A report released last week by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reaffirmed what previous reports have concluded: Global warming is occurring and there is at least a 90 percent chance that humans are responsible. Unless you have been avoiding the media the last few years, the findings should come as no surprise. Almost every day there has been news about receding glaciers, record average temperatures, disappearing species, and greenhouse gas increases.
In different ways, we are all contributors to climate change—as consumers and as owners and operators of lodging establishments. Some of us are guiltier than others—if guilt is the proper way to think about it. Consider the tons of greenhouse gas emissions that are produced just to keep a 5,000-room hotel operating—the transportation of guests to the property, the heating, lighting and cooling of the hotel itself. The carbon footprint of a 10-room inn just does not compare, does it?
Scientists say that the damage already done will result in global warming for another 1,000 years. Dramatic changes, however, may start occurring this century. It is predicted that temperatures will rise by 3.2 to 7.8 degrees by 2100. If global warming is real and there is little reason to believe it is not, what responsibility do we have as an industry to do something about it? What it really comes down to is this: Are we going to care about future generations or not?
Let’s face it, we all like to travel and experience new places and we all like to profit from the travel of others. None of us is willing to suggest that Americans should travel less. Can you imagine the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. or Travel Industry Association of America promoting a “Be Smart, Travel Less” campaign?
I believe the biggest impact the travel industry can have on climate change, short of asking people to travel less, is the following:
• Lobbying the government and the automobile, truck, bus and aircraft industries to substantially increase fuel efficiency.
• Investing in highly efficient HVAC systems.
• Installing occupancy sensor-based systems to power down HVAC and lighting systems when they are not needed.
• Retrofitting to energy-efficient fluorescent and LED lighting.
• Building new construction to standards similar to those established by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
• Installing solar, wind, cogeneration, fuel cell or other alternative power generating systems.
• Supporting the development of renewable energy development through the purchase of carbon offset credits.
In the coming months, watch to see how travel industry leaders react to this report. Will they do nothing? Or, take action to help minimize travel’s impact on climate change. How will you operate your company or property differently? The technology to reduce environmental impact is available and affordable. Do what you can do and pressure those whose carbon footprint is larger to do even more.
Green Conference News
I am excited to be participating in this week’s Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference in Portland, Ore. It will be held at the Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center—Lloyd Center. Coverage of the event will appear on the Green Lodging News website later in the week and in next week’s newsletter. Also, thanks to Lodging Hospitality and Pineapple Hospitality for inviting me to participate in their Green Hospitality Conference. It will be held March 14 at the Loews Anatole Hotel in Dallas.
Our New Sponsors
Green Lodging News is proud to welcome Pure Solutions NA as a Founding Sponsor. The Cheektowaga, N.Y.-based company offers hotels an effective way to cater to health-conscious guests—especially those with allergies. Pure Solutions’ PURE Allergy Friendly rooms program includes the following:
• Air handling unit cleaning.
• A cleaning process to remove dirt, bacteria and mold from all soft surfaces in the room that traditional cleaners leave behind.
• A high ozone shock treatment to eliminate mold and bacteria.
• Pure Shield, a bacteria static barrier, which is applied to all room surfaces to repel microorganisms, such as mold and bacteria.
• Pure Solutions’ air purifiers to keep guestroom air clean on an ongoing basis.
• Mattress and pillow encasements to prevent dust mites and the allergens they create.
• A Pure filter in the shower to eliminate guest exposure to chlorine.
Green Lodging News also welcomes Better Living as a sponsor. Holiday Island, Ark.-based Better Living is a provider of Sun Aire Ductless Furnaces and Sun Aire Air Purifiers.
The energy-efficient Ductless Furnace can heat an area of up to 500 square feet economically with clean, comfortable radiant heat. The Sun Aire Air Purifier safely eliminates airborne bacteria and viruses, mold spores, and pet/smoke/ammonia odors using a sunlight process. The purifiers are made from brushed stainless steel and include a lifetime/washable 0.5 micron pre-filter. They weigh just 9 lbs. Sun Aire Air Purifiers are safe for housekeepers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com, or by calling (440) 243-2055. I look forward to hearing from you.
