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Boston Green Tourism
...advancing the green hotel movement
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Dear Boston Green Tourism Members,
The presentations from the December 6 meeting at Sheraton Boston
are linked and
summarized below. See the other sections, too.
Though there are no workshops planned for 2019, I'll continue to send you this newsletter. Feel free to forward it, and to send me the names of anyone who wants to be added to the distribution list.
Also, as always, you're welcome to contact me with questions or to ask me to speak at your property.
I wish everybody a happy 2019.
Dan
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Boston Green Tourism Meeting
December 6, 2018
Location
: Sheraton Boston
Hosts:
Jeff Hanulec
Present
: Jeff Hanulec, Al Vaughn, Samantha Sorrin, Albert Tsaturyan, Andrea Gonzalez, Admir Hamidovic, Cameron Ritzenthaler, Karen Weber, Beverly Spence, Tom Proietti, Cindy Zhu, Adam Doorly, Dan Ruben
PRESENTATIONS
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Tom Proietti
, Sales Engineer, Flow Tech, Inc.
a. Optimal indoor air quality (IAQ) is associated with excellent cognitive performance and productivity. The best demand control ventilation (DCV) products for conference rooms, like the Aircuity system, improve IAQ by monitoring several different airborne chemicals such as carbon dioxide, VOCs and carbon monoxide. They deliver the precise amount of outside air that's necessary to assure excellent air quality, and not an excess that would waste energy.
This 1:25 minute video describes the Aircuity DCV system.
b. Mr. Proietti described recent advances in guestroom energy management systems (GREMS), as exemplified by the Entuit system. New GREMS are less expensive to install, because they use wireless sensors that don't require batteries or maintenance. GREMS cut guestroom energy use by 35 - 45%.
c. HVAC coils accumulate biofilm, which reduces energy efficiency and enables microbes to enter building interiors. Chemical treatment of coils doesn't reach all of the biofilm, and its impact is temporary. Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) is a better solution, because it reaches the entire coil, it operates continuously and it's inexpensive. Steril-Aire offers a UVGI product.
UVGI also controls contamination in ice machines, which reduces the need for maintenance work and improves machine performance.
Cindy Zhu
, Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy
a. The U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings program helps building owners reduce energy use by overcoming barriers to improving energy efficiency. It's a popular program. Businesses that own over 13% of U.S. commercial building space are enrolled, including Marriotts, Hyatts, IHGs and other hotels.
The Smart Energy Analytics Campaign helps facility managers identify and optimize two smart building technologies that cut energy use: energy management information systems (EMIS) and monitoring-based commissioning systems (MBCx).
Of the 679 buildings in the program that installed an EMIS, the median energy savings was 7%. The biggest savings were realized by hotels that were in the program the longest, because their managers had more time to implement the projects identified by the EMIS's. The presentation lists the projects that were most frequently completed.
Adam Doorly, President, Green Mattress
Green Mattress recycles mattresses and box springs in its new Milford MA plant.
Their prices are attractive because of their large size (150,000 units / year capacity) and because they use new, highly efficient technology for disassembling box springs. It's cheaper to use Green Mattress than landfills and incinerators. Hotels that use Green Mattress's containers can achieve additional savings.
Green Mattress strives for zero waste. They recycle the metal, foam, fabrics, fibers and wood from the mattresses and box springs that they receive.
Dan Ruben, Director, Boston Green Tourism
The lodging industry has incorporated a remarkable number of green products and practices during the last five years.
We'll see even faster progress in the coming five years, because climate change, politics, economics, technology, hotel chain goals and customer demand will push hotels to go green even faster.
The presentation lists my predictions for the next five years.
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Boston's Plastic Bag Ban Now in Effect
Boston's plastic bag ordinance went into effect for businesses over 20,000 square feet in December. It will apply to businesses that are 10,000 to 20,000 square feet on April 1, and to all businesses on July 1.
The ban applies to businesses, including hotel stores and restaurants. Hotels can give only
reusable bags,
recyclable paper bags or compostable bags with handles
to their customers--not plastic bags with handles.
They must charge five cents per bag. Customers can bring their own bags to avoid that fee.
The City provides specific instructions for retailers
here.
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Buying in Bulk
By Kelsey Dalzell, Green Restaurant Association
Hotels can reduce contamination in their recycling bins by offering condiments, butter, sugar, cereals and other items in bulk rather than in single-use individual packaging.
Many commercial recyclers reject loads that are overly contaminated with food residue. For example, one hotel restaurant was unable to recycle its breakfast yogurt containers, because it didn't have enough manpower to rinse out every cup.
It could solve this problem by purchasing large containers of yogurt, instead of the single-serving ones, and serving it in a reusable dish. Doing so would decrease plastic waste, and guests could take only as much yogurt as they want to eat. The hotel would save money, because buying in bulk is less expensive
The Green Restaurant Association helps restaurants and caterers become more environmentally sustainable, reduce costs and earn recognition for their green achievements.
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IHG News Release, October 30
Starting in early 2019, IHG will make it easier for its hotels to donate surplus
furniture, fixtures and equipment from renovations to non-profits like United Way Worldwide and Good360. The Renovation Donation initiative is part of IHG's True Hospitality for Good program .
Glenn Hasek, Green Lodging News,
May 30, 2018
Glenn Hasek, Green Lodging News, February 14
, 2018
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