“Green Hotels” are eco-friendly places where the management promotes and institutes programs that help save energy, water, and consciously tries to reduce solid waste. These hotels underscore the fact that environment friendly measures actually save money for businesses. Green hotels are generally designed keeping in mind that the surrounding landscape and flora and fauna are untouched.
Staying at a green hotel, guests can support the hotel’s endeavor by using a towel more than once and not insisting that the sheets be changed everyday. Some hotels in Japan add reward points to guests who hang ‘do not change sheets’ cards on their doors. Towel rack hangers to dry towels, recycled paper used in hotel stationary, solar water heaters to supply hot water and motion sensors that switch off lights when the room is not occupied are some of the features of rooms in green hotels. Rather than housekeeping replacing the soap and shampoo after guests leave, bathrooms have shampoo and soap from dispensers which are available at the push of a button.
Green Hotels recycle newspaper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum and steel cans. Room keys in some hotels are biodegradable and thus safe as far as the environment is concerned. Green hotels use cleaning liquids that are environmentally friendly, and recycle used water for watering lawns and landscaping. Low-flow shower heads and faucets with aerators are installed in the bathrooms ensuring that there is no wastage of water. Staff is trained to adjust heating and air-conditioning when guests are not in the room with a view to saving electricity. Solar water heating systems are used in some hotels to heat pools. Guests staying at the hotel are encouraged to use public transportation and are provided with walking maps and bicycles.
Other eco-friendly efforts include using organic products in the rooms, stocking mini-bars in the room with healthy snacks, and offering organic choices in the menus at the restaurants. Designed to use daylight as much as possible, lobbies and restaurants contribute to lower energy bills. Restaurant waste in these hotels is composted and the compost obtained is used to enrich the soil in the hotel’s gardens. Some Green Hotels tie-up with local non-profit organizations and supply left-over food from their restaurants to them on a regular basis. They encourage environmental organizations to frequent their hotels and offer them discounted rates to hold meetings and seminars there. Old furniture, furnishings and appliances are donated to local charities.
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