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EnvironmentalJune 30, 2010Green Certification: Focus Area 2 - EnergyEnergy conservation is one of the most popular "green" activities people and businesses like to participate in. It's possibly the most visible green actions you can take. And it's relatively easy to do, at least most of the time. Continue reading "Green Certification: Focus Area 2 - Energy" » May 14, 2010Green Certification: Focus Area 1 - ChemicalsBetter living through chemistry is an advertising rhyme, and social statement. It's gone too far. Continue reading "Green Certification: Focus Area 1 - Chemicals" » April 23, 2010Eight Areas of Focus for Green CertificationFor B&Bs wanting to be greener, and possibly get green certified, there are generally eight areas for innkeepers to focus. This is one article in a multi-part series on green certification. Continue reading "Eight Areas of Focus for Green Certification" » April 7, 2010How Do You Green-Certify Your B&B?The first steps you take toward green operations and green certification go together.
April 4, 2010Do You Want To Green-Certify Your B&B?Should a bed and breakfast go through a green certification process or not? I can, and have, argued both sides of that question. August 28, 2009B&B Consulting Job Reviews: Going Green in the Housekeeping DepartmentSeveral of my consulting jobs have revolved around the volatile subject of housekeeping. I'm combining several discussions about cleaning and housekeeping for this article. Continue reading "B&B Consulting Job Reviews: Going Green in the Housekeeping Department" » August 20, 2009B&B Consulting Job Reviews: Going Green in the Laundry RoomEach consulting job I've had has taught me how differently everyone approaches their lodging business. You can be sure their approach to greening their properties is unique too. Let me share highlights of various consulting jobs I've had. This article covers greening the laundry room. Continue reading "B&B Consulting Job Reviews: Going Green in the Laundry Room" » December 31, 2007A Road Atlas to Environmental Issues For Travelers: OR Green Living on The RoadHow environmentally active are you in your daily life? Do you take your green habits on the road with you? Continue reading "A Road Atlas to Environmental Issues For Travelers: OR Green Living on The Road" » December 26, 2007Home Environmental Issues: OR Green Living at HomeHow environmentally sensitive are you in your daily life? Do you recycle? Is organic food at least part of your diet? What about resource conservation -- with energy and water? There may be even more ways you can be environmentally active. Continue reading "Home Environmental Issues: OR Green Living at Home" » September 3, 2007Organic Natural Fiber TowelsLast year I reported on the joys of 100-percent bamboo sheets and met with curiosity and interest. Here a year later I'm still loving them. My bamboo sheets are all I've used during the past year to give them a hard test, and they still look great. At the same time I bought bamboo sheets I bought natural-fiber and -color (no dyes) towels. What is natural fiber? Fabric made of plant cellulose instead of synthetic fibers. July 22, 2007Bulk Soap and ShampooOne hotel issue that's been important to me for years is the use of bulk bathroom amenities. By using quality shampoo, bath gel, conditioner and even lotions in bulk dispensers you not only take care of your guests -- your primary responsibility -- but also you take care of your budget and the environment. What a great win-win all the way around! April 1, 2007Green Travel and B&BsThere is so much going on with the greening of the hospitality these days I am both energized and overwhelmed. It's great! Take a look at Green Lodging News this week to see me profiled -- it's always a kick to see your name in "print". This is a great weekly ezine promoting the greening of the hotel industry. Subscribe if you have any interest in expanding your environmental or hospitality knowledge. March 11, 2007Sustainable Development for B&BsDuring the Greening of Hospitality Industry conference (GMIC) I attendend in Portland, OR, in February, I was introduced to several high-end hotel properties that are stepping up to being environmentally sound hotels and adopting energy conservation as one of the actions they are taking to preserve the environment, and their budgets. October 22, 2006Green Business Plan Statistics for an Environmentally Friendly HotelI have stood on my soap box for years talking about the wisdom of running a green B&B. I've been asked several times to review how much money is saved by conserving water and energy, only two of the resources I urge innkeepers to conserve. Here is a list of statistics about the actual resource savings for you to apply your water and energy rates to for coming up with how much you will save by implementing an environmentally friendly operations program. Continue reading "Green Business Plan Statistics for an Environmentally Friendly Hotel" » July 7, 2006Organic Bamboo-fiber Bed SheetsWhile attending a bed and breakfast conference recently, I visited Inn Style in the vendor section. Initially I only wanted to find out whether they were carrying any organic cotton sheets and towels. But I so quickly got side-tracked with other wonderful discoveries that I forgot to pursue my original question. What was so exciting as to get me off track? Bamboo sheets. 100% bamboo fiber sheets, not a bamboo/cotton blend. March 30, 2006An Effective Towel/Sheet Reuse Program for the B&B Innkeeper
There are so many ways to save money in your bed and breakfast without hurting your customer service or hospitality. One goal of developing a hospitality business is to provide the maximum customer service and hospitality while not wasting money. Some money-saving approaches are also environmentally friendly. It's time to give thought to implementing one in specific: Continue reading "An Effective Towel/Sheet Reuse Program for the B&B Innkeeper" » November 21, 2005Marketing Your Green InnYour marketing materials, which at the very least include your website and brochure, are the avenue to tell prospective guests what experience they will have while staying at your inn. Those marketing avenues also give you a way to communicate your guest amenities, rules, contact information, and other important facts about your B&B business. March 31, 2005Marketing Your Green B&BThe most successful inns establish a specific market niche and work tirelessly to ensure all aspects of running it reflect that niche. November 5, 2004Green Conference CentersMeeting rooms and conference centers are a common additional revenue source for hotels; they could be for B&Bs too. Regardless of your property's size, having separate space for a meeting or conference is a smart move. Consider, while you are developing your conference center space, creating a green environment and practice for that space. If you already have a meeting room, that could be a great place to begin sustainable practices. September 27, 2004Wool Mattress PadsThere was a time I could sleep well anywhere, any time. As I "matured", my sleeping needs matured as well. I have migrated from thinking that one bed is like any other bed to understanding that bed quality, construction, and materials matter greatly in providing a good night's sleep. Upscale property owners and managers have known that for a long time. Paying guests understand it too and vote with their dollar. Your challenge is finding the balance that will satisfy the biggest majority of your guests. The bed pad is the first step in making a great sleeping surface for you guests. September 23, 2000Environmental InnkeepingHave you ever wondered about B&B innkeeping and waste? I'll tell you that my environmental heart was tugged at daily by the amount of waste I perceived in running my B&B. Now, I managed an inn 12 years ago and technology has come a long way since then, but there were still a few things I could do even "back then" to help minimize waste. |
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