The Innkeeping Blog

What can one say about the environment and “being green” that hasn’t already been said? I don’t claim to be an authority on environmental matters, but I was a junior member of Greenpeace way back in the late 80s! While my motivation to join the high school Greenpeace club had more to do with a certain young lady than my desire to save the whales, I nevertheless joined and learned a little something.

My point with that little anecdote? No matter what your motivation to be “green,” or if you believe in Global Warming or not, it’s a good decision. Let’s review some of the reasons you should consider following environmentally-friendly practices at your inn:

Using less energy saves you money.
Who wants to spend more money running their inn than necessary?

It’s wrong to be wasteful.
We live in one of the most privileged societies in the world, which (in my opinion) breeds a bit of laziness and superfluous consumption. If there is no need to keep the water running, then turn it off. If your thermostats can be programmed to change temperatures during times guests might be away, you should consider taking the time to program them.

There’s a great marketing angle.
Research is showing that consumers are more likely to go with a product or service that is labeled “environmentally-friendly,” even though there is little evidence that they’re willing to spend more for it. Nevertheless, you should get the right light bulbs, service organic foods, use organic inputs in your garden and yard, etc. Seek out a legitimate environmental certification for your property, and wear it on your sleeve.

It’s our responsibility to love Mother Nature
Plain and simple – as inhabitants of a fragile ecosystem, it is our moral obligation to be kind to our environment and immoral to have a net-destructive impact on our world. Do you compost waste from the kitchen? Do you avoid harmful chemicals when alternatives are available?

So, take your pick! Which reason fits best with you today? I’m not going to preach to you which one trumps the others, because in the end, the result is the hopefully the same – having a net-positive impact on our environment.

I believe innkeepers are in a unique position within the greater lodging industry to be allies with our environment. I think guests see B&Bs as woven into the fabric of the environment – probably more than a big-box hotel. Maybe it’s because our buildings have been around longer and have been preserved with great care. Because each individual inn is on a much smaller scale than a 500-room hotel, it might be easier for an innkeeper to implement some responsible practices. There are only two water heaters on which to moderate the temperature. There are 20, not 2,000, incandescent light bulbs in the building to change to fluorescent. There are six thermostats to program, not 500. You get the point.

Even at our comparatively small scale, making these changes can be burdensome. But, how much of life is in some form burdensome? We all take on burdens each day based on what will come for having taken on those burdens. Are any of the arguments above worthy of making some changes? I hope so. What goes around comes around, right?

I welcome your ideas, comments and suggestions.

Jay