| Water Efficiency
Water Efficiency - A Key Element
of Swissôtel’s Green Hotel Initiative
According to a survey performed by the Travel Industry Association,
85% of travelers would prefer to stay at green properties if given
the choice. Swissôtel Atlanta, a luxury hotel located in
Buckhead, has demonstrated that you don’t have to sacrifice
comfort to be green; guests perceive conservation efforts as smart
and responsible, not cheap.
Swissôtel collaborated with the Georgia Environmental Partnership
(GEP) in 2000, with the goal of becoming a more environmentally
friendly property. GEP is a coalition composed of P²AD, Georgia
Tech’s Economic Development Institute and the University
of Georgia’s Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
Water efficiency is a key element of Swissôtel’s
environmental efforts, as well as energy efficiency and solid waste
reduction. Below are a few examples of Swissôtel’s
water efficiency measures:
- Linen reuse program - Guests have the option to reuse towels
and bedding linens. In addition to reducing water costs, a linen
reuse program saves energy, chemicals, and labor costs.
- Plumbing retrofits - Swissôtel installed 1.5 gpm aerators
on bathroom faucets, 2.5 gpm showerheads, and toilet fill cycle
diverters in guest rooms.
- Heating and cooling systems - Cooling tower blowdown is minimized
through automated conductivity controls, programmed to maintain
a high cycle of concentration. Furthermore, boiler condensate
is recycled and all once-through cooling systems were eliminated.
- Leak detection - Housekeeping and engineering departments are
required to use the Espresso Rapid Response System to report
leaks immediately upon discovery.
- Ice machines - Water-cooled commercial ice machines were converted
to air-cooled machines.
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