BGT Newsletter

July 5, 2018

Boston Green Tourism

...advancing the green hotel movement

Dear Boston Green Tourism Members,

We'll have two meetings in the fall. One will be October 11. I haven't yet scheduled the other one.

Please note the new Eversource EV charging station program in the next section. I think it's a great opportunity for hotels to save money and install more stations for their guests and staff.

As always, please contact me if you have questions about greening your hotel, or if you want me to make a presentation at your property.

Dan

OPPORTUNITIES

Eversource Electric Vehicle "Make Ready" Program:

Free Charging Infrastructure for Organizations

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are increasing, and will burgeon in the coming years.

Batteries are improving, charging speed is accelerating, EV costs are declining and it's easier than ever to find charging stations. Four EV models now have ranges over 200 miles--and that number will soon increase.

Eversource has launched its $45 million Make Ready program to prepare customers in its service territory for the EV era. This initiative will fund behind-the-meter EV infrastructure for 3,500 charging stations by 2022. Behind-the-meter infrastructure includes wiring, conduits, transformers, electric panels and new meter service.

Eversource will prioritize public access lots, workplaces and multi-unit dwellings. Hotels are well-positioned to be funded by this program.

Make Ready will enable both level 2 stations and DC Fast Chargers. DC Fast Chargers cost more than level 2 stations, and they charge vehicles faster.

Since EV infrastructure is often the biggest expense for businesses that add charging stations, Make Ready participants will save a bundle and have more stations available for their guests and staff.

Eversource will own the behind-the-meter infrastructure that it installs. The site hosts or the third party operators will own the charging stations.

It's important to note that use of the Make Ready-funded charging stations won't increase the demand charges for buildings--just the demand charges for the EV stations. In other words, they won't have a big impact on demand charges.

The application form is here.

If you have questions about the program and how your hotel can take advantage of it, contact Greg Senosk (gregory.senosk@eversource.com).

2018 Green Lodging Trends Report:

Assess How your Hotel Measures Up

The annual Green Lodging Trends Report enables participants to compare their green programs with their peers, and understand which green practices and products are gaining ground. Last year, 2100 hotels from 46 countries took part in the survey.

You can participate in 2018 by completing the 100-question survey between July 9 and August 10.

If you do, you'll receive a free report, comparing your property to peers locally and worldwide.

You can access last year's report here.

NEWS

Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel's Waste Management Program:

Portrayed in a New Video and Case Study

RecyclingWorks MA just released a terrific video and a case study about the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel (WBW) waste management program.

The video featured WBW's Anthony Dinatale (Director of Engineering) and Ashley Dilieto (Engineering Coordinator and Chair of the Sustainability Committee), and Waste Management's Scott Peters (Major Account Manager).

WBW has a comprehensive single-stream recycling program with containers throughout the property, including guest rooms. They train their staff by using emails, newsletters and signs; and at department meetings and the hotel's Green Week and Earth Day activities. Sustainability Committee members take field trips to learn about new practices and technologies.

The WBW food waste program has several facets.

Waste prevention: WBW chefs identify foods that are often uneaten or partially eaten, and make adjustments accordingly.
Food Donation: WBW has rescued and donated over 1800 pounds of food in six months. Rescuing Leftover Cuisine volunteers pick it up and deliver it to Rosie's Place and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Food Waste Diversion: WBW diverts nearly 65 tons of food waste per year. Waste Management processes it in Charlestown and takes the slurry to an anaerobic digestion facility where it's converted to energy and fertilizer.

WBW reuses some of its surplus furniture internally, and donates some of it to staff. Their leftover bathroom amenities go to Clean the World.

Since WBW implemented their waste management program, their waste bill has fallen from $16,000/month to less than $10,000/month.

I encourage you to view the video, in particular, so you can see WBW's equipment and processes.

IDEAS

How to Recycle and Dispose of Electronics Properly

Electronic waste, also called e-waste, is comprised of discarded computers, televisions, audio/visual equipment, phones and office equipment.

When handled properly, discarded electronics are stripped of data and then donated or sold; or recycled by companies that separate the materials and then sell the plastic, metals and glass.

It's important for hotels to dispose of their e-waste carefully.

Some e-waste is subject to the MA Waste Disposal Bans. Many flat screen monitors and TV's have fluorescent lamps that contain mercury. These must be, "recycled as a Universal Waste or managed as a hazardous waste."
All computer data should be deleted from computers for security purposes.
E-waste contains hazardous materials that can cause health and environmental harm when managed improperly.
E-waste recycling creates jobs and conserves resources.

According to Waste Management's Michelle Guiney, hoteliers can feel confident that their e-waste is managed well when it goes to vendors that adhere to one of the three industry certification standards: R2 (Responsible Recycling Practices), e-Stewards or RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard).

The RecyclingWorks MA website lists haulers that pick up e-waste in Boston. Hoteliers should assure that their haulers take their e-waste to companies that meet one of the three certification standards mentioned above.

ARTICLES

Whole World Water:

Reduce Bottled Water Use and Improve Drinking Water Access Worldwide

Many hotels team up with Whole World Water (WWW) to help solve two global problems: reducing the environmental impact of bottled water and helping impoverished people secure clean drinking water. Currently, about one billion people don't have a secure water source.

Hotels that want to join the WWW initiative pay a $1,000 licensing fee. WWW helps its members identify a water filtration vendor that will install units onsite for a lease price of around $250 - $300 per month.

Hotels then sell the filtered water (still and sparkling) in WWW-labeled reusable glass bottles to guests--and donate 10% of the proceeds to the WWW Fund. WWW uses that money to provide grants for clean water initiatives around the world.

WWW is a UK company that was founded in 2013. At least several dozen hotels and hotel groups participate in their program.

Richard Branson describes the program in this video.