Use One Guestroom as a Test Lab for Green Products

I frequently write about new products and technologies that can be used in hotels to reduce waste and conserve energy and water. I am currently working on an article on hands free faucets--a faucet type commonly found in public restrooms but not hotel guestroom bathrooms. I recently wrote an article about water dispensing/filtration systems. These are being used in hotel restaurants but the water from these has rarely found its way into hotel guestrooms. I have often wondered what the process is by which most hotel owners decide whether or not to implement a new product or technology such as those mentioned. Is there a testing phase? A point at which the new product or technology is tested in just one hotel guestroom and then guests (or employees) who stay in that room are queried about their experience?

I have rarely come across instances where hotel companies have set up "green rooms" or even "green floors" for product testing. It certainly seems like a good idea to me. Implementing a hands free faucet in a hotel guestroom bathroom, for example, is kind of a radical step and you would not just all of a sudden retrofit your entire hotel with them.

I am curious to know how you approach a new green product. Do you ask a vendor for a sample and then test it? What is the process by which you make a bulk purchasing decision? If you did set up a "green room" for testing, you could offer a guest an incentive, maybe even a free or discounted room for a night, assuming the guest agrees to participate in an interview or survey upon departure. A couple of years ago, the Best Western Philadelphia Airport South at Widener University set up an Eco-Pro Room to test a wide range of products--shower gel dispenser, water-saving showerhead and toilet, night-light wall plates, carpet with recycled content, compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-VOC paint, bed spreads made of fabric derived from recycled material, natural latex mattress and natural hemp mattress, and wallpaper that includes recycled content. The hotel included a survey in the room to gauge guest feedback. Students in the School of Hospitality Management at Widener University helped with the Eco-Pro Room. It was a great idea.

I would love to learn more about your purchasing decision process. Have you tried a green test room? Would you consider doing so? Be sure to leave your comments here.