Monday, January 28, 2008

Greening Our Hotels and A Place for Event Leftovers

lI wish more hotels would hop on the green bandwagon. Fairmont and Kimpton properties are leading the way, but I'm appalled at the lack of green initiatives at most other properties I visit. A re-use your towel and bed linen program is such a no-brainer and takes no effort on the part of the hotel other than printing signs (on recycled paper with soy or vegetable based ink, please!). Housekeeping staff replace towels only when a guest has placed them in the tub and only change bed linens every 3 days (unless the guest requests otherwise). Of course, as guests, if a hotel offers this program, we need to utilize it!

When I stayed at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal last August, I was elated that the lights in my room contained CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) and there was a container for recycling office paper, newspaper, cans and bottles. Each day that I received a paper, it was not in a plastic bag, but a re-usable fabric bag. They also had a re-use your towel and bed linen program as well as many more impressive initiatives.

In October, when I stayed at the Omni in Chicago and their property at CNN Center in Atlanta two weeks ago, I was disappointed that there was no recycling to be found anywhere. Since I knew I wouldn't read my daily paper, I asked that it not be delivered to my room; however, somebody on staff didn't get that memo and I still received one each business day. Since there was no recycling in my sleeping room or anywhere else in the hotel, I took my newspapers and all office papers home with me to recycle there.

I wrote the Omni to tell them about my disappointment that they don't have a recycling program and received a prompt response from the Guest Services Manager that my concern would be forwarded to the GM. I really hope others write, too. If we don't voice our dissatisfaction with the status quo, they won't think anything is wrong and nothing will change.

Green Tip:
A Place for Event Leftovers

Don't know what to do with your leftover tote bags, volunteer t-shirts, flower arrangements, and food from your meeting and event? The folks at Special E will pick it up for you and either recycle it or deliver it to people in need. Your event must have over 100 people or more. They charge a fee to cover administrative costs and pick-up/delivery fees and base the price on the type, size and location of the program and the leftover items to be rescued.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Greening Our Airports and Airlines and Green Tips When Staying in a Hotel Room

Last week, I traveled from Baltimore to Atlanta for meetings of the International Special Events Society. One habit I have begun is to bring with me my trusty Sigg water bottle since I no longer purchase bottled water (if I can help it). I put in a little filtered water to last me until I get to Security and then when I get through, I purchase an evil plastic bottle of water. In the past, when I've been at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, I found one set of recycling containers in my concourse. I'd pour the water from the plastic bottle into my Sigg bottle and then immediately recycle the plastic. This time, the recycling was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until I was in line to board that I saw an airport employee and found out that the recycling bins were about 50 yards away at the far end of the concourse. No time to recycle.

Why don't airports put recycling containers right next to each and every trash can?

On my 2-hour flight to Atlanta, I didn't request any beverages. Do airlines recycle bottles and cans? My very green boyfriend asked this once and when he was told that his can of soda would not be recycled, he held on to it and recycled it at home. Bless his heart.

On my way back from Atlanta, as soon as I got off the escalator to my concourse, I noticed a HUGE paper recycling container...in a corner. That was the only recycling container I saw at Hartsfield. No recycling for cans or bottles or anything else.

On the plane, I brought my own travel mug and organic tea. I asked the flight attendant providing beverage service for some hot water and all was well with the world. No waste here.

I plan to write Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta and BWI Thurgood Marshall about upping their recycling efforts. Unless we let them how unhappy we are, they'll think we are okay with the status quo.

Green Tip:
Green Tips When Staying in a Hotel Room

  • If you hotel has a linen reuse program (re-use your towel, bedding not changed every day), participate in it!

  • Set thermostat to 65 degrees

  • When you are not in your room, turn off air conditioning, all lights, the television, radio and your laptop

  • Reduce water usage by taking a shower instead of a bath

  • Don't let the water run when brushing your teeth!

  • Unplug your phone charger when not in use

  • Don't leave the bathroom light on all night - bring your own nightlight

  • If the hotel provides a newspaper each day and you don't plan to read it, request that it not be delivered to your room

  • If the hotel has a recycling program for bottles, cans and mixed paper, participate in it! If it doesn't, bring the recycling home with you and recycle there!

  • Support hotels that offer these programs - Kimpton and Fairmont properties have green initiatives. If your hotel does not have any green initiatives, write them and complain!

  • Pick up at least 1 piece of litter every day
This list was inspired by Cisco's attendee tips for Cisco Live 2008

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Flood Annapolis and If you can't recycle at home or your office, make it happen!

On Thursday, January 17th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., I'm joining a group of activists to descend on Annapolis and demand that our elected officials find solutions to global warming. Maryland is one of the most vulnerable states when it comes to the effect of global warming. We need to demand that something is done now!

Green Tip:
If you can't recycle at home or your office, make it happen!

Don't be afraid to speak out! If you are unhappy with the recycling program for your jurisdiction or office building (or lack thereof), write your local officials and ask for change! Organize a petition within your neighborhood or office! There is no reason why we can't ALL recycle and reduce the amount of waste that goes into our overflowing landfills.

For information about recycling in your area, visit www.earth911.org.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Eliminating All the Stuff and The Story of Stuff

I recently moved my office and as a result, I've been in purge mode. I went through papers and magazines that I had hoped to read one day and finally realized it probably won't happen. I set aside those of critical importance that I am determined to read (what happened to that resolution to read 1 hour each day?).

I recycled paper that can't be used again and for paper that was only printed on one side, I made a stack that is now sitting at my printer for internal print jobs. I recycled magazines that are a few years old knowing that I will never have 2.3 seconds to look at them again.

The paper was easy to reuse and recycle, but the biggest cause of heart burn were all the tchotchkes - "stuff" that I picked up a trade shows, or sent by vendors, or received at an event or used at an event I once produced.

Do we really need all this STUFF??? Pens and post it notes are helpful, but think about the energy used to produce and ship this stuff only to have it end up in the landfill - many times after only one use. We are running out of earth on Mother Earth to accommodate all this stuff! Did you know that 99% of stuff is trashed in 6 months?

What am I going to do with it? Those that are still usable will go to my friend's kids -- unexpected gifts from Aunt Lori. Whoopie! For those that are re-giftable, I'm going to look on the website earth911.org to see if I can find a way to recycle it. And if not, my heartburn will return as the stuff goes to the landfill.

Green Tip:

Watch The Story of Stuff

I strongly urge you to take 20 minutes during your lunch break (if you get one) and watch this fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. It is VERY interesting, fun and funny to watch! It exposes the connections between the huge number of environmental and social issues and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.