Does your hotel display this symbol?

Many hotels that I have stayed at – and I’ve stayed a lot – promote their efforts to be “Green”. Usually this takes the form of encouraging guests to reuse towels and bedding to reduce wash water consumption. Something hotel guests may begin to see in 2014 is a reference to the hotel’s acceptance of the USEPA’s WaterSense H2Otel Challenge.

First launched February 5, 2014, the Challenge is still in the preliminary stage of trying to spread the word about, and to recruit hotels interested in the Challenge. Those hotels that take the Challenge will take a pledge to reduce their water consumption. In return they will receive access to Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other tools from the USEPA to assist in saving water at their businesses. Hotels will also be provided with tools to track their results.

A tool hotels can begin using now is WaterSense at Work: Best Management Practices for Commercial and Institutional Facilities.

Soon to be available are a series of educational webinars, go to the WaterSense website to register:

• Take the Plunge: The WaterSense H2Otel Challenge. February 27, 2014, 2-3pm EST. To be repeated March 12, 2014, 2-3pm EST.
• Assess, Track, Realize Paybacks. March 6, 2014, 2-3pm EST.
• Washing 101: A Plumbing and Laundry Efficiency Primer. March 27, 2014, 2-3pm EST

More information, as it becomes available can be found here: USEPA WaterSense H2Otel Challenge.

“So, what can I do if I’m merely the guest of a hotel?” you may ask. Well…

• Share this article and spread the word about the Challenge.
• Ask each hotel you stay at if they have taken the USEPA WaterSense H2Otel Challenge.
• When you find a hotel that has taken the Challenge, be sure to share that information with me and I’ll promote their efforts here.

Whether you’re at home, work, or enjoying your stay at a hotel, you can participate in efforts to reduce water consumption and protect the environment.

Hotels in Massachusetts may also be subject to that state’s landfill ban for food waste.  Read about that here:  Massachusetts Bans Food Waste From Landfill.