July 24, 2013
Dear Boston Green Tourism Members,  
                                                  

Our next Boston Green Tourism meeting will be Thursday August 1 from 2:30 to 4:00 at Taj Boston, in The Club on floor 15, overlooking the Boston Common. Taj Boston is at 15 Arlington, near the corner of Newbury Street. A map is here.

 

Thank you to our host: Maureen Albright.  

 

I hope to see you there!

 

Dan Ruben 

SPEAKERS

Maureen Albright, Director of Engineering, Taj Boston, will discuss facets of her hotel's green program, including its recent condensate recovery project and their experiment with the ECOVIM food waste dehydration machine.

 

She will lead us on a green tour after the meeting.

 

Andrew Shakman, President, CEO of LeanPath, Inc., will discuss food waste 

prevention. What if your facility could reduce its food purchases by 2 to 6 percent without compromising quality or guest satisfaction? Andrew has helped many businesses, including casinos and hotels, achieve that goal by identifying and reducing their pre-consumer food waste.

 

Food waste prevention can also help hotels comply with the MA ban on commercial food waste disposal, which starts next summer. 

 

Foodservice Director Magazine named Andrew  one of the "20 Most Influential" leaders in the foodservice industry. He co-invented the first automated food waste tracking system, a tool which enables F&B operators to measure, analyze and reduce pre-consumer food waste. Andrew and LeanPath have been featured in BusinessWeek, NPR's All Things Considered and Forbes.  

 

Shawn Whalen, Regional Manager Schwank USA will tell us how hotels use 

infrared heating for outdoor events, entrances and interior spaces with high ceilings 

to reduce energy costs and improve guest and staff comfort.

 

 

 

Bret Gundersen, Northeast Regional Sales Manager, Panasonic Ventilation Products, will describe recent innovations in bathroom ventilation for hotels. New systems reduce energy use, improve indoor air quality and are quieter than their predecessors.

 

Bret will also speak about proper ventilation sizing for hotels, the cost advantage of Energy Star rated exhaust fans, and control strategies to ensure energy efficient performance.

IDEAS

Sheraton Boston Finds Home for its Used Furniture, Saves Money; IRN Made Arrangements 

Sheraton Boston recently donated 626 surplus pieces of furniture to a community development project in El Salvador.        

  

Sheraton asked Waste Management for alternatives to throwing the furniture away, and Waste Management recommended IRN.

 

Jeff Hanulec, Sheraton Boston's Director of Engineering & Sustainability, said that the project, "matches Sheraton's commitment to a sustainable community, and it was actually easier, less expensive, and more efficient than throwing the surplus away." 

 

The process was easier and more efficient, because IRN completed the job with only two trailers, rather than the seven or eight roll-off containers that would have been required for disposal.


IRN finds homes for furniture, kitchens, appliances, bathroom fixtures, dishware, curtains, linens and more. IRN's Jay Baldwin says that businesses save 20% to 30% compared to disposal.

 

 

Hotel Chain Energy and Water Use Reduction Goals 

Does your property have a goal for energy and water use reduction? If so, how do they compare to the goals of the following large hotel chains? 

  • Starwood (Sheraton, Westin, W, Element, Aloft, Le Meridien, etc.): ↓ 30% energy, ↓ 20% water by 2020.
  • Marriott: ↓ 20% energy, ↓ 20% water by 2020.
  • Hilton: ↓ 20% energy, ↓ 10% water by 2014.
  • Hyatt: ↓ 25% energy, ↓ 20% water, ↓ waste 25% by 2015.
  • IHG (InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, etc.): ↓ energy 6% to 10% between 2010 and 2012.
  • Wyndham: ↓ 12% energy by 2016.
NEWS

EPA Debuts Upgraded Energy Star Portfolio Manager Benchmarking Tool  

Press Release, July 18

 

Energy Star Portfolio Manager is running again, with an improved format. The interface is more user-friendly, the reporting is better and other improvements have been made.     

Efforts grow in Mass. to turn food waste into energy; State's landfill rules spur plans for plants
David Abel, The Boston Globe, July 22. 

This article describes how the MA food waste ban, which starts next July, will impact the state, and how it is fostering the industry that transforms food waste into energy and compost.
OPPORTUNITIES

Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference        

"The Lodging Green & Sustainability Conference is a 3-day event that will help hotel owners and executives create and operate eco-friendly properties. Attendees will hear from experts in sustainability who will share insights about green certification, energy management and the benefits of investing in sustainable properties. Panels and breakout sessions will cover advances in green design, corporate responsibility programs and eco-friendly hotel marketing. The event will also feature a dynamic exhibit area."

 

The keynote speaker will be Robert Kennedy, Jr. Tedd Saunders and I will be among the other speakers.

 

Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) Webinar 

August 7, 4:00 to 5:00

 

"Over 15,000 hotels around the world have adopted the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) methodology that allows them to calculate and communicate the carbon footprint of hotel stays and meetings in a consistent and transparent way. Join the International Tourism Partnership and World Travel & Tourism Council on a webinar to learn how you can measure your carbon footprint in order to;

 

- Provide the carbon footprint information your customers are requesting
- Understand your environmental impacts and start to reduce these, as well as your costs!
- Enhance your reporting

- Demonstrate your commitment to good environmental management."

ARTICLES

A Comprehensive Guide to Water Conservation: The Bottom Line Impacts, 

 Challenges and Rewards

This International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) guide is a good resource for helping facility managers slash their water bills. 

 

Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency Expenditures

Brent Hardy, Energy Manager Today, July 17.

This article highlights federal government tax incentives 

 

Solar Activated Tinting Glass Needs No Electronics

Linda HardestyMay 17.

Solar Tinted Glass darkens in response to sunlight, blocking solar gain and ultraviolet light. 
2013 MEETINGS   

August 1: Taj Boston

September 12

October 24

December 5: Renaissance Boston Waterfront  

 

See you August 1 at Taj Boston!