NATIONAL REPORT—Conservation efforts in the hospitality industry are on the rise. When you consider the rising levels of energy consumption and the related costs—both to the environment and your bottom line—you begin to see how beneficial implementing your own green initiatives can be.
Fact: 97 percent of the Earth’s water is non-potable oceanic saltwater. Of the 3 percent remaining freshwater, close to three-quarters of that is confined to icecaps and the poles, which means that less than 1 percent of the water on this planet is accessible and fit for human consumption.
At last count, the hospitality industry alone utilized an estimated 21,537 gallons of water per day overall and an average of 218 gallons per occupied guestroom. According to the EPA, this accounts for 15 percent of the total commercial water usage in the United States.
These staggering numbers helped prompt the EPA to establish its WaterSense certification program in 2006. Designed to identify simple ways to start saving water, the program places its label on products that have been independently certified as being at least 20 percent more water-efficient than similarly functioning standard models.
For more on the “why” and “how” of working some of these water-saving measures into your lodging establishment, consider the following.
Useful Updates: Future-Facing Fixtures
In addition to using water more wisely, new fixtures need servicing much less often than older, inefficient models, thus resulting in reduced labor costs across the board.
So, when you are ready to replace your existing plumbing fixtures, consider these sensible WaterSense options.
Low-Flow Toilets—Conventional toilets consume up to 4.5 GPM (gallons per minute) but new low-flow options cut that consumption down to around 1.6 GPM.
*Tip: If you cannot replace all toilets immediately, retrofit them with dual flush mechanisms or water displacing devices, both of which will cut back on the amount of water used per flush.
Low-Flow Faucets & Showerheads—Reducing the water flow from 2.5 GPM to 1.5 GPM for sink faucets and from more than 3 GPM to 2 GPM for showerheads is a great means of saving water.
*Tip: Many existing sink faucets can be retrofitted with low-volume faucet aerators which will reduce the water waste without requiring a complete replacement of your fixture.
And the best part is that these low-flow options do not sacrifice performance or style for functionality. You can find affordable options for your entire facility that can enhance your decor and improve your environmentally friendly factor in a single motion.
Enhance Educational Efforts
When it comes to educating your staff and guests, it starts from the top down.
• Establish company-wide policies of conservation and ensure all employees and guests are aware of the efforts.
• Engage upper management to lead by example.
• Post highly visible signs near plumbing fixtures for employees and guests alike.
• Include a note in your welcome packet that guests receive upon check-in that provides an overview of your conservation measures and train staff to inform guests of the highlights.
Regarding those specific measures, some great examples include:
• Encourage guests to reuse towels. Provide extra hooks if necessary so that guests have a place to hang their towels after use.
• Remove towel displays from the pool and fitness center areas. Often guests use more items simply because they are there so if you provide towels at these places only on request, guests will be more likely to bring towels from their rooms and reuse them in these locations.
• Allow guests the option of foregoing daily sheet service. Many hotels have already changed this policy to allow for sheet service only after check-out or every fourth day for guests who remain longer than the two or three night average.
• Remind guests to avoid leaving the water running at any time but especially while brushing their teeth. Relatedly, encourage guests to opt for showers over baths.
Behind the Scenes
With regards to your staff, implementing the following procedural shifts can dramatically reduce your facility’s overall water consumption:
• Reduce the number of toilet flushes during room cleanings. Housekeeping staff in moderate to luxury hotels flush the toilet a reported average of three times over the course of cleaning a room. Institute a housekeeping standard of two flush maximums per room.
• Recognize that a toilet is not a trashcan. When housekeeping has already replaced the guestroom’s wastebasket bag, it is often easier to simply throw errant items in the toilet and give a final flush before exiting the room. Provide a separate “catch all” trashcan in each cart that housekeeping can use instead of expending an unnecessary flush.
• Only run loads of laundry and dishes with full loads.
• Don’t forget about outdoor plumbing. Lowering the pool’s water level keeps overflows and splash outs to a minimum.
• Additionally, water the grounds on an as-needed basis and during the early morning, late evening hours when evaporation levels are at their lowest.
What are some of the other water conservation efforts you have instituted in your facility?
Since 1994, Angelo DiGangi has been a Home Depot sales associate in the Chicago suburbs. Angelo also writes on plumbing topics for the Home Depot website, including tips on plumbing fixtures and faucets.
