough enough to stand up to constant use and exposure to high temperatures. At the tip where the steam is released, the temperature is approximately 212° F. But, the heat and steam dissipate very quickly. So, 6 to 8 inches from the tip, there is no danger.

Savings can be enhanced by using fewer chemicals and reducing inventory. Fewer chemicals mean less inventory management time, and MSD documentation requirements are lessened. Training time is reduced. Chemical odors should be non-existent.

Though this cleaning method is relatively new in the US, thousands of these machines have been sold and used in Europe for about 20 years. A Las Vegas hotel uses 5 of these machines just to clean and mist the plants in their lobby.

Companies we located offering vapor deep cleaning machines are:

• Vapor Blitz II, AmeriVap Systems, 800/763-7687, http://www.amerivap.com
• Vaporetto Eco Pro 3000, Parish Maintenance Supply, 800/836-0862, http://www.parish-supply.com
• VaporLux Model 4000, 800/467-6229, http://www.vaporlux.com
• Robby, http://www.robby.com, http://www.robbyvapor.com

If and when you have experience with vapor cleaning, let us hear from you so that we can report on your experience to other members.

NOV/DEC 1999

SOLAR LAUNDRY DRYING

Some of us will remember the sweet smell of sheets and towels that had been hung on a clothesline outdoors to dry. Perhaps that smell can be recaptured in laundry rooms of today.

As solar power advances are made both in technology and equipment, more and more viable uses are being revealed. Air warmed by the sun is being used in commercial operations to dry produce and materials such as tea, coffee, fruit, spices, rubber, cocoa beans, rice and timber<197>why not laundry?

Solar heating is found to be cost effective in any part of the world where there is plentiful sunshine and expensive energy costs.

Though we know of no solar laundry drying installations in the US today, a manufacturer of blue jeans in India has found his operation to be very successful. The jeans are dyed, washed and then dried in two commercial dryers with air heated from 1,000 square feet of solar panels. The operation has not been officially monitored to prove its exact energy savings, but the jeans manufacturer considers the project a major success since the electric heaters are most often not on when the jeans are being dried.

A solar air heating operation involves installing dark metal panels on a wall or roof of a building. The installation will blend in with the structure'sproperties, and will not detract. In new construction or building expansion, the panels will replace typical metal roofing or facia.

The panels have many tiny holes or perforations through which outside air enters a cavity behind the metal panel. Fans sucks the warmed air out of the panel and into ductwork through which the warmed air reaches its drying destination. If the air is warm enough, it can be used alone; otherwise, the preheated air will be supplementing dryer heat. Each square foot of panel can save as much as $5 each year for the next 30 years or longer. Therefore, a 2,000 square foot collector can save $10,000 each year or $300,000 over a 30-year lifetime.

For US installations, the system qualifies under the Clinton Million Solar Roofs Program, so is eligible for a 10% tax credit. Cost of new construction installation for a 2,000 sq. ft. solar panel setup would be approximately $10,000. A retrofit'scost depends on what the panels will cover, how far the laundry is from the panel installation and other constraints.

If your property has an in-house laundry and if your management is interested in a high profile laundry drying demonstration project by being the first solar laundry drying installation in the US, contact Dick Grainger, Conserval Systems, Inc. located in Buffalo, NY at 716/835-4903.

Hopefully, the first solar laundry-drying project will be monitored by the U. S. Department of Energy. Monitoring involves installation of a separate energy meter to record the temperature of the air and time elapsed in drying to prove the energy savings accomplished as well as verify the economics of the project.

Having the first solar laundry drying site on your property could possibly bring extra financial incentives as well as major publicity.

Wouldn'tit wonderful if the first solar laundry- drying installation is at a hotel that is a member of —Green— Hotels Association?

Perhaps your guests will enjoy linens dried with fresh air sometime soon.

John Hollick, President, Conserval Systems, Inc., 4254 Ridge Lea Road, Buffalo, NY 14226-1016, 716/835-4903, Fax 716/835-4904, http://www.solarwall.com

NOV/DEC 1999

PLUMBING PROBLEMS

Toilets that won'tflush completely or tend to overflow can spell DISASTER.

There are several reasons why toilet won'tflush.

• A blockage could be the cause, and should be fixable with a plunger or a snake.
• Either not enough water is moving from the tank to the bowl or the velocity of that water is not swift enough to complete the flush. For pre-1.6 gpm toilets, remove the toilet tank cover and set it aside. Look at the back inside wall of the tank for an impression that may say —low water line—, —economy level—, etc. The manufacturer of that toilet has determined that if the water is reduced to that level, the toilet should still function properly. As a conservation measure, water should be reduced to that level, but probably no more than 1— below the line. Adjust the water level by carefully bending the rod if the toilet still has a ballcock.
• If the toilet has a Fluidmaster valve, the adjustment to reduce water in the tank can be made by squeezing the silver clip on the silver rod that is on the side of the valve float. Move the silver clip until the water level desired is reached. These valves can be adjusted very precisely.
• If the toilet has a Hunter valve, turn the water off to the toilet by turning the knob underneath clockwise. Press down on the top of the valve with the heel of your hand and turn it an eighth of a revolution either way. The valve body is then allowed to be lifted or lowered. A general rule is that you want the bottom of the white cover level with the top of the overflow tube. Turn the valve back, and assure yourself that it is locked in place before turning the water back on.
• With the water adjusted, flush the toilet and check to see if almost all of the water leaves the tank. If you have to hold the handle down because the flapper is falling too soon, adequate water may not be able to escape the tank to complete the flush. If when the flapper is in the lowered position, there is a lot of slack in the chain, shorten the chain.
• The next thing to look for is a waterlogged flapper. If black smudges come off on your fingers when you touch the flapper, the flapper has deteriorated to the point that it is waterlogged. It will not float as it should, and needs to be replaced.
• Water that swirls around, but won'tleave the bowl may be the reason the toilet doesn'tcomplete the flush. Usually the problem here is that the water is not leaving the bowl fast enough to complete the flush. Common in older toilets, especially in areas with hard water, this problem is called calcification or ossification. It means that there is a hard-water, mineral-deposit buildup inside the toilet bowl ring. When the water leaves the toilet tank, it moves through the toilet bowl ring before it is released through multiple holes into the bowl. If you look up under the toilet bowl ring, you may be able to see that some of the holes are clogged with deposits.
• We—ve tried using vinegar as a solution for this problem, but have not found any way the vinegar can be retained inside the ring long enough to dissolve the deposits. A fix-it columnist has suggested that a toilet bowl cleaner with hydrochloric acid (HCI) can be used to dissolve the deposits. Sometimes the buildup can be so heavy, that a plumber will suggest that the toilet be replaced. Of course, GHA has a problem with suggesting use of this toxic product, but if it means that the toilet will not have to be replaced, perhaps it should be used.

Here is the recommendation of a fix-it columnist: Pour 2 cups of a toilet bowl cleaner containing hydrochloric acid (HCI) down the overflow tube inside the tank. The cleaner will probably be thick so that it has a clinging quality. After 5 minutes, pour another 2 cups. Flush the toilet.

There is one more, really rare, possibility regarding a toilet that won'tflush. If mop water that might contain floor wax is poured into a toilet, the wax residue can make the toilet bowl too slick. The water will just slide around, rather than creating the turbulence needed to flush the waste. Emptying the bowl and wiping it down with acetone should cure this problem.

Source: Brown, Jim; Nuts & Bolts, Flush away plumbing problems, Houston Chronicle, September 25, 1999

SEP/OCT 1999

FOOD PURCHASING AND WASTE CONSERVATION

By Glenn Nagy, Owner, Purchasing Control Services

Today, more than ever, food service operators are under increasing pressure to squeeze the most out of the product that comes through the loading dock door and eventually ends up on their patrons— plates. Faced with the challenge of an untrained labor market and a demanding public, it'simperative that we get the most out of our food purchasing dollars, our products and our employees. In conversations with chefs, general managers and restaurant operators, we constantly hear the cry, —I just can'tget enough good people to work in my kitchen or dining room—. This, of course, is an emotional response to the problem and should not imply that there aren'ta lot of very good and dedicated employees in our business. However, the problem is real, and will continue to grow as we enter the next century. More and more families with two incomes and less time (and interest) to cook, are going out for their meals and showing up in our dining rooms. Obviously, this is a —good thing— for those of us that make our living in the food service industry, but it presents ever-increasing challenges to us to serve them in the manner that they expect and deserve.

Countless articles and even books have been written about labor problems and operational difficulties in the food service industry alone. And, it'snot our intention to try to solve them in one more brief missive here. As a consultant to the food service industry specializing in purchasing, we can offer a few tips to reduce waste, conserve product, help your kitchen staff serve better food with limited labor, and, in the process, reduce food costs and increase profits. Perhaps the most logical way to proceed down this road is chronologically. What happens from the time your staff creates a menu, serves your customers and disposes of everything that'sleft?

With obvious regard for what kind of food you choose to serve, consider this: Is my menu in synch with my kitchen staff'sabilities? And if so, will it still be tomorrow? In other words, if I have a lot of turnover in staff, can the new hires, whom I may not have time to train properly, prepare the food that'son my menu?

When planning a menu, is attention given to cross utilization of product? Waste and spoilage are reduced by having fewer products in your kitchen, but that can be used to make a variety of dishes.

To an operator, the most important part of any menu is ultimately the pricing. Before considering all of the other factors that will dictate your menu pricing, you must first consider —raw— costs<197>otherwise known as your —gross food cost—. It'simportant that your menu prices are commensurate with the raw cost of food coming in your back door. We help our clients do this by providing a —price change analysis— spreadsheet (see Page 3) showing price changes from month to month and, more importantly, from the previous year'saverage to the current month. By tracking prices this way, they can easily tell if their current menu prices are in line with what they are paying for raw product. You can do the same thing by creating a simple spreadsheet that fits your operation.

In determining which products you are going to purchase for use in your kitchen, careful consideration should be given to waste, usually the single worst culprit when a food cost problem occurs. Waste can come in many forms and be caused by a variety of factors. For example, it was commonplace not that many years ago, that any hotel kitchen always had a stockpot bubbling. Energy (to fuel the cauldron) was inexpensive and the stockpot was a great repository for everything from onion peelings to eggshells to chicken bones or beef trimmings and on and on. The chef carefully cajoled the brew, adding spices and other ingredients, while tasting constantly, to produce rich, hearty soups and stews.

Today, that'snot always practical. Commercial soup bases have curtailed the need for such machinations and if there'sno time or qualified cooks to watch over the endeavor, excellent frozen soups in a plethora of flavors are available with consistent quality. Hence, where before we didn'tthink twice about buying —virgin— produce, like broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, cutting them into florets or sticks for veggie trays and throwing the stems in a stock pot; now, many operators have switched to or supplemented these traditional products with labor-free —pre-cuts— that give them exactly what they need with no waste. The same has been done with many other products including pre-cut, vacuum-packed lettuces and salad mixes that have an excellent shelf life (up to two weeks from the time of processing) as well as —portioned— steaks, chicken and fish.

There are some excellent frozen prepared foods available as well that are so good that it'sfoolish for a chef to try to make his/her own. Stouffer'sveggie lasagna is the first one that comes to mind. How about meatballs? Can you imagine a prep cook standing there rolling a couple hundred meatballs in his hands when they can be bought ready-to-use in sizes from 2 ounces for sandwiches, all the way down to an eighth of an ounce for wedding soup? Or, how about cutting up little squares of puff pastry and wrapping them around cocktail wieners to make the popular hor d—oeuvre —franks-in-the-blanket—? Of course not. We buy them ready to pop in the oven. These are just a few examples, and obviously, these products carry a higher —raw— cost. But, as our labor problems continue in the kitchen, they become increasingly more practical.

Not so much related to quality or labor, but important in reducing packaging waste, are products such as —pouch pack— ketchup and pickles, as well as juices in aseptic cartons, especially if you are not regularly recycling metal cans or don'thave a compactor on site.

Just as important as what you buy and how you buy it, is what happens to the food when it comes through your back door. Remember, the same problems that you are experiencing with regard to —getting good help— are shared by the rest of the industry as well. This includes your distributors. From data entry, to picking errors at the plant, to mishandling of product, your distributor faces many challenges in getting your food products to you in perfect condition. Keep in mind that often we're dealing with —natural—, fresh products that are highly perishable and must be handled accordingly. We can'temphasize enough how important it is to properly —receive— your products from your distributors. Checking to be sure that all items on the invoice are actually delivered and in good condition, as well as priced properly, is crucial to your —raw— costs. After food is —received—, especially fresh product, it needs to be put into coolers immediately and rotated to insure freshness. More than once, I—ve been in a 100-plus degree kitchen in August and seen fresh strawberries sitting on the loading dock —waiting— to be put away only to get a call the next day saying that they were moldy!

Now that our food is safely in our coolers and storerooms, what other factors influence —waste— and drive up food costs? How about theft? This is the worst —waste— of all because it'sintentional and it'srepulsive. But it does occur.

Over-preparation of product and improper portioning also contribute to waste. I always like to take a walk past the dishwasher'sarea during the dinner hour to see —what'scoming back—. If we're buying 70-count baking potatoes and they're half eaten, it may be wise to downsize to a smaller potato and so on.

A final word about what'sbeen discussed above. Ultimately, our employees are the people who will determine our costs, our profits and our success. Treat them well. For years and years in our industry, the employee meal room has been the —dumping ground— for everything left over in the kitchen. Not that these leftovers are necessarily unwholesome or even less than tasty. But we have to admit that often our —employee meals— are tired and repetitive. Again, with the labor market being what it is, it'smore important than ever to do our best to keep our employees happy. Consider this from a dishwasher (the worst job in the business) who said to me, —I can leave here this morning and be washing dishes across the street by this afternoon, but they treat me well and they feed me well, and many days, what I eat here is my only meal of the day. So that'swhy I stay!—

Glenn Nagy, Owner, Purchasing Control Services, (a food purchasing and consulting company),
5143 Villaview Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-1512, 412/884-8253, Fax 412/884-5042

JUL/AUG 1999

NATURAL GARLIC JUICE KEEPS MOSQUITOES AWAY

Resorts, outdoor festivals, golf courses and cities are discovering a great new way to get rid of mosquitoes. It'swith Garlic Oil!

Completely safe to humans and wildlife, Garlic Oil makes the mosquitoes say —adios—.

Garlic Oil is not a pesticide, but a repellent that lasts up to 28 days in providing a mosquito-free environment. Heavy infestations or rains may require reapplication.

This makes perfect sense to Entomologist Michael Goldstein, who states that mosquitoes are attracted and repelled by certain odors. Select soaps, perfumes, scented deodorant and carbon dioxide-breathing animals can be magnets for mosquitoes.

What garlic does is mask the odors that attract the mosquitoes. Once Garlic Oil is sprayed in an area, the mosquitoes get confused and can'tfind the host they need to live. They then either leave the area or die. Either way is good news for humans.

On a recent South Pacific island-hopping trip, I realized that several resorts had used chemical insecticides as cover sprays on their gardens as a way to keep the mosquitoes from bothering their guests. What they don'trealize is that not only are they subjecting their guests to poisonous fumes in the air, they are killing off the natural mosquito predators like songbirds, bats, lizards and frogs.

Garlic Oil is very inexpensive to use, very effective and becomes odorless to humans in a short time. Many insects are deterred by odors, and the insects will continue to react to the garlic smell long after it is undetectable to humans.

Should a guest ask about the garlic scent, a quick comeback could be —maybe the chef is preparing for `Italian night— in the restaurant——a resulting laugh is almost guaranteed! However, it might be best to be completely honest with guests, and let them know that the property is using a natural means rather than toxic poisons as a mosquito deterrent. The odor may be smelled for 30 minutes to 3 hours after application. Many of us do think of food when we smell garlic, and usually we don'tfind it offensive.

Garlic juice is sold in one-gallon containers. It is easy to apply—customarily sprayed from a common landscape sprayer at a recommended dilution rate of 1 to 100. We normally use 1.5 ounces of Garlic Oil to 1 gallon of water.

When applying, think of it as a barrier to deter mosquitoes from biting humans. With that in mind, it should be sprayed onto the ENTIRE GROUNDS, i.e., grass, foliage, sidewalks, driveways, tables, benches, bandstand, etc.—wherever guests may be outside. It should, of course, also be sprayed by swimming pools and outdoor restaurants—again, wherever guests may be outdoors. Also, remember to spray around doorways that would allow mosquitoes entrance to the hotel or to guestrooms.

It takes about 48 hours for the oil to assimilate into the grass and foliage, so a reapplication may be necessary if it rains within 48 hours of application. If it is determined that you want absolutely NO mosquitoes in the area, it may be necessary to spray every single day.

It is important to note that Garlic Oil has never been known to damage or burn foliage.

Garlic may also deter other insects such as wasps, flies and ants. A local high school has used it on their football field for fire ants. The ants become confused, cannot find their way back to the nest and the nest dies.

Application should begin in the spring before there is a mosquito problem, and should continue through the summer and early fall—until cooler weather reduces the mosquito population.

100% concentrated Garlic Oil is now commercially available, and wholesales for around $120 per gallon. A gallon of this Garlic Oil will cover up to five acres. That's$24 an acre and pretty darn cheap mosquito control.

Garlic was once considered essential for keeping vampires at bay. Now, garlic is essential for keeping those flying bloodsuckers away.

Mike Serant, horticulturist, Houston, TX, 713/957-0909, 800/444-1290

MAY/JUN 1999

THERE'sNO SUCH THING AS A FREE TV

Farewell to free TVs.

If your hotel has been getting its TVs free as part of a contract with an in-room entertainment and information provider, you—d better prepare for some changes when that contract expires.

In the near future, hoteliers will be shopping for new TVs, and according to brand officials, they won'tbe looking for bargains at the local Sam'sWarehouse Club or Best Buy. Hotel companies are setting purchasing standards systemwide for in-room TVs. In most cases, consumer sets are out; commercial-grade sets with —smart— integrated technology are in, and will be purchased direct from the manufacturer or at a negotiated price from the in-room entertainment and information provider.

Alan Worley, director of purchasing for Memphis-based Promus Cos., recalled when the competitive bid situation between the —big three— pay-per-view companies<197>SpectraVision, LodgeNet Entertainment and On Command Video<197>started in 1993.

—On Command was the first provider to include free TVs with its in-room movie contract,— Worley said. —Back then, LodgeNet wouldn'teven consider throwing in free TVs, but that quickly changed when OCV signed $2.4 million in business.

Soon all three providers were offering free TVs with their in-room movie package, Worley said.

—Now, it'sdefinitely on the downside,— he said. —You can'tget deals today like you got three or four years ago.—

Tim Flynn, president of LodgeNet Entertainment, said TVs for franchise barter have lost their relevance.

—Today, hotels are interested in obtaining advanced, differentiated services in the guestroom, instead of getting their TVs for free,— Flynn said. —There'sa lot of capital required to provide in-room information services. Giving the TVs away doesn'tmake good business sense.—

Flynn said companies like LodgeNet have more buying power than most hotel chains do on their own, and his company will help facilitate any transaction that is advantageous to a hotel<197>such as obtaining TVs at a better price.

Hotels that depend on free TVs shouldn'tpanic, however. While in-room entertainment and information providers are discouraging the free TV perk, it won'tvanish completely. Free TVs still will exist in some in-room entertainment contracts.

Promus does not mandate that its Hampton Inns, Embassy Suites and Homewood Suites purchase sets from one manufacturer. However, the company does require all sets be commercial grade and work on an interactive platform, Worley said.

—We're changing the standards for our properties by requiring that they purchase either a SmartCard TV from Philips Consumer Electronics, the SuperPort technology from Zenith Electronics or any set that has upgradable, integratable technology,— Worley said. —Sam'sClub has a great discount program, but their sets are designed for in-home use, not hotels. Volume control is limited, and the TVs can'twork with the (in-room entertainment and information providers). If they can, it'snot cheap.—

Benefits of commercial sets over consumer sets include:

• Three-prong AC electrical plugs compared with two-prong polarized plugs;
• Lock-down plates to secure the sets;
• Volume control;
• Uniform programming;
• Integrated circuitry inside the set to work with in-room entertainment and information programs and provide an Internet and data link;
• Spill-resistant backs;
• Larger air vents;
• On-screen data labeling for 125 channels compared to labeling for 24 to 30 channels; and
• Warranty protection.

John Merrill, national accounts manager for the Panasonic Hospitality Group, said hotels don'trealize that if they purchase a consumer TV from a local retail store, the warranty is void once the TV is installed in the hotel.

—Read the consumer products warranty,— Merrill said. —It notes: `This warranty does not cover failure from . . . commercial use, such as hotels . . .— Hotels think they're getting a deal, but no warranty can mean big problems.—

For the first time in six years, Panasonic has released a new commercial line of TVs, Merrill said.

—Because of the purchasing change<197>hotels now having to buy TVs<197>we had to redesign our product to provide a direct benefit of features to the hotel,— Merrill said. —This is not to say that our sets didn'tmeet industry requirements in the past. We simply needed to enhance our product to provide benefits that even the hotels didn'tthink of.—

The new Panasonic PanaLink Module Expansion Technology series contains an interchangeable module that will adapt to future product enhancements, minimize upgrade costs and preclude network system obsolescence, Merrill said.

One aspect of the guestroom TV that is often neglected by hotels is its energy consumption, Merrill said. In January, Vice President Al Gore announced new partnerships with leading TV manufacturers to promote energy savings.

Under the Environmental Protection Agency'sENERGY STAR Program, 11 TV manufacturers, including Panasonic, Philips, Zenith and Thomson Consumer Electronics, agreed to produce TVs that use significantly less energy than products currently on the market, with no sacrifice in performance or change in price. Qualifying TVs will bear an ENERGY STAR label, which identifies the product as one that has been certified as energy-efficient by the EPA.

According to Stephan Sylvan, manager of the ENERGY STAR program, of the four main hotel industry TV manufacturers, only Panasonic has submitted its commercial product and bears the ENERGY STAR seal.

—While the ENERGY STAR guidelines were initially designed for consumer-grade TVs, the same criteria applies for commercial sets,— Sylvan said. —If a TV uses less than three watts of energy in the stand-alone mode, it qualifies for the ENERGY STAR label.—

According to the EPA, an ENERGY STAR labeled TV consumes up to 75 percent less energy than the average TV when switched off.

Bruce Rosenberg, v.p. of marketing distribution for Hilton Hotels Corp., said the company is redefining how the guestroom TV can be used. He said Hilton is working with On Command to develop a new range of TV programming. He would not disclose the programs being tested. Although he did say infrared TVs that work in tandem with infrared keyboards are being tested to enable guests to surf the Web.

Making the guestroom TV a personal computer seems to rank high on hotels— amenity list.

Promus— Worley said his company has been testing a PC-TV at its headquarters for about one year. The sets are manufactured by Zenith Electronics, Glenview, IL.

—We think it will drive guest satisfaction,— Worley said. —We're still testing the feasibility of the product<197>we're not sure if a guest will plug a laptop into the TV.—

Promus will roll out several of the Zenith PC-TVs to hotels in the near future for beta testing. However, the guestroom as it is configured today will need to change in order to make the room more —TV-centric,— Worley said.

Electricity is Leaking From Hotel Televisions

Electricity leaking from one television costs approximately $20 per year. TVs alone cost Americans more than $750 annually in leaking electricity.

Most TVs require 6 watts to 20 watts of power when off to support features such as instant-on and remote control. Recent data suggests new models use approximately 4 watts in off mode, but several firms have produced TVs with similar functionality requiring as little as 0.5 watts.

Digital Satellite Systems also leak significant amounts of electricity. These devices consume an average of 13 watts when not in use. Twenty-five percent of US households are expected to invest in DSS receivers by 2002, adding $250 million to electricity bills annually for leaking electricity.

New set-top devices for Internet access and other services (like in-room movies) via the TV consume additional electricity. Preliminary data suggests these devices leak 6 watts each.

How to Prevent Leaking Electricity from TVs

Unplug them. To be absolutely sure that TVs are truly off and not leaking electricity, unplug them when not in use, or plug them into a power strip that can be switched off.

Switch to low-leak TVs. The Environmental Protection Agency is working with TV manufacturers to develop an ENERGY STAR labeling program for low-leak TVs. This program is expected to save Americans more than $1 billion each year in electric bills. To date, Toshiba and Panasonic have produced TVs with low standby losses.

Recognize the source of leakage. When considering peripherals such as cable boxes, DSS, WebTV and other set-top devices, remember these add substantially to leaking electricity.

Worcester, Barbara A., H&MM Senior Editor, Hotel & Motel Management, April 20, 1998, p. 26, 27, 38.

MAR/APR 1999

CORELESS, COMPACT BATHROOM TISSUE

A real innovation in bathroom tissue is Fort James Corporation'snew Compact tissue, which achieves significant source reduction in packaging. 94.7% of the packaging commonly used for bathroom tissue has been eliminated. Waste has been cut by 3.23 lbs. per case.

Coreless, each roll has no cardboard at its center to be discarded. The center hole is about 5/8— diameter instead of the common 1-3/4—. This reduced center diameter means more tissue per roll and reduced shipping costs and reduced truck emissions.

A variety of spindles are available which will fit most tissue dispensers, and samples may be offered at no cost to a hotel. Because the spindle size is unusual, the system is expected to be a deterrent to theft. Dispensers do not allow the second roll to be moved until the first roll is completely used. Locked dispensers are also available.

Wrapped more compactly than most bathroom tissue, each roll (Item No. 19375) has 1,000 sheets of 2-ply tissue<197>twice as much as conventional products, but in a standard size roll. Because changing rolls is required less frequently, substantial savings is achieved on labor. Fort James estimates that labor costs (at $13/hr) are reduced from $18.04 per Industry Standard case (31,200 sheets<197>48,000 sheets less 20% stub roll waste and less 15% theft) to $7.92 per Compact case (32,400 sheets).

Compact bathroom tissue has no core, outer wrap or corrugated box. Because its cube is dramatically smaller than conventional tissue, it takes up less space in the warehouse and in facilities where it will be used. The average weight of waste for an Industry Standard case is 75.0 ounces vs. Compact at 3 ounces. Trucking and shipping emissions are reduced because of the reduced volume of the product.

The only packaging used is a strong 3-mil polyethylene bag which is shrink-wrapped to the 32 rolls of tissue. The density of the tissue makes for a very compact parcel. The plastic bag can be reused as a trash can liner before final disposal.

Manufactured with 100% recycled content and 20% post consumer waste, this Compact tissue meets EPA guidelines.

Cost varies with the volume purchased and the distributor'scost, but is certainly competitive to the industry standard. Laura Terrell, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, reports that their cost per sheet is no more than they—ve paid for other bathroom tissue.

Be sure to check out this excellent new environmentally-sound bathroom tissue for your property.

Frances Alexay, Senior Marketing Manager, Fort James Corporation, 1650 Lake Cook Road, P. O. Box 89, Deerfield, IL 60015-0089, 847/236-6037, Fax 847/236-3756, e-mail: fran.alexay@fortjamesmail.com or 800/257-9744x33

JAN/FEB 1999

YOU Can Win!
YOU Can Help Save Mother Earth!

GHA is officially kicking off its Second Annual RECRUIT AND WIN! campaign which will run from January 1, 1999 through July 1, 1999. You can WIN The LOTTO just by encouraging other hoteliers to join —Green— Hotels Association<190>!

You are aware of the value of GHA membership, and your personal endorsement is, by far, our most effective recruiting tool. YOU are needed to reach out and recruit new members<197>you—ll be helping GHA grow and helping your colleagues develop professionally and environmentally. For your efforts, GHA is offering you the opportunity to win The LOTTO<197>one very special prize most generously donated by American Express Travel Services.

ONE PRIZE!

No key tags. No luggage tags. No letter openers. Just one BIG prize that YOU may have many chances to win.

THE LOTTO - The LOTTO will go to the winner of a drawing among all who have sponsored at least one new member. For each lodging guestroom you recruit, GHA will enter your name in The LOTTO drawing. The more new members you recruit, the greater your chances of winning The LOTTO.

YOU Can Win!
YOU Can Help Save the Planet!

PRIZE LEVELS - There is only one prize this year?The LOTTO.

The more new members you sponsor, the more chances you have to win the ONE BIG prize!

Member entrants will also receive international recognition in our newsletter and credit toward future awards. Each newsletter issue will announce the names of new members along with recognition of their Member Sponsors.

WHO CAN WIN? Any GHA member, member representative or member employee is eligible to recruit and win. Any new member recruited during this campaign is also eligible to recruit other members. Employees of —Green— Hotels Association?and their families are not eligible to enter the campaign.

Let your colleagues know how a —green— program has worked for your property. Reveal all the advantages<197>the dollar savings, the reduced costs, the extended life of equipment and supplies, the lessened environmental impact, the conserved resources, the enthusiasm developed among employees, the increased business, the accolades and encouragement of guests, the improved employee camaraderie, etc.

Get involved. Through teamwork, we can all be winners.

RECRUIT AND WIN!

The LOTTO Drawing: A $500 Travel Voucher will be awarded to the winner of the drawing. Use this voucher as you wish<197>for hotel accommodations, car rentals or airfare, etc.

WHEN THE PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED

The more new members you sponsor, the more chances you—ll have to win The LOTTO prize. Entry chances will be awarded monthly, and the total number of new members each person recruits will be totaled over the length of the campaign. Payment for the recruited memberships must be received before credit is given to a member sponsor. Payment may be made by check, money order or charged to American Express.

The $500 Travel Voucher will be awarded July 30, 1999.

ENTRIES FOR THE LOTTO DRAWING

For all recruited Partner (hotel) Members that you sponsor, your name will be entered in The LOTTO drawing the same number of times as each property has guest rooms. If you sponsor a B&B that has 4 rooms, your name will be entered into the drawing 4 times. If you sponsor a hotel that has 224 rooms, your name will be entered into the drawing 224 times. And, so forth.

Sponsorship of Ally Memberships (vendors offering approved environmental products and services), Educator Memberships and Environmentalist Memberships will result in your name being placed in The LOTTO drawing the following number of times:

Ally Members:

• Vendors with sales under $1 million - 15 times ea
• Vendors with sales over $1 million - 25 times ea

Educator Memberships:

• Students - 3 times ea
• Faculty and Public Employees - 5 times ea

Environmentalist Memberships (Organizations/ Associations):

• Up to 50 Employees - 15 times ea
• 51+ Employees - 25 times ea

HOW TO WIN!

How to Encourage Other Hoteliers to Join GHA:

• Jot down all the reasons you find your GHA membership valuable.
• From guest comment cards or conversations, make a list of positive comments from guests.
• Read over GHA'smembership brochure to key in on benefits and features GHA offers.
• Make a list of those friends and colleagues you plan to contact. Keep notes so you can follow-up.
• Make phone calls to hotelier friends and associates. Brief them on the greening of your property and your experiences with GHA. Ask if you (or GHA) could mail them a membership brochure and application form (with your name filled in as Member Sponsor).
• Mail copies of the membership brochure and add a handwritten personal note. (Yep, it'sa fact that the one thing received in the mail that is most apt to be read is a hand-written personal note!)
• Make announcements at area hotel meetings, and distribute copies of the membership brochure (with your name filled in as Member Sponsor).
• Write a brief article for your area lodging association newsletter and your area newspapers regarding your —green— experiences with GHA. Include your name and phone number on the last line<197>—For further information from a successful —Green— hotelier, call XX (your name) at XX (your property) Hotel, xxx/xxx-xxxx—.
• Suggest that prospective members check out GHA'ssuper Internet site at http://www.greenhotels.com.

Important Points:

• GHA guarantees the new member will save more money than the membership costs by incorporating ideas from our Guidelines and Ideas booklet.
• GHA'sInternet listing alone is worth the cost of membership.
• Member Hotels monitor their own environmental progress.
• Guests will praise their actions.
• It'sthe right thing to do.

How to ensure that You Receive Credit as the Member Sponsor for a new member:

• On our Membership Application Form in the dotted-line box (inside right page of the membership brochure), you—ll see a vertical line on the left that says —Member Sponsor?— with a blank line. Write your name and the name of your property on that blank line before copying and distributing to others. Feel free to make copies of the form or brochure for friends, colleagues, associates, hoteliers, vendors, etc.
• You may want to mail or fax us a list of those you have contacted regarding membership. We—ll then be able to match you with membership forms that might arrive without a sponsor'sname.

ODDS OF YOUR WINNING THE LOTTO?

PROBABLY COULD NOT BE BETTER! You have probably never entered a contest where you had better odds of winning The LOTTO! Because our association is young and the membership modest, your chances of winning The LOTTO are EXCELLENT!

QUESTIONS? Call —Green— Hotels Association at 713/789-8889 or send a fax to 713/789-9786 for clarification or if you have any questions regarding this campaign.

We suggest that the pages of this newsletter concerning our RECRUIT AND WIN! campaign be copied and distributed to all member employees. Please post these pages on your employee bulletin board.

SUGGESTIONS? Your suggestions are most welcome! Call us, fax us or mail us a note if you have some good ideas for this or future campaigns. This is our second member-get-a-member campaign, so we're still working out the kinks!

Get involved. Through teamwork, we can all be winners! We are ready and waiting to enter your name in The LOTTO $500 Travel Voucher drawing and to send you your prize!

NOV/DEC 1998

MOVABLE INSULATION IDEAS

Heat from the sun is added to interior living spaces through windows during the day while heat escapes through windows at night. It'seasy to lose 10% to 25% of heat through windows. Even more heat can be lost when a building has extensive window openings.

To prevent heat loss, a number of options are available in the form of movable insulation. They include draperies or curtains, window shades, shutters and panels. When used properly, these devices can increase or decrease net heat gain. They can allow heat gain during the day by adjusting or removing. They can also reduce heat loss when desired.

How is Heat Lost Through Windows?

To understand how heat is lost through windows, we need to first understand the parts of a window. A window is made up of the glazing (glass), sash (movable section of the window which surrounds the glazing), sill (the bottom horizontal board on which the bottom sash rests), and the side and head jambs (the side and top boards which meet the sash).

The amount of heat lost through windows depends on the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the windspeed outdoors, and the tightness of the window seal against the frame. The thickness of the glass and the materials of which the window is made also make a difference.

Heat moves from warmer areas to cooler areas. The transfer can take place via conduction, convection and radiation. When heat moves through materials molecule by molecule, i.e., the window frame is warmed from outside heat, conduction of heat is occurring. Most parts of the windows conduct heat, but the new solid-vinyl windows are much better then aluminum windows at not conducting heat. When a fluid, such as air, is warm and touches a surface that is cooler, the warm air particles become cooler and denser and sink. This is convection. The difference in the air'stemperature causes it to circulate, cooling the interior space and creating drafts. When warm objects transfer heat directly to cooler objects it is called radiation. A person standing near a cold window may feel chilled as the body warmth radiates heat to the colder window.

It is especially important to remember that warm air rises and cold air sinks.

Caulking and weather-stripping are first steps in reducing heat loss and air infiltration through leaky windows. Rope caulk can be used around windows that are to be reopened. It can be saved and reused. Silicone/acrylic caulk should be used around the complete window frame non-movable parts both inside and outside. Interior and exterior storm windows can be installed. Should window replacement be considered, low-emissivity glass windows are an option as are double and triple-pane windows. Solid vinyl window frames are another possibility.

Movable Insulation Options

If you are unable to sufficiently stop heat losses, you may want to consider movable insulation. Of the four options of draperies or curtains, window shades, shutters and panels, the shades, shutters and panels can be used inside or outside. Draperies or curtains are, of course, installed only on the inside. Interior window insulation is preferable to most because it is reachable, protected from the weather and is normally not prohibitively expensive. The exterior appearance of the property is also not impacted. Indoor movable insulation can be adapted so that it is aesthetically appealing.

Exterior options are usually preferable for reducing summer heat in warm climates. Exterior insulation rejects summer heat, improves security, requires little space and virtually eliminates window condensation. Seasonal weather extremes, however, can affect the outer appearance, so the material chosen should be attractive and weather-resistant. Exterior options, of course, must be installed and removed from the outside. However, by using a crank, pulley or other device, some exterior options can be adjusted from indoors.

Thermal draperies or curtains are conventional window coverings that save energy. These draperies incorporate a layer of insulating material that will decrease heat conduction through the window. A reflective liner or vapor retarder may also be incorporated into the draperies. If the draperies are hung all the way to the ceiling or if a cornice panel is installed at the top of the drapes, there will be less heat lost through the top opening between the drapery rod and the wall.

Window shades are especially convenient to use, are relatively inexpensive and allow the placement of plants and furniture hear the window. Thermal interior shades are usually either fiberfilled or quilted. Roll shades that are thick can be bulky and difficult to use. Roman insulative shades, which fold as they are raised, may be less difficult to use. Look for new thin membrane materials with high R-values which have recently come on the market, but be careful to not choose those that are highly flammable. Exterior shades (often made of metal) are designed to resist the wind'sand sun'sharsh effects. Foam-filled aluminum slatted shades are also available for exterior use.

Shutters are popular and especially eye-appealing. They also can be installed in a variety of ways. Shutters can be installed with hinges at the side, top or bottom. Tracks can be installed so that shutters can slide into place. Extra daylight can be reflected into a room if exterior shutters are hinged at the bottom and are left open.

Panels should cost less than other interior window insulation. Rigid, lightweight insulation such as polystyrene or polyurethane can make pop-in panels that fit snugly into the window frame. However, because these materials burn easily, the panels should be covered with a fire retardant. If the panels include a face seal that presses directly against the glass, there is little room for cold air convection or infiltration. During the day or when not needed, the panels can be removed and stored.

Skylights and clerestory windows (usually just under the roof line and high above the living space) need insulation to prevent heat loss at night in winter. Since warm air collects at the ceiling, skylights and clerestory windows are particularly vulnerable spots for heat loss. The type of insulation applicable here depends on how convenient it is to install, operate and remove. Shading for skylights from summer heat could include reflective films. Clerestory windows designed with an overhang will help reduce summer heat gain.

Sealing systems vary with the type of insulation system chosen. The tighter the seal to the window frame of any option you choose, the more effective the movable insulation is. Especially important is the seal at the bottom of the window because cold air collects at the bottom of the window. Draperies and curtains can be made to fit tighter to the window with hook-and-loop (Velcro) tape or flexible magnetic tape. Shutters can seal more tightly to windows with spring-loaded side clamp hinges or with side roller tracks in which the shutter slides. Soft foam sticky strips can be used in a number of situations. Weights can be added to the bottom roll of window shades for a better bottom seal at the sill. Edge seals can also include wooden clamp strips. Precise measurements are necessary to be sure that the seal fits each window exactly. As mentioned earlier, the bottom seal is the more important for insulating windows in cold weather.

Condensation on the window is an important concern when using interior movable insulation. When interior relative humidity reaches 40-50% (or 20-30% in extremely cold weather), moisture condensation on windows can be damaging. The moisture passes through the interior insulation and collects on windows. If the condensation forms frost, it can rot the window frame. Vapor retarders and seals that are very tight prevent moisture condensation on windows. Single-glazed windows or interior areas that normally have higher humidity (bathrooms and kitchen) are more susceptible to moisture condensation on the windows.

Movable insulation can, of course, involve a lot of handling, so it must be durable and easy to operate. If the system is convenient, it is more apt to be used. The chosen system should be simple and safe to handle, and should open and close easily. The insulation and edge seals will have to withstand rapid temperature changes, moisture, everyday wear and tear as well as prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun (which will fade colors). Be sure to consider the effect the movable insulation will have on the appearance of the room or building exterior when choosing a system.

Movable Insulation, U. S. Dept. of Energy, FS 190, 2nd Ed, August 1988, 4 p.

SEP/OCT 1998

TURNING POLICY INTO ACTION

By J. T. Kuhlman, Chief Operating Officer, Inter-Continental Hotels, London, England

In the seventies, when the environmental movement was in its infancy, skeptics raised a cautionary cry: —Ecology the last fad.— Fortunately for our fragile planet, environmental consciousness is now part of the fabric of American, indeed, global life. No longer the provenance of fringe groups, the environmental movement is now both global and mainstream encompassing organizations from the Girl Scouts to Greenpeace. Grassroots campaigns are geared to saving our shores, reclaiming the rainforests, or preserving endangered species. Environmental issues have become political with the growth of the Green Party and numerous lobbying groups, and brought to the forefront with the support of Vice President Gore.

Business has joined the effort, sometimes reluctantly, spurred by the twin forces of law and public opinion. Those same businesses have now found twin benefits: by fostering environmental consciousness, they are doing good, and, in terms of the bottom line, doing well.

These companies have found that a well-planned, far-reaching environmental program can generate substantial savings, positive publicity, and community goodwill. It'san important lesson, and one that we at Inter-Continental are still learning as we continue to develop our Environmental Action program.

Preserving the Product - That program first took shape in the late 1980s when Inter-Continental recognized that a commitment to conservation was essential not only to our success as a corporation, but to the future of the travel industry. Whether it be a beach, ski slope, or perfectly preserved piece of urban history, the environment is the tourism product. It makes no sense to destroy the very elements that attract visitors<197>a beautiful natural setting, fresh air, clean waters, and wildlife. Yet everywhere we see the results that short-sightedness, greed and indifference have had on tourism. The public has seen those results too. And increasingly, they are voting with their wallets, spending their money in destinations that are committed to staying green.

A study conducted by the Travel Industry Association of America charted the rise of ecotourism and the increase in consumers willing to support environmentally responsible travel companies. In 1991, more than 85 percent of U.S. travelers said they were very likely to support or patronize travel companies that helped to preserve the environment. The report estimated the potential for the ecotourism market to be at least 43 million Americans.

We also saw that while consumers were willing to support eco-friendly companies, they were also quick to lay the blame for the current environmental crisis at the door of business and government. A recent Gallup/Advertising Age survey showed that 70 percent of the consumers interviewed said that business and government were primarily responsible for deteriorating conditions in the quality of American life and should be responsible for improving these conditions. A survey by the Roper Organization indicated that 69 percent felt that current environmental regulations should be strengthened. This report also showed that Americans are changing their behavioral as well as their buying patterns. Nearly 50 percent regularly recycle plastic, glass and cans and 25 percent read labels to determine if products are environmentally friendly.

But consumers also indicated confusion as to how environmental issues should be handled, citing contradictory information from myriad sources as to the seriousness of the problem. Our customers and our employees were demanding not only that we take responsibility?they were demanding that we assume a leadership role in solving these problems.

Seizing the Initiative - Inter-Continental needed a program that addressed several critical issues: the protection of the tourism product in the worldwide destinations we served, the need to effectively manage the high cost of waste disposal and energy at all of our properties, and the need to educate our employees, communities, and customers.

We began by assessing every hotel in the Inter-Continental system in terms of its commitment to environmental preservation and waste and energy management. We used this information to develop a program that would encourage every department in every hotel to take the initiative in preserving natural resources.

The result was the lodging industry'sfirst Environmental Operating Manual. It provides clear guidelines on responsible purchasing, energy and waste management, and community action. We believe that this information is so important, we took the unprecedented step of sharing the manual with our competitors, potentially impacting more than two million hotel rooms worldwide. In 1992, in cooperation with the Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, we became founding members of the International Hotels Environmental Initiative. Working with eleven other hotel companies, we agreed to set up an independent forum to develop practical guidelines for hotels and to improve the industry'senvironmental practices on a worldwide basis.

Saving Resources, Saving Money - Providing guidelines is the first step. Setting firm goals for both the corporation and individual hotels and assessing performance on a regular basis is the real test of commitment. Today, we review each hotel'senvironmental activities as closely as we audit its financial performance. We soon found that one had much to do with the other<197>responsible management of our resources has had a major impact on the bottom line. For example, in 1994, we set a corporate goal to reduce energy consumption in our hotels by $3 million. We exceeded that goal, saving a total of $3.25 million in energy costs alone.

Hotels generate huge amounts of waste that is costly in terms of the environment and operational expenses. You may be saying as you read this article, —We recycle cans, we stopped using styrofoam cups, we give leftover food to a local shelter,— and so on. That'sa good start, but it doesn'tbegin to cover what hoteliers could be doing to cut waste, costs and environmental damage. Since we began our environmental initiative, I have been overwhelmed by the ingenuity shown by hotels in every part of our beleaguered planet, in reducing, reusing and recycling everything from lawn cuttings to computer cartridges.

Obviously, a large organization such as Inter-Continental, with more than 170 hotels worldwide, can have a major impact. But many of the ideas and procedures we have developed can be adapted for a small inn, boutique hotel, or bed & breakfast. For example:

• The Hotel Inter-Continental Toronto recycled and sold newspapers distributed to guests, earning $1,000 in six months.
• Our Toronto property also converted napkins and tablecloths into kitchen staff hats, neckties and aprons, saving more than $2,000 per year.
• Printing of stationery for all North American hotels is centralized, using recycled paper that can be recycled again, since the company logo is made from heat thermography rather than gold foil. The ink used is vegetable-based rather than the more toxic petroleum ink. Total annual savings: $104,000.
• The Hotel Inter-Continental New Orleans reduced its cardboard waste volume by 75 percent, cutting waste and removal bills. The hotel earns $600 per month selling recyclable materials and saves $1,000 per month recovering china and silver. In 1994, the hotel saved $79,000 through recycling.
• The Willard Inter-Continental Washington recycled paper and converts used phone books into hydroseeding mulch. The hotel has reduced the use of plastic wrapping and cardboard in its laundry services.
• Food waste is kept to a minimum. Our hotels in North America regularly provide food to community food banks and shelters. The Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental San Francisco gives food scraps to area farmers to feed livestock.
• Environmental awareness doesn'tstop at the door of the executive office. Both our regional sales offices and the offices of each hotel have found imaginative ways to cut costs. Printer cartridges can be returned to the manufacturer for recycling. Paper, including phone books, directories, obsolete manuals, collateral materials, magazines and computer paper is separated and returned to the recycling center. Pens are made of recycled plastic.
• In the excessive —80s, overabundant and overpackaged bathroom amenities were de rigueur. Today, all our North American hotels offer bath amenities in packaging made entirely from recycled soda bottles. The paper packages are tinted with water or vegetable-based biodegradable dyes, without foil stamping or metallic ink. The products are vegetable-based and not tested on animals. Annual savings: $300,000
• Energy Management - In any hotel, energy costs are among the highest and hardest to control. Yet turnaround of energy management at any level and any hotel type is possible with some upfront investment. With one of the worst water and energy efficiency records in our system, the Yokohama Grand Inter-Continental was spending $700,000 a month on electricity, gas, and water. This was due not just to the high cost of energy in Japan, but to inadequacies in the building'sheating, insulation and kitchens. The solution was two-fold. A quarter of a million dollars was invested in upgrading air conditioning and heating systems. The next and more crucial step was to share responsibility for energy conservation among the various department heads. Each took on educating and motivating staff members to take responsibility for cutting energy consumption. They succeeded. In 1994, the Yokohama hotel'senergy and water costs were down 20 percent, saving a total of $1.6 million.
• The Willard Inter-Continental Washington replaced more than 7,000 light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones. This alone resulted in annual savings of $49,000. The Willard also instituted a comprehensive energy management program. It'sestimated that the initial investment of $206,681 will be recouped in 36 months.

Defining the Environment - In choosing an effective environmental program for your hotel, it'simportant to have a clear vision of what your environment is. Certainly, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the overall quality of natural resources are at the environment'score. But a truly inclusive view will also preserve and protect the cultural and historic aspects of a particular environment.

Throughout its 50-year history, Inter-Continental has respected the cultures of the countries where we pioneered hotel development. In many parts of the Third World, the Inter-Continental property was the first modern luxury hotel. Often the only game in town, we could have offered clean, contemporary, cookie-cutter accommodations that travelers would have found very acceptable. But, we wanted our hotels to stand out for more than their modernity. Consequently, the design of each hotel reflected the customs and culture of each destination with architectural details and the use of local art, crafts, fabrics and furnishings. Guests were assured of all the —mod cons.— They were also assured of a sense of place and an authentic travel experience. We could justly claim that —When You—ve Seen One, You Haven'tSeen Them All,— to quote an advertising slogan that we used in the past. This policy has been a crucial element in developing Inter-Continental'sbrand identity and customer loyalty. Our guests know that they won'twake up in a room in Buenos Aires that'sidentical to the one they just left in Berlin.

Inter-Continental is also committed to the restoration of historic buildings and in the past decade has restored 20 landmark hotels in 10 countries. A former Parisian Palace, Sydney'sColonial Treasury Buildings, Washington'sWillard, the —Residence of Presidents,— and San Francisco'slegendary Mark Hopkins are just a few of the historic buildings returned to their past grace and grandeur. These projects have been financial as well as architecturally successful. In restoring these valued landmarks, we have also created goodwill and a unique product that can be enjoyed by both our guests and the local community.

Positive Publicity - Being —Eco-active— makes an important statement about the kind of company you have<197>your values and your integrity. Our efforts continue to win our company an array of environmental awards (29 at last count) and very positive publicity. This publicity is not only good for business, it recognizes the contributions of employees and establishes hotels in a leadership role in their communities. Most important, it sends a message on environmental responsibilities and motivates other businesses and individuals to take action.

Education and inspiration are really at the core of a successful environmental program. Our world is in crisis and our employees, colleagues, and communities need to know that. They also need to know what they can do to solve this crisis.

Think Globally, Act Locally - In 1996, Inter-Continental celebrated its 50th anniversary with new environmental initiatives. We will continue to set, and I hope, exceed, standards of performance for our hotels, while increasing our efforts to address environmental issues as they affect the travel industry. There are many opportunities to get involved in our industry not just with monetary sponsorship, but also with the commitment of time sharing of resources, and expertise. We recently co-sponsored a two-minute educational film, —Commitment to Eco-tourism,— which encourages responsible travel and respect for the environment. The film, featuring the noted explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, has been distributed in movie theaters and via television satellite.

We are proud sponsors of Agenda 21. The World Tourism Council and the World Travel and Tourism Council has devised an action plan to meet the Rio Earth Summit Agenda 21 recommendations. Plans call for travel companies to tackle issues such as energy conservation, waste management, reducing waste waters, and the use of hazardous substances. We have firmly committed time, resources, and financial support to the crucial effort.

At Inter-Continental, we have seen that our world is indeed a small one and that we are all<197>our employees, our communities, and our customers<197>responsible for its survival.

Reprinted with permission of J. T. Kuhlman and HSMAI Marketing Review

JUL/AUG 1998

BASICS OF DEREG

Deregulation of Electricity

Currently, our electric companies are monopolies and provide all services related to electricity<197>power generation, transmission, distribution, metering and billing. The pre-deregulation prices for these services are controlled by our state regulators, and are based on the utilities— investment plus a profit.

If and when deregulation of electricity begins in your state, different businesses may be competing for different parts of your business. In some states, only the generation of power will be deregulated. Each individual and business will be able to buy from their local utility or choose to purchase from a wholesaler, aggregator or broker who may offer special pricing tailored for special groups. Of course, high-volume electricity users will wield more power at the bargaining table.

The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 deregulated the wholesale markets for electricity, but acceleration didn'ttake place until 1994. The California Public Utilities Commission chose to move quickly, and deregulation is now in place there. Over 200 companies have registered to sell electricity in California.

Cost per kilowatt has ranged from 3 cents in Idaho to 9 cents in New York.

Natural gas deregulation, already in place in many areas, is revealing important savings.

One of the most interesting things we—ve learned in this deregulation study is: Our state governing bodies that set the rates for our electric utilities have done so basically in accordance with the investments the utilities have made in order to provide electricity. This method has encouraged our utilities to overbuild their systems and build them as expensively as possible. The more dollars spent<197>the higher rates can go. They now want to be paid for these uneconomical plants in which they have possibly a $100 billion investment. These are called —stranded— costs, and it'sestimated that it will take 4 to 5 years to pay down these expenses. After these costs are paid back, electricity prices may stabilize at about 30% less than today'sprices.

So far, 18 states have deregulated, and 17 of those have received pay-down help. Once stranded costs are paid down, the competition for your energy dollars should be stronger.

As mentioned earlier, when we pay our electric bills, we're paying for generation, transmission, distribution, metering and billing. When we're told we can possibly expect a 30% reduction in our electric costs, remember that electricity is only one portion of our bills. So, we may see a 30% reduction in the cost of generating electricity only. The cost to us of transmission, distribution, etc. are expected to remain the same.

Every power generating company will pay an access fee for each kilowatt hour. At this point, each state will determine the mechanics of deregulation for their state. However, there is some talk of the Federal government taking over the deregulation of electricity.

Some simple, expert advice concerning deregulation of electricity for hotels:

• Keep up with what is going on in your state.
• Let your state hotel and motel association keep you apprised of developments.
• Know exactly how much electricity is used before you begin negotiation.
• Any property that has heaviest usage in the evening hours might do well to team up with a business whose heaviest usage is during the day
• Consider joining or forming a buying group for better pricing.
• Clearly understand your pattern of consumption. Is usage heaviest day or night? Periods of the day? Weather? Seasons? Occupancy?
• What operational segments of your property are the heaviest users?
• Ask your electric utility to perform an audit. It will probably be free.
• Ask your electric utility to advise you on how to reduce usage.

Value-added services must be considered before choosing a provider. Price isn'teverything. Some services you may be interested in are:

• Having one person (possibly a broker) handle all communications regarding questions and problems.
• Receiving one bill for all properties in a chain is called —bill consolidation—, and can be arranged. Cutting one check for the total charges after consolidating the bills is another possibility.
• Wireless metering allows for remote reading as often as required for more detailed information about your energy usage. It provides more informed data regarding energy inefficiency and usage periods. CellNet Data Systems in San Carlos, CA is one provider of wireless metering technology.

Deregulation does not have our utilities jumping for joy. No one would choose more competition. However, companies who want to get in on this $200 billion annual market are pretty excited.

Even though the utilities know deregulation is inevitable, that doesn'tstop them from using every delay tactic possible.

Delay is not good. Any state that delays deregulation will probably not be on the short list of businesses and industries considering moving to that state. The possible loss of important tax bases is a critical issue.

Keep up with how deregulation is impacting the hospitality industry in other states that may be moving more quickly than your own. This issue is expected to be very important to your bottom line in the future.

MAY/JUN 1998

HEATING YOUR SWIMMING POOL WITH SOLAR ENERGY

Remember the last time you picked up a water hose that had been lying in the sun, and the water that came out of it was warm? Well, that'sthe basis of solar heating of water for swimming pools. Energy from the sun is absorbed by the hose and transferred to the water inside it. The hose acts as a solar collector.

Being able to heat swimming pool water allows for a longer season to use a swimming pool. Heating water for a swimming pool via solar energy is one of the most economical of all the solar power technologies. Especially if fossil fuel costs are becoming prohibitive for heating a pool, you may want to consider solar heating.

Most of the information we're giving you is general. Since the specifics of each situation are so different, your particular situation will need to be analyzed.

Solar water heating for a swimming pool involves heating thousands of gallons of water to a relatively low temperature (around 80<198>F), while heating water for a domestic hot water supply (a hot water heater) involves heating less than 20 gallons per guest per day to about 130<198>F. A domestic solar hot water system requires a large storage tank, while a swimming pool serves as its own storage tank. Be aware that the same solar water heating system used for a pool cannot be used for a domestic water supply because of the different needs.

To use solar power to heat swimming pool water, the water is pumped from the pool through a filter, to the solar collectors (where the sun'senergy heats it), to a fossil-fueled backup heater (if there is one), to an automatic chlorinator (if there is one) and then back to the pool.

Solar collectors for swimming pools are usually black polypropelene plastic in sizes 4—x10— or 4—x12— and may be rigid or have individual pipes running lengthwise. They are designed to handle about 6 gpm (gallons per minute) or better, which is considered to be a relatively high flow rate since domestic hot water systems normally handle 1 to 3 gpm.

Other types of pool collectors may be flexible rubber mats, arrays of black plastic pipe or tube-on-sheet panels made of copper or aluminum. The rubber mats have several benefits that the other collectors do not. The rubber mats are glued directly to the surface on which they are mounted while plastic and metal collectors are attached with lag screws and straps. Rubber mats are particularly desirable for mounting on tile or metal roofs, on which penetration would be difficult and undesirable. Also, rubber mats will not freeze.

Glass covered or glazed collectors are commonly used for domestic water heating and are usually considered cost prohibitive for pool water heating. Plastic collectors for swimming pool water heating contain ultraviolet screening materials which inhibit the sun'senergy from breaking down the plastic. These inhibitors assist in extending the life of the collectors to 10 to 15 years.

A thermostat control will make the operation automatic when sufficient solar heat is available. This control switch will sense the difference in temperature between the control panel and the swimming pool water. A bypass control can make the operation manual if desired. As freeze protection, most solar systems drain down into the pool when the pump is not in operation. Should the pool water become too warm, it can be circulated through the system at night so that it will lose heat.

Solar collectors should ideally face south and should always be placed in an unshaded area<197>normally, a sloped roof. The area chosen for the collectors should be unshaded at least from 10 am to 4 pm. An orientation up to 45<198> east or west of due south will not significantly reduce performance. Solar collectors should be tilted at latitude plus 15<198> for optimum wintertime pool heating.

The size of the collector area necessary varies widely. As a starting reference point, in northern Florida the collector area needed is usually about the same size as the pool surface area, about 80% of the pool area in central Florida and about 65% in southern Florida. Of course, a great deal depends on how many months of the year you expect the pool to be in use. The size of the pool surface area is used rather than the number of gallons of water in the pool because 90% of heat lost is through surface evaporation. 10% is lost through the walls of the pool.

Following are considerations that will make a difference in the size of your collector panel:

• Is the pool in the sun all day or is it shaded?
• Is the pool blocked from the wind?
• Is the use of the pool considered to be high, medium or low?
• What will be the distance from the solar collectors to the pool equipment?
• What is the distance from the pool equipment to the pool?
• Will the piping be buried or above ground?
• What will be the orientation of the solar collectors?

Be sure that the collectors you choose have been tested by an independent testing facility such as Desert Sunshine Exposure Tests, Inc. or the Florida Solar Energy Center. The manufacturer should warranty the collectors for 10 to 15 years.

Using a pool cover retains more than two-thirds of the collected heat needed to maintain a comfortable swimming temperature. Pool covers prohibit evaporation which allows the greatest loss of heat. Not to use a pool cover is a lot like heating a house without a roof<197>the heat dissipates quickly. They also keep the pool clean which reduces the cost of chemicals and filter maintenance. Transparent or lightly translucent covers are best because they allow the sun'sheat to pass through and heat the pool water. Covers also prevent heat loss at night. Of course, for safety reasons, covers must be completely removed before swimming. Manual and powered rollers are available for removing and replacing the cover.

Many factors make a difference in the cost of a pool solar heating system<197>location of the pool, ease of installation, financing costs, length of pool season desired and building code requirements. Quotes from several installers will be desirable when considering purchase. Generally speaking, an average installation, installed by a reputable dealer, with name-brand equipment, will cost between $8 and $10 per square foot of collectors. Very little or no maintenance should be required for a properly installed solar pool heating system. However, regular maintenance of the pool and its filtration system is extremely important. Proper pool pH and chlorine levels must be maintained. Chemicals should be added to the pool water as far away from the collector intake as possible. The pool filter should be cleaned as frequently as the manufacturer recommends to ensure adequate flow. At the beginning of each heating season, check the system for proper operation<197>a properly operating system should feel cool to the touch. The most efficient operation will provide a temperature rise of 3<198>F to 5<198>F in the water passing through the collectors.

There are approximately 800,000 swimming pools in Florida. The Florida solar pool heating industry in Florida is mature and has a track record of over 20 years of experience. We suggest that you contact the Florida Solar Energy Center, 1679 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922-5703, 407/638-1000, Fax 407/638-1010, http://www.fsec.ucf.edu for further information on solar heating your swimming pool.

As mentioned earlier, solar energy can also be used to heat domestic hot water. It can also be used to convert the sun'senergy to electricity. So, there are three main solar energy systems, and we—ll discuss the other two in future articles.

Diagrams on p. 2 courtesy of Florida Solar Energy Center, Papers FSEC-EN-6-97 and FSEC-GP-13-81.
David Sawchak, Morningstar Enterprises, Inc., P. O. Box 55925, Houston, TX 77255, P/F 713/686-1762

MAR/APR 1998

TEXTILES AND CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY

By Mark T. Petruzzi, Green Seal, Washington, DC

Textiles are an unobtrusive yet integral part of the lodging industry. Their impact, both good and bad, is quite noticeable. From carpet fumes that cause headaches to sheets treated with formaldehyde that cause allergic reactions, there are hidden environmental effects. With the growing awareness of chemical sensitivity and consumers seeking healthier lifestyles, the industry can provide an environmentally responsible home away from home.

Environmentally responsible, non-toxic textiles can be defined several ways. Green Seal recommends using the following criteria when selecting textiles:

• Organically Grown - Cotton fibers constitute one-half of the world'stextile consumption, and cotton is one of the top pesticide-sprayed crops. Some 800 million pounds of pesticides are dumped yearly on US cotton crops alone. Fertilizers and defoliants are used on plants before the cotton is harvested, and toxic treatments continue throughout the manufacturing processes. Organic cotton growers produce chemical-free cotton by following specific guidelines from certification programs. Look for cotton certified as organic.
• AVOID BLEACHING - Bleaching of cotton is done with harsh chemicals similar to those used in papermaking. Chlorine bleaching of cotton results in water pollution and the addition of more chemicals to the cotton itself. Mill effluents contaminate rivers and get into the water and food supply. Green cotton is a label often used to describe unbleached, cream-colored, cotton. Products made from this cotton provide the natural color scheme popular with today'sdesigners.
• NEED FOR DYEING - Dyeing requires solvents that release smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Heavy metals are used to fix colors to the cloth, since dyes do not naturally adhere to cotton. This produces a toxic sludge that poses disposal difficulties and ends up polluting waterways. For colors other than cream, Fox Fibre has developed a naturally-colored line of cotton. This cotton grows in colors such as willow green, mocha and tan. These colors were traditionally grown by native peoples and were nearly lost when dyeable white cotton began to dominate manufacturing. In products made from this cotton, the color deepens with each washing.
• Toxic Aesthetic Treatments - To produce a wrinkle-free, stiff, shrink-proof, fire-retardant cloth, manufacturers use additional toxins such as formaldehyde. These chemicals emit fumes which can lead to respiratory problems, dizziness, rashes, lethargy and nausea. Many cloth products which have been treated with formaldehyde have instructions to be opened only in ventilated areas. One step you can take to conserve time and energy, in addition to protecting guests, is to use a traditional curing method to smooth sheets. Sheets are taken out of the dryer slightly damp, folded immediately, and left for about eight hours. This leaves them crisp and smooth and completely eliminates the need for wrinkle-free finishes and ironing.
• Environmentally Sensitive, Chemical-Free Rooms - While purchasing environmentally responsible textiles on a hotelwide basis may be an expensive proposition, many hotels are setting up one floor of green rooms on a trial basis and charging a bit more for them to cover the initial investment in environmentally responsible products. While the best possible product will have all of the mentioned characteristics, your establishment has its own product requirements and concerns which may lead to buying a sheet that meets only two of the four criteria. This is an excellent way to build up to environmentally responsible purchasing, and your guests will appreciate any efforts you make.

JAN/FEB 1998

QUIET BATHROOM VENT FANS?

Is there really such a thing? Unfortunately, many bathroom vent fans are so loud, it sound like you're standing on a airport runway when a jumbo jet is taking off.

The noise can be annoying to your guests when the fan wiring is connected to the bathroom light fixture. Then, whenever the bathroom light or electric heater are turned on, listening to the vent fan is mandatory. A downside of this joined wiring is that if the guest leaves the bathroom light on all night as a night light, the hotel'selectrical expenses will be doubled.

The vent fan is absolutely necessary in any bathroom to remove the moisture that accompanies showering, bathing, etc. Windows that open are helpful, but vent fans remove the moisture more quickly and efficiently. If the moisture is not removed, the growth of mold and mildew are encouraged. Mold and mildew, of course, lead to uncleanliness, unsightliness, odors and deterioration of the property.

Selecting a quiet bathroom vent fan is not so easy. Normally, we can'ttell by looking how noisy a fan will be when installed in a particular situation.

Sizing of the fan is the first important step. Measure the square feet of the room to be vented. Check the airflow capacity specification (cubic feet per minute or cfm) of the fan. Be sure that the fan selected exceeds the square footage measurement of the room by about 10%. Remember, that the larger the fan and motor, the noisier and more bothersome it'sgoing to be. You don'twant it to suck the wallpaper off the wall!

Check the sound level of any prospective fan selection. The sound level of a fan is rated in —sones—, with the quietest rated at 0.5 sones<197>a quiet whisper.

The design of the fan casing can help reduce noise. Sound absorbing scrolls and other shapes molded into the casing and air chamber help to quiet a fan. Motor mounts that are flexible assist too.

Though most bathroom vent fans are mounted at the ceiling, there are other options. For extra quietness, a remote in-line vent fan or tube fan can be mounted in the attic if the situation permits. The fan and motor are then mounted well above the bath ceiling. Flexible dryer duct is extended from the fan to the bath ceiling opening. Double dipping is possible here by extending a T-duct fitting from the fan. Dryer duct can then be extended to both the bath area and the shower or even to two separate bathrooms for double venting.

Bathroom vent fan/light kits are available that work on a motion sensor. The motion of a person in the room can turn on both the light and the fan. A preset time delay will turn off the light/fan after the person exits the room. Switches that override the motion detector are included.

One new Smartsense vent fan model with a motion sensor also has a humidity sensor which turns the fan on automatically when humidity in the room necessitates.

A guide to 13 superquiet bathroom vent fans listing airflow capacities, sound levels, features, prices and a sizing chart is available for $2. Include a business-size self-addressed stamped envelope when ordering from James Dulley, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.

When choosing a bathroom vent fan, choose one that will be as quiet as possible while doing its job.

Dulley, James, Cut Your Utility Bills, The Dallas Morning News, March 28, 1997

NOV/DEC 1997

FLUSHING —GREEN— . . . INSTALLING 1.6-GALLON TOILETS IN YOUR PROPERTY

By Wendy L. Corpening, W. L. Corpening and Associates, 2882 Love Creek Road, Avery, CA
95224, 209/795-1758, Fax 209/795-5624, e-mail: wendylou@goldrush.com

By this time, there are probably very few, if any, property owners or managers who do not know about the 1.6-gallon toilets. What you know may be hearsay and could be prejudiced, either in favor of or against these relatively new water-saving, plumbing fixtures. Or, you may have actual experience with these fixtures, either at home, in installations you—ve already completed or while visiting other properties where they have been installed. Comments about these fixtures range from —They don'twork, NONE of them work— to —These toilets are fantastic. I haven'thad any problems with them and customers love them—. So, why the disparity? Let'slook at some of the important things to consider when installing these water and sewer-saving toilets and how you can gain the most benefit with the fewest problems. For the most part, the following information is relevant regardless of whether this is a new or retrofit installation.

Background

The 1.6-gallon toilet was introduced from Sweden in 1981 and at that time it was thought to be an aberration. No one in the United States really believed a toilet could flush adequately with less than three-and-a-half gallons of water, certainly not most plumbers. Perseverance on the part of two or three foreign manufacturers and cooperation from the plumbing standards committee in the U.S., eventually brought about acceptance based on performance. The standards were changed, and by January of 1997 the entire country was under mandate to install these water-saving devices in both residential and commercial situations.

Toilets by definition

Flushometer-valve toilet: This is a combination of a toilet bowl and a flushometer valve attached to the top of the bowl. When the valve lever is tripped, water is forced through the bowl and into the sewer pipe. These tankless toilets are typically used in public restrooms off of lobbies or restaurants. They may be found in guestrooms; they are either wall or floor mounted.

Tank-type toilets: The basic pre-1.6-gallon toilet is the one or two-piece, tank-type toilet. These are the types found in most residential installations. Toilets can be floor mounted or (rarely) wall hung. Most are —gravity—-type toilets, utilizing water released from the tank to force waste into the sewer pipes. The 1.6-gallon toilets are also available in a —pressure-assisted— type. These toilets are more expensive (in the $200 range), but provide a higher velocity flush action by utilizing trapped air in the tank to —boost— the flush. Noise of the —assisted— flush may be an important consideration.

Retrofitting 1.6-gallon toilets

There are many things to bear in mind when retrofitting toilets in existing buildings. What works extremely well at one property may have disastrous results at another. Some of the factors to consider include the following:

• High-rise buildings: A building'swater pressure is a critical aspect of performance of 1.6-gallon fixtures as well as those that use more water, particularly with the flushometer-valve (or tankless) toilets. Although most high-rise buildings utilize booster pumps to raise the pressure above the fourth floor and then regulators to keep it constant, pressures can still fluctuate; and anytime flowing water pressure drops below 25 psi at the fixture when it is being flushed, there may be problems with evacuation of waste and a second or even third flush may be required. Check building water pressure prior to installation of 1.6-gallon toilets.
• Existing plumbing problems: If a given property has consistently experienced sewer line problems and clogging, installation of 1.6-gallon toilets may serve to exacerbate the difficulty. Sewer line problems can be caused by a variety of things, including inadequate pipe slopes, deteriorated pipes, older pipes made from materials which tend to build up waste (such as clay or metal pipes). Sometimes the geography of an area is such that the ground will shift or sink and pipes may have —sags— or —bellies— where waste is trapped and builds up. In these instances, even the high-volume toilets may experience difficulty transporting paper and solids. In hotel and motel situations, where the types of articles put into the toilet are unknown, replacing 3.5, 5 or even 7-gallon-per-flush toilets with the 1.6-models may cause disastrous maintenance nightmares.
• Typical retrofit: Let'ssay your property has a plumbing system that is in reasonably good repair, the pipes are PVC or ABS (plastic pipes are smoother and transport waste more easily), and there have been only normal maintenance problems. In motels that are single story where gravity-type (not flushometer-valve) toilets are installed, there has been a high level of success when retrofitting with 1.6-gallon, gravity-type toilets. It is important, however, to select gravity-flush, tank-type toilets that have a good performance record in these types of installations and to avoid toilets that are known to be poor performers. All toilets sold in the United States must meet or exceed the performance standards of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Unfortunately, the tests required to meet these standards do not always equate with what happens in real-world situations. Word of mouth is always a good indicator of performance; if you know of properties where the 1.6-gallon toilets have been installed, talk to the managers and maintenance personnel. You will definitely get best information from people who have experience with various models and brands.

In high-rise hotels, even where the building water pressure is adequate, there may be problems with the gravity-type toilets. One example of the ingenuity of a hotel manager faced with a problem installation occurred in Southern California. This was a high class hotel with a variety of clientele who expected quality in guest appointments. The City was offering a $100 rebate for toilet retrofits, and the manager saw an opportunity to realize savings both in the installed costs of the fixtures and in the lowered water and sewer costs. The guestrooms on all ten stories were retrofitted with gravity-flush, tank-type toilets and within days there was a dramatic increase in clogs in the internal waste lines. The only culprit possible was the 1.6-gpf toilets.

Would they have to change all the toilets again, replacing them with the old 3.5-gallon models in order to solve the problem? No. The astute manager replaced only one toilet per floor at the end of each run of toilets, and the problems were resolved. By maintaining a 3.5-gallon flush volume at the end of the run, enough additional water entered the line to keep the waste from the 1.6-gallon toilets moving down the line.

The affect of various clientele on 1.6-gallon toilet installations

Whatever information you have been able to amass about various customer'shabits while occupying guestrooms will also apply once you have retrofitted your toilet fixtures. If your hotel or motel has a high family occupancy and you find an odd assortment of objects (from diapers to rubber ducks) occasionally clogging the toilets, you will still have the same problems with the water-saving models. The problems may or may not be increased by the reduced amount of water used to flush. Normally, in hotels where there is a high family occupancy, we would recommend the pressure-assisted, tank-type toilets. Although they are more expensive, they do handle clogs very efficiently<197>usually much better than the water-guzzling toilets that were removed. Remember, however, that no toilet can be expected to transport toys, diapers, shampoo bottles, razors etc. from the bowl to the sewer main. At some point, there are bound to be clogs and problems.

Typically, hotels and motels with business clients do not experience the same degree of toilet-clogging problems, and routine maintenance will usually resolve any minor difficulties.

Which toilet is right for your property?

As mentioned, the type of toilet you choose should be dictated both by the type that is currently installed (you wouldn'twant to go to the expense of putting in flushometer-valve types where you now have tank-type models), and by the use patterns of the clientele at your establishment. Deciding exactly which toilet brand and model to use is not so easy. There are at least a hundred different 1.6-gallon toilets to choose from, and many of them are very good and some are terrible. Whenever possible, put in the latest models and parts the manufacturer offers. Often times a particular model or brand will not exhibit problems in the test lab or factory, but when installed in the field will not perform adequately.

Manufacturers obviously want to get rid of old merchandise that is on its wholesalers— shelves, so even though a new, improved model may be available from the manufacturer, it may not be in stock at your supplier. If possible, try to determine from the supplier or manufacturer if you are purchasing the latest model. Unfortunately, most manufacturers do not change model numbers or names when slight or even major modifications are made to a toilet, so the only way you have of knowing when it was made is from the date stamp usually found on the inside of the tank or tank lid. Again, it is helpful to get input from other hotel managers about what works and what doesn—t.

The situation with flushometer-valve-type toilets can be even more complicated. Although there aren'tnearly as many brands or models to choose from, the combination of bowl and valve that is installed can make a big difference in performance. During a study in Seattle in 1996, it was found that, at that time, the American Standard wall-hung bowl and Sloan Royal LC (low consumption) valve worked slightly better than the Kohler bowl/Zurn valve combination. It was determined that one of the reasons for this was a manufacturing design problem with the Kohler bowl; this design has now been altered to eliminate the problem but the model number and name remain the same.

Installation Tips

Ultra-Low-Flush (1.6-gallon) toilets don'trequire any special skills for proper installation with the exception of the pressure-assisted models which function somewhat differently than standard toilets. However, when the toilet is mounted to the discharge-pipe flange, whether it be a tank-type, flushometer-valve- type, wall or floor model, it is critical that it be centered exactly, with no offset in the sealing ring. Any slight —shelf— or nodule of wax could act like a barrier for solid waste and paper, and with the reduced water it is easier for waste to build up in areas of the trapway and pipe that are not clean and smooth. Using high quality sealing rings is also important.

Check the interior of the toilet trapway for any porcelain —nodules— that may be left from the manufacturing process. These lumps can cause hangups resulting in clogging.

With flushometer-valve toilets, make sure the water supply (angle stop) is in the full —on— position after installation.

If the toilet has severe splashing problems after installation, turn down the angle stop until the splashing is reduced to an acceptable level or eliminated. If this compromises the flush action, contact your plumbing supplier or the manufacturer of the valve or valve parts; your description of the problem will help determine what resolution will be the most effective. Usually, changing parts in the valve will eliminate splashing problems if all else fails.

Although you may rebel against putting the little —reminder cards— in the guest rooms, they can be very helpful in explaining to your clientele that the toilets are water savers and need to be treated with some care. A typical card might read: —We are pleased to inform you that your room has been equipped with the most efficient type of water-saving plumbing fixtures. When using the toilet, please refrain from putting anything in the bowl other than human waste and toilet paper—.

What do you do with all those old toilets now that you—ve changed them?

Most cities that offer rebates for installation of 1.6-gallon toilets also have programs for disposal of the old fixtures. Normally these arrangements are made at the time the rebate is requested. However, if you live in an area where there is no rebate offered, you may be able to find recyclers that will remove the toilets for a small fee. Nearly all the materials in toilets can be recycled. Most of the tank'sinternal parts are plastic or metal, and the porcelain can be crushed and used for excellent road base. (It is rumored that one city in California proudly resurfaced a street with toilet materials and re-named it Commode Ave!)

Should you go ahead with a retrofit?

Although there are many things to consider when looking at toilet retrofits, in the long run the installation almost always pays off. Depending on your water and sewer rates, thousands of dollars can be saved annually by reducing water use and sewer outflows. When rebates are offered, a toilet retrofit can have a very short payback period. After that, it'smoney in the bank.

About the author:

Wendy L. Corpening is a nationally-known authority in water and energy conservation with a broad-based knowledge of efficient products, technologies and methods for residential, commercial and institutional applications. In her role as U.S. Marketing Director for the Swedish company, Ifo Sanitar, she was responsible for introducing the ultra-low flush, 1.6-gallon toilet to the US in 1981. She is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

She has worked with the California Department of Water Resources and the Rocky Mountain Institute in an advisory capacity. Her most recent work has included efficiency studies for the cities of San Jose, California and Seattle, Washington.

SEP/OCT 1997

DETECT-A-LEAK

Water leaks can be a major hazard for management of lodging accommodations. Leaks that are undetected can create havoc in no time flat. In just 24 hours, 970 gallons of water can escape from a 1/16-inch hole in a metal pipe at 40 pounds of pressure. This adds up to 30,000 gallons in a month. The cost of that water is important enough, but the damage that could be caused is much worse.

You may need to seek help in finding a water leak if any of the following ever affect your property:

• An unusually high water bill
• The sound of running water when none or little is being used
• Foul odors from floors or walls
• Wet, spongy, moist or discolored walls or floors
• Warm spots may mean a hot water line leak
• Cracks in the building foundation or ground shifts for no known reason
• Sinkholes or wet spots on the grounds
• A pool or spa autofill that runs constantly
• A pool or spa water level that drops more than an inch in 24 hours
• Cracking or wet concrete decking around a pool/spa
• Cracking tiles around a pool/spa
• A pool/spa that is taking a larger amount of chemicals to keep the water balanced
• Algae formations in a pool/spa caused by improper water chemistry that may in turn be caused by a leak
• A pool/spa that is sinking or popping out of the ground

If you suspect a water leak, you should:

• Compare this year'swater use/bills with last year—s. Does the difference seem excessive?
• In the middle of the night when occupancy is low (and water use is low), check your water meter/s and make a note of the reading/s. You can also mark the dial with a crayon. In one or two hours, check the meter/s again.
• In the middle of the night when occupancy is low, listen for the sound of water moving through the lines at the meter as well as the point where the water pipe enters the building (both outside and inside). A do-it-yourself method is to take a large flat screwdriver (preferably 10— or longer) and firmly place it on the hot or cold side of any faucet. Place your ear on the plastic handle and listen for water noise. You can repeat this test on all exposed pipes, fittings, valves and faucets (hot and cold).
• Physically inspect walls and floors for dampness and moisture
• Physically inspect basement areas for dampness
• Physically inspect (if possible) areas below swimming pools, spas and fountains
• Walk the grounds inspecting for unwarranted wet spots
• Consult a plumber
• Consult with your pool company rep
• Call your water utility representative, and ask them to come out and confirm the water leak

To check your pool/spa for leaks, you can perform the following test:

• Fill your pool/spa to its normal operating level. Mark the water level on the tile with tape, pencil or crayon. Turn off all water filling devices
• Housekeepers should remember to keep the remote control sensor eye on television sets dust-free and clean. Fewer guests will make calls to the front desk to replace —dead— batteries in remote control handsets. (automatic or not) that fill the pool/spa. Fill a 5-gal. bucket with pool/spa water to 1— from the top. Set the bucket in the shallow end or on a step. The top of the bucket should be approximately 3 to 6 inches above the pool/spa water level. Mark the pool/spa water level on the outside of the bucket. Mark the bucket water level on the inside of the bucket. Let stand for 24 hours, and then measure how far the water has dropped inside and outside.
• If the water in the bucket and the water in the pool/spa go down at the same rate, that'sevaporation. If the water level in the pool/spa goes down more than the bucket, you have a leak.

If you determine that the pool/spa is leaking, you may be able to find out where the leak is with the following ideas:

• Refill the pool/spa to its normal operating level, mark this water level and run the pool/spa pump for 24 hours. Check how much water was lost in inches. Refill the pool/spa to its normal level, mark the water level, turn off all of the equipment and let the pool/spa stand for another 24 hours. Recheck the water loss in inches.
• If water loss was more with the equipment running, the leak is probably in the plumbing system. If the water loss is the same in both cases, the water is probably being lost in the pool/spa structure itself.
• If you determine that the leak is in the pool/spa structure, get in the pool with a face mask and slowly swim the entire bowl area looking for cracks in the plaster, vinyl, or fiberglass. Pay special attention to any protrusions into the pool body, i.e., pipe return lines, bottom drain, lights, steps, etc.
• You may check these cracks and other areas of the pool/spa by placing a mixture of food coloring into an eyedropper. Slowly squeeze out the dye around the suspected area. If dye goes into the cracked area, this denotes a leak. Though not 100% accurate, this test is a start.

Once you determine you have a leak, move quickly. Consult you plumber and/or pool company. Call your water utility customer service representative to confirm the leak.

Plumbers are well equipped to handle easy-to-get-to leaks, but seldom have the equipment for hidden leaks<197>leaks that may be anywhere in a hot or cold line, in a wall, on the grounds, in a drainpipe twenty feet under the building or buried under a concrete slab. Pool companies may be able to find a minor structural leak in a pool, but are unlikely to be able to locate an underground leak.

Should leaks be suspected or detected, but not curable by on-site maintenance engineers or a plumber, a call to a American Leak Detection representative should bring experienced assistance for the problem. American Leak Detection, founded in 1974, is a leader in pinpointing leak detection of all concealed plumbing systems including sewer lines, water lines, well lines, swimming pools, spas and fountains. They provide line location, sewer and drain line video inspection and leak correlation services.

Each office is independently owned and operated. However, team members rely on each other and the corporate office for ongoing training, equipment improvements, new technology and methodology.

ALD'scollateral states, —We can pinpoint leaks in any piping system that carries fluid or gaseous material. We are able to locate and trace lines for construction or remodeling needs. We are capable of complete sewer line video inspection in lines as small as one inch in diameter. We use the latest correlator technology to provide pinpoint leak location in municipal main lines, service lines and fire protection lines. Leak Surveys are available to aid in the prioritizing of scheduled maintenance. We can find leaks and trace lines under ground, cement, asphalt, concrete slabs, in walls of all types at residential, commercial, industrial and municipal locations.—

American Leak Detection has an arsenal of tools to solve any concealed leak problem. The ALD45-XLT Leak Finder is used to electronically process the audio range components produced by fluid leakage from pipes and sealed containers. The ALD 300 pipe, cable and sewer locator, uses a distinctive ALD transmitter signal that is traced with the ALD 300 receiver. The LB 2 is an instrument sensitive to any gas stream having a thermal conductivity different from the surrounding ambient air. The sewer camera and sewer smoker are the two main tools for finding leaks in drain, waste and sewer lines.

The ALD Thumper is used in conjunction with the Leak Finder specifically in the location of PVC pipe. The ALD Duct rodder is used for inserting other pieces of ALD equipment in pipes and waste systems for help in locating lines and leaks. Additional methods for finding leaks in swimming pools and other types of plumbing systems include visual inspection of the structure, pressure testing and dye testing.

The Correlator is the highest level of technology used when pinpointing a leak in a large distribution system is necessary. The Correlator is a computerized component that triangulates the exact position of a leak, based on a narrowed field after the technician has —listened— for the leak at a number of locations.

A non-destructive approach to repairs is normally employed. Repairs to cracks in concrete are most often made via a High Pressure Polymer Injection System. The non-toxic material fills the entire crack, even microscopic fissures. The polymer, inserted under extremely high pressure, is permanently flexible, resisting re-cracking under normal expansion or contraction. The system stops water leakage and minimizes further deterioration of the concrete.

Though undetected water leaks can be found almost anywhere, they are most commonly found beneath a swimming pool or spa.

Check out your property for undetected water leaks.

American Leak Detection, P. O. Box 1701, Palm Springs, CA 92262, 800/755-6697, Fax 619/320-1288, http://www.leakbusters.com

JUL/AUG 1997

What a Winner!
LOW-SERVICE OPTION FOR LONGER STAYS

Several properties have talked with GHA about offering another option to long-stay guests concerning guestroom cleaning. The first property that we were aware of which has actually instituted the program has found it very successful. Kim Stokes, Assistant General Manager of Comfort Inn Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, says, —Our guests love having this option, and it saves a lot of labor, energy and chemicals for us—.

When the Long-Stay option is requested, the housekeeper will straighten the room, make the bed/s, and empty trash baskets every day. Towels and sheets are changed as requested only, i.e., if towels are on the floor they are exchanged. The guest may request that sheets be changed anytime during the week. A complete cleaning, involving bed changing, vacuuming, cleaning mirrors, etc. is performed ONCE A WEEK. The guest'sROOM RATE IS REDUCED BY ABOUT $5 PER DAY.

What a winner! Almost no one'shome receives the in-depth cleaning that hotel housekeepers normally perform daily in guestrooms. All hotels should consider offering this option to long-stay guests. The guests— room rates are reduced, the hotel is saving water, energy, chemicals and a great deal of labor.

Business travelers particularly like having this choice. They often pay for a hotel room for four or five nights each week, but are actually in the room for only the sleeping hours. They often prefer that no one come in their room at all because of sensitive papers they may not have put away. Though most hotel rooms are monitored daily, this is a super option for travelers looking for a way to save money, to reduce guestroom intrusion, and to help save the planet.

Choice Hotels— new MainStay Suites, extended-stay properties, have incorporated —LiteTouch Housekeeping—. The suites include full kitchens and living room areas along with full maid service every seven days. These properties cater to the mid-priced traveler who stays five days or longer. A guest'sroom key allows access to a linen closet in the hotel common area where extra sheets and towels are available. Guests can request —light touch— dusting and bed-making between weekly maid visits.

Consider offering a Long-Stay option to your guests.

MAY/JUN 1997

SOLID WASTE, SOLID SAVINGS

Where is your property is the solid waste maze? Are you recycling everything, or just getting started? Does your waste hauler come with the territory, and can you choose your waste hauler?

Whether your property is a —beginner— or an educated, mature recycling pro, you—ll still want to reevaluate your particular solid waste situation from time to time.

Solid savings on solid waste can be accomplished by reducing the frequency of pickups or —pulls—, reducing the size and quantity of dumpsters, recycling materials to reduce the amount of solid waste being hauled away and being paid for recyclables. Public relations benefits abound for reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills and for promoting reuse of our natural resources by recycling. Your participation and enthusiasm for reducing solid waste is an extremely positive position to take. Your guests and employees will applaud and praise this smart, practical action.

Step-by-step guidance is available to you by ordering EPA'sBusiness Guide for Reducing Solid Waste (EPA/530-K-92-004) by calling EPA'sRCRA hotline at 800/424-9346.

STEP ONE: Analyzing

Pull out all your waste hauling records for a close up review and answer the following questions:

• Are you charged by weight or by volume? Is the bill from your waste hauler broken down to reveal exactly how you're being charged?
• What are the charges for each dumpster/container? Compare the volume of the container to the cost per cubic foot/yard of capacity.
• Is there a separate charge for hauling to the landfill besides the pickup charge?
• What is the charge for picking up recyclables?
• Are you paid for recyclables?

Understanding exactly how each item on your bill is calculated will help you negotiate all future contracts. Use your own version of the —Solid Waste Hauling and Disposal Analysis— chart shown to analyze your solid waste hauling and disposal expenses.

STEP TWO: Measuring

Track the volume of solid waste being hauled away. Your dumpsters should be checked just prior to each pickup in order to note the actual volume of waste in each dumpster. For instance, one dumpster may be filled only 20%, but it'sall wet waste from the kitchen. Another dumpster may be 100%+ full, but it'sfull of cardboard boxes that have not been broken down (remember that the boxes are very recyclable).

It would be best to perform an audit of your solid waste just before each pickup to get a really clear

picture of your situation. Though an —audit— can sound intimidating, it is really very simple. A solid waste audit is just checking what is actually in each dumpster before each pickup. It would be easier if you use a simple chart, such as the —Solid Waste Analysis— chart shown opposite. Create your own version of this form.

First, give each dumpster position a number, and make a note of it'ssize and capacity, i.e., No. 1, 6—x8—x8— with x cubic yards capacity at the kitchen rear entrance. Your waste company will be able to give you the volume capacity of each dumpster. They—ll also be able to tell you when the scheduled pickups should occur. If your pickups are scheduled for Monday and Thursday afternoons, then on Monday and Thursday mornings an audit should be performed. In an audit, the percentage volume of each particular type of waste is estimated and noted. For instance, a dumpster (only 40% filled) might have 10% glass (5% clear and 5% brown glass), 5% plastic, 5% aluminum, 10% newspaper, 50% cardboard and 20% waste. You—ll also want to estimate the approximate weight of the dumpster contents. Be sure to account for guestroom occupancy and seasonal variations. As these audits are performed over a period of time, it should be clear what materials can be recycled, and thus can be removed from the solid waste stream.

An accurate measurement will provide the best possible starting point for your following evaluation.

STEP THREE: Evaluating

Once your evaluation is complete, you will be able to determine if hauler or contract changes are appropriate.

Check out prevailing pricing by networking with area hoteliers and nearby businesses to find out what their waste removal costs are. Ask for contact information for waste haulers, which recycling haulers they're using and whether they're being paid for recyclables. Call the haulers and request a list of references. Once you—ve received a list of references, here are some revealing questions you can ask:

• Have the hauler'saudits been accurate?
• Have they made effective recommendations?
• Have scheduled pickups been timely?
• Have they cleaned up the dumpster area?
• Has the equipment been maintained so that they are not eyesores?
• Have smelly dumpsters been changed out without a specific request?
• Have they offered help with recyclables?

When these questions have been answered, you—ll be better prepared to decide if your current or next contract should be revised.

STEP FOUR: Revising

Write a clear and concise solid waste bid solicitation. Include in your solicitation:

• A drawing of your site with location of dumpsters noted.
• Volume of waste currently being hauled.
• Time of pickup (perhaps 11 am to 4 pm), Days of pickup (3 times a week, once a week, on call, etc.)
• Equipment on hand or necessary, e.g., baler, compactor, etc.
• Length of contract (3 months, 6 months, one year).
• Ask for information on recycling opportunities.
• Cancellation provisions.
• Request name and phone numbers of contact person at waste hauler'soffices.
• Other information: insurance, license numbers, verification on actual weights and volumes, etc.

Offer an on-site tour of your facility. Your personal interaction with the representatives may provide you with some excellent suggestions on handling and storing solid waste at your hotel.

Send your solid waste bid solicitation to three to five waste haulers, including your current hauler.

Allow about a month for haulers to visit your site and respond with bids. Make service and price comparisons. Cheapest does not always offer the best value.

STEP FIVE: Other Considerations

• A cap on price increases should be required.
• A no-penalty clause for changing the size and number of pickups during the contract period should be included.
• Be sure your contract is not automatically renewed.
• Be sure your have the option to renew with similar terms.
• A review of the contract by an attorney is important.
• Determine who owns the recyclables<197>you may be giving away potential revenues.
• After a hauler is chosen and in place, their performance should be monitored.

By following these basic guidelines regarding hauling services, you can reduce waste.

US EPA, Pick Up Savings: Adjusting Hauling Services While Reducing Waste, EPA530-F-96-016, November, 1996, 6 p.

MAR/APR 1997

INTERNET PAGES for MEMBERS!

As a member, your property is already listed at Green Hotels Association'sweb site at http://www.greenhotels.com. If you—ve notified us that your property currently has a home page on the web, then your site is linked from the GHA listing.

All members who would like a home page behind your GHA listing may NOW have that. The cost to develop or design the page is $100 for the first —not-terrifically-complicated— computer page (somewhat comparable to an 8-1/2—x11— sheet) and $50 for each additional page. The fee would cover two scannable photographs and two to three paragraphs of text on each page. You may, of course, put up as many pages as you wish. The cost of putting your home page on the Internet and maintaining it is $50 per year for the first page and $25 per year for each additional page. You would be allowed one correction or change each quarter or four corrections or changes per year.

This is the way it works: There will be a clickable icon beside your listing. So, when anyone is browsing GHA'sweb site, they can click on your icon and they—ll be sent to your home page. Your home page can provide any information on your property you wish. You may want to include photos of a guestroom, the lobby, the front of the property, your beach, etc. Information on your home page would probably be the same as is provided in your hotel'sbrochure. You may want to include daily rates, by seasons. Including special features of your property, i.e., swimming pool, workout room, restaurant info, and, your —greening— accomplishments is helpful to new guests. The guests and businesses who reach you through this listing will probably be looking for your property'senvironmental awareness. So, announce your —green— accomplishments, and tell them what you can offer for their upcoming meetings or stay. It might be a good idea to use GHA's—Meeting Planner'sQuestionnaire— as a base for that section of information.

Should you decide to have GHA create a home page for your property, you may, of course, use that web address on your stationery and brochures.

You may wish to use your own designer, and just put your pages up at our site. That is perfectly acceptable. Should you wish our designer to develop your pages, you are welcome to contact us for a firm quotation.

Photographs do not have to be originals, though they will be the sharpest. We can scan photos from your brochures. However, the larger the photo to be scanned, the better. The same colors and type fonts as you use on your brochures can probably be used on your web pages in order to follow your marketing theme.

Following are some very positive comments from other members who are experienced with the Internet:

• Charter Member Jack Hillyer of Cherry Creek Inn, Denver, Colorado, says, —The rates we put on the Internet are the highest, so that any reservations we get through the Internet are an extra bonus. Being on the Internet also gives us an opportunity to look at availability and going rates in the area and adjust our rates to the occupancy levels. Therefore, we can maximize the best rates. We can and do change our rates daily.— Cherry Creek Inn'sweb site is at http://www.westin.com.
• Another Charter Member, Christopher Ridder of the Good Medicine Lodge, Whitefish, Montana, said, —We paid for our web site in only two months with reservations received from the site. We feel that it'sprobably because the demographics of our clientele happen to fit the demographics of many Internet users<197>professionals (doctors, lawyers, executives) with no kids, dual incomes and graduate degrees. Actually, we—ve had a 30 times return on investment. Probably about 10% of our bookings now come from the Internet.— That'ssuccess! Chris suggests that pictures be kept to a minimum because the files take a long time to download, and the frustrating delay encourages web crawlers to move on to other sites. Look at Good Medicine Lodge'ssite at http://www.wtp.net/go/goodrx.
• —We consider it to be a great advantage that Holiday Beach Hotel & Casino is the only hotel in Curacoa to have its own web site—, says Erik Brouwer, General Manager and Charter Member. —Not only do we book rack-rate business via the Internet, but we also sell our dive and honeymoon packages listed at our site. Via a consumer-oriented discount coupon, we honor Internet users— special discounts. Travel agents can earn free stays and cash bonuses just by booking their clients at our property,— continues Erik. Check out Holiday Beach'ssite at http://hol-beach.com.

Here are A FEW EASY STEPS to take toward setting up an Internet site for your property:

• Find an opportunity to crawl the web<197>you can check out GHA'ssite and other members— sites. You can, of course, also check out other hotels— sites to give you an idea of what you—d want your site to look like. Our designer can possibly emulate another site that you admire, if you provide us with the web address.
• Skip No. 1.a. if you have no opportunity to get on the web.
• Jot down or cut-and-paste the information you want to offer on your property. You may want to use one of your brochures as a base.
• Choose the photographs you want to include. Sharp photos with contrasting colors work best.
• Call 713/789-8889 or fax 713/789-9786 today to set up your home page on the Internet! Jump on the Internet space shuttle now and bring new business to your doors!

JAN/FEB 1997

RADIO INTERVIEWS

On Friday, November 29 at 7:45am, over a million Japanese listeners heard a live interview with Patricia Griffin on —green— hotels. What green hotels are, what a guest can look and ask for in a green hotel were discussed. The interview was broadcast in English, and then was immediately translated into Japanese. The 7+ minute interview brought hundreds of hits to GHA'sInternet site!

Since then Patricia has recorded an interview with Earthwatch Radio which was expected to be broadcast from over 120 radio stations (mostly public) to listeners all over the US and Canada during December.

HARDIPANEL<191>and HARDIPLANK<190>

Exterior Cladding for Renovation or New Construction

For over 70 years a line of fiber-cement exterior wall cladding has been produced in Australia. The cladding is now available in the US in planks and sheets in several rustic finishes, including woodgrain and adobe. The attractive finishes are ready to be sprayed, rolled or brush painted with a high quality, exterior grade, semi-gloss or flat paint.

Known as HARDIPANEL<191> (4—x8-12— sheets) or HARDIPLANK<190> (6-8—x12— planks), the cladding, with a 50-year guarantee against manufacturers defects, will not burn or rot. It is resistant to impact, termite and carpenter ant attacks, and can be installed to withstand 120 mph hurricane winds. Is this pretty sounding good?

The material is composed of Portland cement, ground sand, cellulose fiber and mineral additives and does not contain asbestos or formaldehyde. It can be sawn with a handsaw, a power saw or a circular saw equipped with a carbide blade or dry diamond blade. A fast and efficient way to cut Hardie products is the score-and-snap method, especially with Hardie'stungsten tipped knife. It can be nailed like wood. It is slightly heavier than wood paneling and costs about the same.

One difference between Hardipanel and wood siding is that Hardipanel does not have an overlapping lip. Joining methods after abutting edges include Hardijointer (PVC) joint treatment, lumber or fiber-cement battens and/or caulking between sheets. Plastic or metal flashing may be installed behind all joints. The siding must be installed over a weather-resistive barrier. Also, the product won'tcapture moisture like vinyl siding because it breathes.

We're told the installation of the material should not be mixed with wood paneling, i.e., a panel or wood siding next to a panel of Hardipanel next to a panel of wood siding, etc. However, replacement of a complete wall or a section of wall can be appropriate if the difference in the exterior finishes is not found to be objectionable.

Care must be taken to avoid dust inhalation when cutting Hardie products.

And, hooray, the product can be recycled! Now, what are you thinking?

If this exterior cladding material can really last at least 50 years, we might have had to replace wood siding 4 or more times during that period.

Take a look at this material the next time you're in a builders— supply store. Both Builders Square and Home Depot offer the product. We think it—ll be well worth your time if you expect to be involved in a new construction or a refurbishing project involving siding anytime soon.

The final tipper of the scales is that millions of trees will not be cut down to create siding for homes and buildings!

For further information on local dealers or installation instructions, call 800 9HARDIE.

NOV/DEC 1996

GHA CELEBRATES 100 CHARTER MEMBERS

Almost 600 copies of our press release celebrating our 100 Charter Members were sent out in early October. Publications receiving the press release include the general media, environmental groups, travel and travel agent, meeting and convention planner, and all state, city and area hotel associations of which we're aware. Full coverage, we think.

A complete listing of all members was attached to the press release as you will see enclosed. We believe this press release will bring attention, interest and new guest and meeting business to our members. All GHA members are leaders in the environmental movement within the hospitality industry, and deserve to be honored and recognized with new business.

We suggest that you copy the press release, attach a note or business card and send it on to all appropriate publications in your area.

Please send us copies of any write-ups you see, and let us know of response or feedback you receive.

SEP/OCT 1996

CNN Spotlights

Green Hotels Association

CNN Producer Sally Holland called recently. She said, —I just stayed at a Comfort Inn in Miami and loved the towel and sheet cards so much that I want to do a story on —Green— Hotels Association—.

CNN sent Houston'sFOX network crew out to our offices to film. FOX also filmed at a Houston Sleep Inn that uses our linen cards. FOX'sstory was shown on their Business News on Wednesday, August 7, and sent the film on to CNN.

Sally chose Charter Member Days Inn Chesterfield in Midlothian, Virginia, at which to film for CNN'ssegment.

We are so proud that the CNN segment will be shown WORLDWIDE on an upcoming weekend. We're sure this FABULOUS EXPOSURE will benefit you, our Members, as well as for GHA.

Your guests and customers will be pleased to know that you and your property, as members of —Green— Hotels Association, are terrifically honored to be in CNN'sspotlight!

JUL/AUG 1996

SMOKE DETECTORS DEFINED

Did you know there are several types of smoke detectors and that they react differently to smoke and to flames?

Television's20/20 recently ran a segment on smoke detectors with information few of us have heard or read before.

About 90% of the smoke detectors sold are an IONIZATION type, and it is the least expensive version at $10 or less. The ionization version reacts more quickly to flames, but is slower (possibly a crucial 15 minutes slower) to react to smoke than the PHOTOELECTRIC type smoke detector which is in the $20 price range. The photoelectric type is slower to react to flames than the ionization type, but reacts more quickly to smoke. Because smoke is so often lethal, this difference is critically significant.

A third type of smoke detector available is referred to as a DOUBLE-SYSTEM, combines both ionization and photoelectric capabilities and is in the $30 price range. Because many fires smolder for a long period before bursting into flame, the photoelectric or double-system provides a longer warning opportunity.

Some smoke-detector industry suggestions are:

• Do not remove batteries from smoke detectors
• Test smoke detectors once a week
• Vacuum the sensing unit once a year because dust can collect and delay the reaction
• Change the battery once a year

You may want to consider purchasing photoelectric smoke detectors to be placed near ionization smoke detectors already in place. Double-System detectors should be purchased for new locations.

Be forewarned that currently the photoelectric and double-system detectors are difficult to find in stores because they have been poor sellers. Most of us have purchased the less-expensive ionization detectors because we didn'tknow the difference, and just chose the least costly. Let store managers know that you want the more effective versions of smoke detectors so that they will be kept in stock.

A $20 or $30 expense as compared to $10 expense is a very small difference when we consider the value of what is being protected from the possibility of a dangerous and life-threatening fire.

MAY/JUN 1996

STOP ANNOYING TELEMARKETING CALLS

Are too many phone calls regarding telephone service, charities or anything else eating up your workday hours or your blessed hours at home? Telemarketers may just be trying to make a living, but when they intrude on your workday and home life, you should have some recourse.

Though most telemarketers are simply a nuisance, many are committing outright fraud. Americans lose as much as $40 billion a year to dishonest callers hawking bogus prizes and free trips to nowhere, Texas— Attorney General says.

A number of laws have been passed recently in Texas to help consumers deal with telemarketers. Page 59 of the Residential Telephone Book under —Important Information— reveals certain protections for individuals who receive soliciting telephone calls at a residence.

A telemarketer must:

• identify themselves by name
• identify the organization for which they are calling
• identify the reason for the call
• give you the telephone number at which the caller or organization making the call may be reached

Calls to a residence on weekdays or Saturdays may not be placed before 9 am or after 9 pm. Calls to a residence on Sundays may not be placed before noon or after 9 pm.

Look in your phone book and see if comparable laws have been passed in your state or area.

Next, you may want to get your name and number taken off of their calling list.

One way is to write the Direct Marketing Association'sTelephone Preference Service, P. O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014, and ask that your phone numbers be removed from telemarketing lists. This is a free service.

Tell individual telemarketers to never call you again, and to please place you on their —No Call List—. There'sno need to be rude. Provisions of the FTC'sTelemarketing Sales Rule and the FCC'sTelephone Consumer Protection Act state that they must not call again. A hefty fine can be levied if they do.

Wherever you are, we suggest you use this information if you wish to stop the intrusion of telemarketing calls.

If these options don'twork, we may have to turn the tables and annoy them by filing complaints. Once we take action, the calls will stop.

Source: The Houston Chronicle, March 13, 1996

MAR/APR 1996

NEW, NEW, NEW?LIGHTS OUT? CARDS

Let Guests Help Reduce Electric Bills!

Post these —Lights Out?— cards by the exit light switch of each guestroom.
Get guests involved in lodging conservation.
Designed at the suggestion of EPA Green Lights Program personnel.
Gently remind guests that turning off lights and TV can MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Let —Green— Hotels Association<190> do the asking.

3-3/4— x 4-1/2— finished size
Dark green ink on soft gray 80 lb recycled stock
Cost: $0.30/ea, $20/100, $80/500, Customization available
Prepay and we—ll pay for the shipping! FREE!
Call 713/789-8889 and order TODAY!
RECENT PRESS RELEASES ARE AT WORK!

During recent weeks all members received two press releases which —Green— Hotels Association<190> distributed. The releases, ——Green— Hotels Association Receives Travel Council of the World'sEnvironmental —E— Award— and —Celebrate Earth Day —96— were sent out together. 305 copies of the press releases were sent to hotel-related publications; state, city and area hotel associations.

We always expect our press releases to improve name recognition for —green— hotels, enhance our image, gain respect and increase business for the association as well as for our members. Our past press releases have been very productive, and we anticipate that will continue with these releases.

If you notice writeups based on these press releases in other than the mainstream journals, would you please fax or send us a copy? We always want to send our thanks to any writer or publication for their coverage<197>each has CHOSEN to write the article which is beneficial to all —Green— Hotels Association<190> members.

JAN/FEB 1996

GHA HONORED with The Travel Council of the World—s
Environmental E Award

We are extremely proud to announce that —Green— Hotels Association<191> has been honored by being awarded The Travel Council of the World'sEnvironmental E Award —for Environmental concern and Environmental Action Promoted by the Private Sector for the Benefit of All in the Area of Environmentally Responsible Travel— as of November 1, 1995. Previous winners were Conde Nast'sTraveler and the Queen of England.

All GHA members are, of course, honored by this important environmental award.

Green Hotels Association^®
P. O. Box 420212, Houston, TX 77242-0212, 713/789-8889, Fax 713/789-9786

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