HOUSEKEEPING
MANAGEMENT
SECOND EDITION ︳MATT A. CASADO
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CHAPTER 12
Environmental Management and Sustainability
Main Concepts
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Environmental Concerns
Recycling in Lodging Properties
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Indoor Air Quality
Green Lodging Facilities
Green Lodging Certification
Sustainability and the Lodging Industry
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
• The planet’s ozone layer is deteriorating
because of the use of some chemical
compounds such as chloroflourocarbons.
• Carbon dioxide and methane gases are
causing a greenhouse effect, elevating the
temperature on the earth’s surface
dramatically changing the climate.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS (CONT.)
• Waste disposal is another environmental
problem. Traces of discarded prescription
drugs, corrosive materials, drain cleaners,
and strong chemicals can pollute the
drinking water supply.
• Toxic particles from public incinerators are
contaminating the atmosphere.
• Indoor air pollution can be caused by
strong chemical cleaning compounds.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS (CONT.)
• Hospitality managers should develop skills
and strategies to convert operational
procedures into environmentally friendly
ones.
• The housekeeping and engineering
departments can implement programs to
recycle materials, dispose of hazardous
waste, and minimize in-door air pollution.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
RECYCLING
• Some experts suggest that recycling can
reduce the amount of solid waste to
landfills by 70 percent.
• Source-reduced products prevent waste
from occurring before it starts.
• Lodging properties should put in place
recycling programs and emphasize
purchasing products that minimize waste.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
• Products labeled toxic or dangerous should be
disposed of safely. If placed out with regular
trash, they contaminate the atmosphere if
disposed of in incinerators.
• Particularly polluting when burning are synthetic
foams and some solvents and cleaning agents
whose atoms destroy the ozone layer.
• Some basic cleaning jobs can be performed with
green cleaners such as vinegar, vegetable oilbased soaps, borax, and baking soda.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
• Indoor air pollution can have negative health
effects on guests and employees. Lodging
properties, if polluted, can cause workers and
guests to suffer headaches, dizziness, allergies, and
other problems associated with poor air quality.
• Some of the chemicals commonly used in
housekeeping and engineering may be air
pollutants.
• The most effective way to improve air quality is
not using toxic chemicals in buildings and by
increasing ventilation and cleaning.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY (CONT.)
• Faulty vacuum cleaners can spread more
allergens that they remove.
• To prevent air contamination when
vacuuming, high-retention vacuum
cleaners should be used.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
GREEN LODGING FACILITIES
• Environmentally helpful improvements in lodging
establishments may lead to economic benefits
and competitive opportunities.
• By implementing programs aimed at minimizing
waste and reducing energy consumption, lodging
properties lower operating costs and help the
environment.
• By advertising to guests the actions taken,
lodging properties can gain customer loyalty and
enhance their public image.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
GREEN LODGING FACILITIES (CONT.)
• Some companies have introduced the concept of
environmentally friendly rooms, green rooms,
that appeal to “green-travelers” or environmentconscious guests.
• The extra fee charged to guests is gladly paid by
travelers sensitive to indoor-air quality and by
those in favor of the preservation of the
environment.
• A survey has shown that about 34% of travelers
seek hotels that are environmentally friendly.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
GREEN LODGING FACILITIES (CONT.)
• Marriott International has been at the
forefront of implementing recycling and
energy-savings programs.
• Marriott’s strategy is to reduce its carbon
footprint by 25 percent by 2017.
• Lodging properties can save around $5 per
occupied room per day when they give
their guests the choice of re-using towels
in guestrooms.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
GREEN LODGING CERTIFICATION
• Lodging properties that adopt a significant
program aimed at protecting the
environment can obtain certification from
organizations which will endorse their
properties’ efforts towards the preservation
of the planet’s ecosystem.
– A Green Seal certification means the
establishment has gone through a stringent
process to show that it has reduced its impact
on the environment and human health.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
GREEN LODGING CERTIFICATION
(CONT.)
– Green Lodging Programs have been developed by
states to provide travelers a green option for their
lodging needs. For example, California state
employees are encouraged to explore green
lodging options when on state business.
– Energy Star is a program that helps lower energy
costs and protect the environment through
energy-efficient products and practices.
– A LEED certification provides third-party
verification that a building project meets the
highest green building and performance
standards.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
GREEN LODGING CERTIFICATION
(CONT.)
• Green Globe provides services and
certification after verification by
independent auditors who assess the
sustainability performance of travel and
tourism businesses and their supply chain
partners. The green globe standards are a
collection of 337 compliance indicators
applied to 41 sustainability criteria.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SUSTAINABILITY
• Environmental sustainability can be
described as a variety of earth-friendly
practices and policies designed to meet the
needs of the present population without
comprising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
• Sustainability has become the test for longterm maintenance of well-being in terms of
environmental survival.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SUSTAINABILITY (CONT.)
• Most initiatives have focused on
stewardships of place dedicated to
minimizing or eliminating greenhouse gas
emissions by reaching carbon neutrality.
• Other initiatives are centered on greening
businesses with the dual purpose of
helping the earth’s ecosystems and
growing their environmentally conscious
customer base.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SUSTAINABILITY (CONT.)
• The underlying driver of direct human impact on
the environment is human consumption.
• The challenge of sustainability is to curb and
manage consumption in the Western world while
raising the standards of living of developing
countries without increasing its resources use
and environmental impact.
• You, as future hospitality administrators can
contribute greatly to this.
Copyright © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.