Advances in modern technology have made going green easier for everyone: People can run their homes off solar energy and drive eco-friendly cars that don't require gas.
These advancements help people embrace their green-living goals in their daily lives, so they expect to continue living in environmentally friendly ways when they're away from home.
Guests used to look for amenities like free Wi-Fi and breakfast at hotels before they'd book their stay, but now, they also want to know if their favorite hotels are green. Although hotels can always advertise what they do to reduce their water and energy consumption, guests look for more official proof like a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Achieving LEED certification shows your guests your building is energy-efficient, conserves resources and is conscious of how your business practices impact your community.
Read on for 10 ways hotels can become LEED green-certified, so you can show your guests you care about their environmental concerns.
1. Start a Recycling Program
When people think about going green, they may picture themselves recycling. Recycling was one of the first ways people started being more eco-friendly. It's easy for guests to recognize and engage with, so consider starting a recycling program. Partner with a local recycling company for regular pickups and provide recycling bins in each room for easy access.
2. Get Guests Involved
Guests who care about the environment want to get involved, so show them how. Leave a sign in their room illustrating the difference they'll make by reusing their towels and recycling during their stay. Provide stats on how much water your hotel has saved by cutting down on replacing towels every day, so guests see how they help the earth.
3. Use LED Lighting
Take a second look at the lighting in your hotel. What kind of bulbs do your fixtures use? Consider switching to LED bulbs, which use 75% less energy than fluorescent bulbs and last much longer. They save management money while helping the hotel be more energy-efficient.
4. Upgrade Your Laundry Machines
Going green is about more than using less energy. Upgrading washers and dryers is another essential step if the new machines use less water. Conserving water is excellent for the planet, which is another way to get LEED-certified.
5. Rethink Location and Transportation
When guests arrive at your local airport, they have many transportation options to choose from, but those all create more CO2 on the road. Instead, send guests an informative email and introduce them to airport transfer vehicles like SUVs and limos. They'll only use what your hotel provides and reduce the air pollution caused by traveling with many different companies.
6. Compost Food Waste
Whether you have an in-house restaurant or a buffet breakfast, hotel kitchen staff know there will always be food to throw out. Instead of tossing the food into the local landfill, designate a spot on your property and compost all food waste, along with landscaping clippings and paper products, to reduce your environmental impact.
7. Buy From Local Businesses
It's always a smart idea to buy from local businesses, especially when you want to go green. Buying local means your order doesn't cause cross-country vehicles to produce CO2 on their trip to your location. You'll also help the local economy, which is an effort most people will support.
8. Leave All-Natural Amenities
When guests use things like soap and shampoo, the product's residue washes down the drain. That eventually seeps into the local environment and potentially nearby water sources, which affects everyone who depends on that water. Instead, leave all-natural amenities for guests to use that won't harm the environment once they're down the drain.
9. Avoid Chemical Cleaners
Chemical cleaners leak into the environment the same way chemical-based bathroom amenities do. Research bio-based cleaners for your cleaning staff to use instead. You'll minimize your hotel's impact on the local environment with this quick and straightforward solution.
10. Update Your Menu
Take a second look at any food served at your hotel. How much of it is pre-processed and made with chemical fillers? All those ingredients absorb into the world when they decay in a landfill, so switch them with organic products. Offer guests hormone-free meats and vegan meals, so they have a variety of green foods to choose from that won't introduce chemicals to their digestive systems or the environment.
Start Planning Early
To receive your LEED certification, you must register your LEED project online with the U.S. Green Building Council and present documentation that proves how your hotel will go green. Afterward, it takes six months to a year to complete the full application, which is when you submit everything for a second fee.
Get ahead of the game, so you can cut your documentation time in half. Plan to use tips like narrowing down your guests' transportation options to what you provide or eliminating chemical cleaners from your property. With each transition, your hotel will become more eco-friendly and get closer to that LEED certification modern guests trust for an eco-friendly stay.
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!
www.driftercollective.com
