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Ways Your Hotel Can Be Greener & More Sustainable

Introduction

Sustainability is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it mean? At its core, sustainability means taking care of the Earth so it will be there for us and our children. One of the easiest ways to be sustainable is by making small changes in your home or business. This can mean anything from turning off lights when you're not using them to purchasing recycled paper products instead of regular ones. Here are some ideas on how you can make your hotel greener and more sustainable:

Install solar panels.

Installing solar panels is an effective way to reduce your hotel's carbon footprint. Solar energy is more cost-effective than ever before, so there's no reason not to take advantage of these renewable resources. You can install solar panels on the roof of your building or the ground, depending on what works best for you and your property.

Start using eco-friendly supplies.

You can be more eco-friendly and sustainable by using supplies that are made out of recycled materials. This means you'll be reducing your carbon footprint, while also helping to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. Recycled paper is a great example; it's made from old paper products like magazines or office memos, which would otherwise go straight into the trash if they weren't used again. Using less paper will reduce your hotel's water usage as well—and remember, less energy is good for everyone!

Use environmentally friendly cleaning products in your bathrooms and kitchens too (remember those two words: eco-friendly). These chemicals aren't quite as good at getting rid of stains or germs as traditional ones (though there are some), but they don't contain any harsh chemicals either so you'll still get clean without causing any damage to yourself or others around you!

Another way you can make sure none of us ever have to worry about where our next meal comes from again? Adopting sustainable farming practices on your property so that everyone has access not just today but tomorrow too.

Switch to LED lightbulbs.

It's time to start switching over to LED lightbulbs. While an LED bulb might cost more than a traditional one initially, you'll save money in the long run because they last much longer and use up to 85 percent less energy. Plus, there are many different types of LEDs available—from standard bulbs for recessed fixtures to motion sensors that turn on when you enter a room—so you can find something that works well in your hotel.

Plant the right kind of trees in the right places

Plant the right kind of trees in the right places by hiring local tree maintenance professionals like this Assured tree solutions toprovide efficient and reliable tree care. Not all trees are created equal—some species do better than others in certain situations. Native species will be better adapted to your climate and soil conditions, allowing them to grow more efficiently and produce more fruit or seeds than non-native species. In addition, they may also require less watering, fertilizing, and maintenance (and therefore cost less money). Make sure that you plant trees where they’ll be most beneficial: for example, planting shade trees where there aren't any already will help reduce the urban heat island effect by cooling down areas like parking lots that tend to get very hot during summer months; however, if there is already plenty of tree cover where these parking lots are located then it's best not to add extra shade because too much shade can cause problems with other plants growing underneath them (like grass).

Buy local food

Buy local food.
Eat healthier.
Support local businesses and economies.

Get sustainability inspection

Sustainability inspections are a great way to get an objective look at your hotel's eco-friendly practices. To ensure that you’re on the right track toward becoming more sustainable, we recommend getting an inspection that is certified to the basix certificate. They can identify areas where you're doing well and other places that need improvement, helping you figure out how to make improvements in the future. These inspections can be done by any number of different experts and organizations, with some offering free or discounted services to hospitality businesses.

Before scheduling a sustainability inspection, ask about their experience with hotels. If they've worked specifically with hotels before and understand their needs and challenges—as well as what kind of results are expected from them—then this is someone who will be able to give you valuable insight into what works best for them in terms of conserving resources while still keeping guests happy!

Ditch the plastic straws and bottles.

You might be surprised to hear that plastic straws and bottles are a major source of ocean pollution, but they are. The U.S. alone uses 500 million plastic straws per day, which is enough to fill 9 square miles every year.

The best way to reduce this problem is by using reusable bottles and straws whenever possible, or at least opting for paper versions if you must have one-time-use plastics. Some hotels will even sell their reusable items as part of their green initiatives, so ask your concierge if they do! Just remember: while remade plastic items can be recycled, most single-use products aren’t recyclable because they don’t contain post-consumer content (i.e., once these materials have been used once by consumers).

Invest in landscaping

Plant trees and shrubs by hiring professional landscape services like this landscaping in Redhill.
Mulch your plants.
Use native species of plants whenever possible, such as cacti and succulents.
Use drip irrigation instead of conventional sprinkler systems, which use up a lot more water than drip irrigation does.

Use recyclable paper for advertising.

The paper you choose to use for your advertising is one of the most important decisions you can make. Like so many other things, it can be made from recycled materials. And if you’re thinking that recycled paper is too expensive or hard to find, think again! There are several companies out there dedicated to making sure that your hotel keeps its green image and does its part for the environment.

Here are some reasons why using recyclable paper is better for everyone involved:

It helps save trees -- which means fewer trees are cut down and less pollution is caused by transporting them.
It saves money -- cutting down on unnecessary expenses like printing costs and disposal fees should not go unnoticed! Plus, if it’s cheaper to print on recyclable paper, then that means more money left over in your budget for other purposes (like expanding your business).

Evaluate the cleaning products you use.

In addition to the eco-friendly materials you choose for construction and design, evaluate the cleaning products you use.

Choose products that are safe for children and pets. The EPA’s Healthy Indoor Air Tools has information on how to best keep your property's air clean.
Check for biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients with a look at our Sustainable Product Search tool or by searching for “green” in our database of over 1 million products under “Labeling Type."
Choose less polluting products that won't harm the environment when they've washed down drains or disposed of improperly. For instance, look into using wet mops instead of dry ones, because they don't create as much dust as their cotton counterparts do—and dust isn't good for anyone's lungs!
Choose less harmful products even if they're not natural: Even though most conventional cleaning supplies contain synthetic ingredients (meaning they weren't derived from nature), there are still some brands that use safer alternatives than others do; namely those made from plants instead of petroleum-based chemicals (like soaps).

Use linen-free towels and robes or a linen reuse program.

Linen-free towels and robes or a linen reuse program.

Linen-free towels are a simple way to reduce waste in your hotel. They can be made of 100% recycled polyester, or if you prefer, we also offer linen-free robes that are eco-friendly as well.

For more information on reducing your environmental impact with linen reuse programs, visit our blog post here: https://blog.linenscousin.com/ways-to-go-green/.

Purchase eco-friendly laundry products and equipment.

If you're looking to cut down on the amount of water, chemicals, and energy used in your hotel's laundry room, it's time to consider switching out your products.

For example, many hotels use eco-friendly detergents such as Seventh Generation for their laundry rooms. These types of detergent produce fewer suds than traditional detergents—which means they can be used at lower temperatures with no loss in cleaning power. The result? Reduced energy consumption from heating the water!

Additionally, there are now several brands that make 100% biodegradable detergent pods which are perfect for single-serve applications like hand washing clothes or hand towels (not bed linens). Plus, these products are often less expensive than bulk liquid detergents because they don't contain any fillers or other ingredients that add cost but have little effect on performance (such as dyeing agents).

Finally, there are emerging technologies like waterless washing machines which use ultrasonic waves instead of water and require far less electricity than conventional washers.

Get involved in community cleanups and sustainability/environmental initiatives.

Volunteer at a local beach clean-up.
Donate to a charity that is helping the environment.
Donate to a charity that is helping animals or wildlife.
Donate to a charity that is helping children.

Starting small can make a big difference!

Now that you know the three key elements of a sustainable hotel, it's time to start making some changes.

The first step is to take a look at your current processes and identify areas where they can be improved. Are there ways in which you could reduce waste? How are guests currently being serviced? Are steps taken in your cleaning process that could be made more efficient or effective?

Once you have identified potential areas for improvement, start with one at a time—it can help keep things manageable if you focus on one thing at a time instead of trying to make too many changes all at once.

If one small change isn't enough, try another! If reducing water usage by 10% doesn't seem like enough of an impact on its own, consider implementing new practices and technologies that allow guests better access to water (like using eco-friendly soap) or offering them alternative ways of staying hydrated when it comes time for breakfast in their rooms.

Conclusion

As you can see, hotel owners and managers have a lot of options when it comes to being more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The key is to start small—it’s better to make one small change at a time than try too many big ones that are overwhelming or seem impossible. The good news is that many of these changes can be done without breaking the bank or requiring large investments in new equipment or supplies. So if you’re looking for ways to make your hotel greener, check out this list!