<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Umbra on green hotels]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by PolluteLessDotCom http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:07:51 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/1 More suggestions

Maybe not in the interest of business but certainly in the interest of a cleaner environment: You could refrain from advertising to  and attracting people from far away. Advertise in you area to attract short distance tourists. Charge extra for folks from far away and use the money to off-set the damage by buying carbon credits.

Offer reliable bicycle locking racks/areas plus theft insurance. Folks who bike will stay if they know their ride is completely safe.

Connect with and advertise a Riksha service in Rome to haul people to sight-see without pollution.

Get and offer dark colored towels that do not need washing so often. Same with table cloths. Bright white looks dirty too quickly and is difficult to keep white even when washed. Seems like your unbleached linens is a step in the right direction.

Increase the rate for the rooms based on the frequency of cleaning and replacement of towels, etc. Begin a CYOR service (clean your own room) for those who don't mind a frequency of less than once per day.

Get rid of all A/C units if you have any. Install shades on the outside of the window instead. But you are in Rome. Unlike most Americans, Italians should know how to keep their buildings cool without machines.

Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com

]]> More suggestions

Maybe not in the interest of business but certainly in the interest of a cleaner environment: You could refrain from advertising to  and attracting people from far away. Advertise in you area to attract short distance tourists. Charge extra for folks from far away and use the money to off-set the damage by buying carbon credits.

Offer reliable bicycle locking racks/areas plus theft insurance. Folks who bike will stay if they know their ride is completely safe.

Connect with and advertise a Riksha service in Rome to haul people to sight-see without pollution.

Get and offer dark colored towels that do not need washing so often. Same with table cloths. Bright white looks dirty too quickly and is difficult to keep white even when washed. Seems like your unbleached linens is a step in the right direction.

Increase the rate for the rooms based on the frequency of cleaning and replacement of towels, etc. Begin a CYOR service (clean your own room) for those who don't mind a frequency of less than once per day.

Get rid of all A/C units if you have any. Install shades on the outside of the window instead. But you are in Rome. Unlike most Americans, Italians should know how to keep their buildings cool without machines.

Karsten
http://www.polluteless.com

]]> Comment #2 by jantos http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:58:42 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/2 Great! But... what's a corporate traveler to do?

This was a great article, but as an employee of a larger company, I don't have a whole lot of choices when I travel for business.  Basically, I have to choose whatever the company's travel service website gives me, and mostly in urban locations.  What should I choose? Are certain chains better than others?

Justin
Washington, DC

]]> Great! But... what's a corporate traveler to do?

This was a great article, but as an employee of a larger company, I don't have a whole lot of choices when I travel for business.  Basically, I have to choose whatever the company's travel service website gives me, and mostly in urban locations.  What should I choose? Are certain chains better than others?

Justin
Washington, DC

]]> Comment #3 by solar greg http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:29:24 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/3 water heater

A large portion of your electric bill (unless you use gas) is for water heating. This is specially true in hotels because people tend to take longer showers when they stay at a hotel. Water saving shower head (1.5GPM) is a step, but you should consider solar heating. In that part of the world there are many more options of solar heaters than in the US.
It's a way to reduce CO2 emissions and save money too (which you can use to make more improvements).

]]> water heater

A large portion of your electric bill (unless you use gas) is for water heating. This is specially true in hotels because people tend to take longer showers when they stay at a hotel. Water saving shower head (1.5GPM) is a step, but you should consider solar heating. In that part of the world there are many more options of solar heaters than in the US.
It's a way to reduce CO2 emissions and save money too (which you can use to make more improvements).

]]> Comment #4 by crumbrye http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/ Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:49:16 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/4 Green Travel

It is really tough to make traveling a green process. There are some ways to integrate eco-thinking into your trips though...

http://greenpieceblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/travling-green ...

]]> Green Travel

It is really tough to make traveling a green process. There are some ways to integrate eco-thinking into your trips though...

http://greenpieceblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/travling-green ...

]]> Comment #5 by trix http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/ Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:36:00 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/the-innkeepers-strife/5 One more suggestion

Don't use the full covers for your duvets, use light cotton throws or  substantial (cut to size if necessary) sheets. The throws look tidy enough and will stop most ordinary soiling. They're a lot easier to use for making up the bed... and you'll save half the load compared to washing a full duvet cover.

]]> One more suggestion

Don't use the full covers for your duvets, use light cotton throws or  substantial (cut to size if necessary) sheets. The throws look tidy enough and will stop most ordinary soiling. They're a lot easier to use for making up the bed... and you'll save half the load compared to washing a full duvet cover.

]]>