Page 21 - CIJ Aug 2024 - Digital Edition

FOCUS

Sustainability, Climate

Change & Carbon Literacy

Aileen Williamson, Founder, AC-Eco, an expert in
hotel operations and Housekeeping with many
years of experience behind her, has followed
her passion for introducing and implementing
sustainability into housekeeping departments
of the hospitality industry and educating their

staff on climate change and carbon literacy.

limate change is that housekeeping staff turn
having a significant off lights and appliances
impact on the when leaving rooms, hotels can
hospitality industry. significantly reduce their energy
CFrom changing consumption. Additionally, using
guest dynamics, damage to heavy drapes, and closing curtains water usage and lessen the
infrastructure, and increasing can help to maintain a comfortable environmental impact of laundry
transportation issues for temperature in rooms without operations. These are essential
customers, staff and supply chains, relying on excessive energy use. ways to reduce water consumption
hotels are faced with the challenge Many hotels are now removing and minimise waste within hotel
of adapting and it is only through fridges from rooms. housekeeping departments.
adopting more sustainable Lastly, reducing waste to landfill
approaches as an industry can we Just consider how much energy is a key aspect of promoting
make a difference. 100 fridges in 100 empty rooms sustainability within hotel
use, then think about all the empty
The hospitality industry is a fridges in all the empty guest housekeeping departments. By
significant contributor to carbon rooms around the world. eliminating single-use items in
emissions, with hotels being rooms, using bulk amenities, and
one of the largest consumers of When it comes to implementing implementing circular purchasing
energy and water though many a sustainability plan, one of the practices, hotels can significantly
have committed to reducing their key aspects to consider is reducing reduce their waste output. Offering
carbon footprint and implementing water use and minimising water guests opportunities to recycle
sustainable practices to help waste. Housekeeping departments and properly dispose of waste can
combat climate change. play a significant role in this also help to promote sustainability
In order to reduce emissions effort. By utilising low-flow and encourage environmentally
and promote sustainability within showers and flow restrictors, conscious behaviours.
hotels can drastically decrease the
hotel housekeeping departments, amount of water used. By implementing strategies
there are several key strategies to reduce energy use, water
that can be implemented. Firstly, Promptly reporting leaks consumption and waste
reducing energy use and utilising helps to minimise water waste, generation, hotels can significantly
renewable energy sources while choosing chemical-free or reduce their carbon footprint
where possible is crucial. By eco-friendly cleaning products and promote a more sustainable
implementing advanced building and efficiently managing towels approach to housekeeping
management systems and ensuring and linen can further reduce operations.

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