December 1, 2018

Dear Boston Green Tourism Members,  

Our next meeting will be Thursday December 6 from 2:30 to 4:00 at Sheraton Boston. Everybody reading this newsletter is welcome to attend and bring guests.

I thank our host: Jeff Hanulec.
I hope you can come!
 
Dan 
 
 
IDEAS


Tom Proietti , Sales Engineer, Flow Tech, Inc.

Mr. Proietti will discuss new and better sensing methods for HVAC systems that optimize indoor air quality and reduce energy use. These methods can be used in guest rooms, conference rooms and common spaces.
 
New sensors can be incorporated into hotels' existing building management systems.
 
Mr. Proietti will also talk about Ultra Violet Light--which isn't just for teenage black-light parties! UV lights are also used to safely and cheaply prevent mold and other contaminants that build up on cooling coils in HVAC equipment and ice machines.





Cindy Zhu , Fellow, U.S. Department of Energy

Ms. Zhu will discuss:

  -the US Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative, which works extensively with the hospitality industry. The Initiative introduces energy efficiency products and strategies, and it recognizes market leaders. 

  -the Better Buildings Financing Navigator tool, which makes it easier for businesses to identify the best financing options for their energy efficiency projects.

  -the Smart Energy Analytics Campaign, which  advances  the use of  Energy  Management
and Information Systems (EMIS) technologies.
.
Ms. Zhu will also discuss  new energy management technologies and case studies. 


 
Adam Doorly , President, Green Mattress 

Mr. Doorly and his partner have just opened a new, large mattress recycling facility, that adds needed capacity in MA. He'll show how hotels can economically and efficiently recycle their mattresses.



 
Dan Ruben, Director, Boston Green Tourism 

I'll discuss the changes that I foresee for the hotel world in the next several years; and I'll ask the audience what changes they see coming.



SPECIAL MESSAGE

Boston Green Tourism to Change Direction

Boston Green Tourism will no longer be a membership-based organization. I won't charge a membership fee anymore.
 
How to Green Your Hotel Course: My main focus will be to prepare a course and write a textbook called, How to Green Your Hotel. The course will be designed for professionals, graduate and undergraduate students. I'll discuss it in greater detail several months from now.
 
Newsletters: I'll continue to write them periodically.
 
Meetings: The December 6 workshop is the last one that I'm planning. If you have ideas for a workshop, or want to organize one with me, let's talk.
 
Advice: As always, you're welcome to contact me for free advice about greening your property, connections with vendors and hoteliers, etc.

 
While I'm sad to stop organizing regular Boston hotel workshops, I'm excited to take what I learned from hundreds of BGT hoteliers, speakers and newsletters to the wider world.

 

IDEAS


The Green Hotel Revolution

When BGT was founded in 2005, we didn't anticipate that the commercial building industry, including the hotel sector, would green up in so many remarkable ways. 

Here are some of the green products and practices that have emerged or flowered in the last 13 years. Which ones have your hotel incorporated?
 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Since 2005, LED lighting was introduced and it now dominates the hotel lighting market.

Building Management Systems now use sensors and analytics to help facility managers control their facilities and detect problems. We're still in an early stage of the smart building revolution.

EC motors and variable speed drives are now common and make motors more efficient. Heat transfer technology, including combined heat and power and energy recovery ventilation, is deployed more often, too.

Almost all energy-consuming equipment is far more efficient than it was in 2005. Boilers, chillers, elevators and refrigerators are a few examples. Ventilation technology has greatly improved, saving energy and improving comfort. New ventilation controls promise much greater savings in the coming years.

Today, many hotels purchase electricity generated by wind turbines and solar panels. Others buy carbon offsets, or encourage their guests to do so. More than a few hotels generate their own solar electricity.

Electric utility demand charges have become a big portion of many hotel bills. Some hotels mitigate them by shaving their electricity use during periods of peak demand. For example, hotels in a few states charge large batteries when electricity is cheap, and release them when electricity use peaks. This practice will soon be widespread.

Water Efficiency

Low flow water fixtures are now ubiquitous, thanks to improved technology and regulations.

Newer laundry equipment and dishwashers have dramatically cut hotel water use.

Liquid pool covers now reduce evaporation losses from swimming pools.

Waste Management

In 2005, high-end hotels shunned recycling bins, because they were unattractive. Today, elegant recycling bins are placed in the fanciest properties.

Refillable amenity dispensers are now attractive, too, and have gained a significant foothold. And, it's now common to recycle or donate unused amenities.

The Massachusetts food waste ordinance, introduced in 2014, has changed the way hotels dispose of food waste. Today, MA has a significant composting industry. Haulers have trucks dedicated to food waste. Anaerobic digesters, bio-digesters and food waste dehydrators help hoteliers manage their food waste in a greener way.

The food waste reduction movement blossomed several years ago. Many hotels use new techniques to identify food products that are over-purchased and under-consumed.

This year, seemingly, citizens and governments have become alarmed about plastics discarded into our oceans and land. Hotel chains have responded with plans to eliminate or reduce single-use plastics.

Many hotels now have elaborate donation programs that provide furniture, clothing, linens and food to needy people.

Hotels more commonly plan their renovations to assure that unneeded goods and materials are reused or recycled.

Toxics Use Reduction

In 2005, the indoor hotel environment was less healthy than it is today.

Now, green cleaning products and equipment are common. Hotels offer allergy-friendly rooms and have no-fragrance policies.

Integrated pest management practices have reduced the need for pesticides. Hotels now control bed bugs with non-toxic methods.

Transportation

Electric vehicles have come onto the market, and hotels have installed charging stations to accommodate them.

Hotel guests have greater access to bicycles, thanks to bike-sharing and bike rental programs.

Food

Hotels now offer more locally-grown and harvested food, and vegetarian and vegan dishes, in response to popular demand. Some hotel chefs put sustainable seafood on the menu, too.

In 2005, who predicted that downtown hotels would house beehives?

Resilience

Stronger storms and sea level rise have increased property damage worldwide. There's a growing recognition that hotels must do more to protect their properties and help their communities respond to weather emergencies.


Of course, the green hotel revolution won't end in 2018. It will continue to be spurred by advances in technology, economics and the need to address urgent environmental problems. I have no doubt that we'll soon see "net zero" hotels--properties that don't use fossil fuel at all. 

How will you participate in the green hotel revolution?


 
ARTICLES 

U.S. Department of Energy, Smart Energy Analytics Campaign

MGM International, which has over 80 million square feet of properties, decided to augment their HVAC retro-commissioning (RCx) program by installing fault detection and detection (FDD) software.

The combination of RCx and FDD has improved problem identification and reporting, and cut MGM's energy bills significantly. 


Emilia Jaakkola, Travel Wire News, November 1

Millennial range in age from 22 to 37. They're more environmentally-conscious than their elders, because they have more at stake. They do travel frequently, but they favor sustainable venues, like green-minded hotels.

The author urges hotels to "go green now," to attract members of her generation. 


 
2018 MEETINGS

The following meeting will be 2:30 to 4:00. 

December 6 Sheraton Boston

See you Thursday at Sheraton Boston !
Boston Green Tourism
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