Green Suites International's ecological solutions significantly reduce day-to-day operating expenses while increasing hotel's efficiency, profitability and image with today's 43 million environmentally aware travelers

"The myriad of ecological solutions we bring to bear can have a very positive impact on the bottom-line," said Ray Burger, Green Suites International's VP - Sales & Marketing. "We have taken great time and care to develop and market ecological solutions that truly provide unmatched value both to lodging property owners, as well as to today's estimated 43 million environmentally aware travelers in the U.S."

The following a Top 10 List of Green Suites International cost-saving strategies implemented with great success by thousands of lodging properties of all types across the U.S.

Top 10 Green Cost Cutters

For most properties, increasing water efficiency is one of the most significant opportunities for realizing cost savings. The four water-saving solutions detailed below are surprisingly easy to implement and very affordable, particularly since more local utilities today offer substantial rebates for such investments.

For most properties, increasing water efficiency is one of the most significant opportunities for realizing cost savings. The four water-saving solutions detailed below are surprisingly easy to implement and very affordable, particularly since more local utilities today offer substantial rebates for such investments.

1. O-Tech Direct Injection Ozone Laundry System. Laundry water usage is reduced by up to 40 percent, energy consumption by up to 40 percent, and chemical costs by up to 50 percent. Hot-water laundry cycles are decreased through the use of Ozone, and a reduction in chemical agents helps extend the life of linens and towels up to 50 percent while minimizing related environmental contamination. The system has a projected life span of 20 years with an estimated payback of one to two years."The City of San Antonio, Texas, prides itself on being on the forefront of water and energy saving initiatives — and we're pleased to work with companies such as Green Suites International to foster water conservation in commercial and industrial laundry applications, " said Eddie Wilcut, Commercial Conservation Planner for the San Antonio Water System. "About 60 percent of the costs incurred to install O-Tech systems on three of our washers in January 2001 was covered by rebates from local utilities," said Doug Bartells, Vice President and GM of the 123-room Best Western Executive Inn in downtown Seattle. "In the end, we paid just about $8,000 out-of-pocket to outfit three washing machines with O-Tech, and by year's end we will have recouped that money in energy, water/sewer and chemicals savings."
2. Early-Closure Toilet Flapper. The toilet-flapper cone is made with an inlet hole and a bleed hole for water to pass through, permitting the cone to return quickly to the sealed position. An adjustable valve at the inlet hole allows for a quality flush. A diverter valve, which does not effect the quality of the flush, diverts water from the toilet bowl refill tube into the tank so that the bowl and tank fill at the same approximate time. Producing a savings of between 0.6 and 1.5 gallons per flush. The solution has a projected life span of five years with and estimated payback of six months.
3. Water-Efficient Showerheads and Aerators. Uses a single-orifice design made from Delrin, a hydrolysis plumbing resin. The Venturi vent system creates aeration and back pressure, which delivers a shimmering full-force effect. For monies gained from every gallon saved, one typically also yields a savings of two to five times that amount relating to energy consumption to heat water. Showerheads are available in 2.0 and 2.5 gpm flow, and aerators in 1.5 gpm flow. The solutions have a projected life span of five years and payback of six months.
4. Water Conservation Cards. In-room information and propertywide educational programs request and encouraging guests and staff to conserve water and energy. According to the National Association of Linen Management, cleaning sheets and towels cost more than $1.50 per occupied room in water, energy, detergent and general wear. The linens and towels reuse program has an estimated payback of one day and properties can bankroll marginal marketing materials costs with Green Suites' Pennies Per Occupied Room program."We have implemented just a few of Green Suites International's water and energy saving solutions and expect to save $100,000 per year at just six of our properties. If we take this program to the rest of our portfolio, it would deliver more than $300,000 in total cost containment that goes directly to our bottom line ever year," said Alpesh Patel, KANA Hotels VP."Project Planet is a win-win deal for everyone," according to Kirby Payne, President of American Hospitality Management Co."Green Suites' EcoRooms package of guestroom water and energy saving solutions is both a complete turnkey cost-containment program and an image marketing machine. I can't tell you how many guest have come to us and personally thanked us for our EcoRooms — and come back to stay in them — as well as told others about us," said General Manager Chuck Valley of The Best Western Park Plaza, in Puyallup, Wash., which has been aboard the EcoRooms program for seven years. Improving energy efficiency also yields immediate and significant on-going cost savings. With Green Suites International's energy-saving solutions in place, paybacks are measured in months with continued ROI for years and years.
5. Guestat Programmable Digital Thermostat. Designed to replace traditional thermostats in virtually all HVAC types. Improves guest satisfaction while reducing HVAC energy costs by as much as 25 percent. Digital display prevents guests' "cranking" of controls to the extremes. Programmable to temperature setback points. Projected life span of 25 years and estimated payback of six to 12 months.
6. Compact Fluorescent Table Lamp. Available in three wattages: 14 watt (replacing a 60 watt incandescent), 20 watt (replacing 75 watt incandescent) and 26 watt (replacing 100 watt incandescent). Features instant "on." Matches hue and rendition of incandescent. Projected life span of 5-6 years and estimated payback of 12 to 18 months.
7. Compact Fluorescent Flood Lamp. For common areas, entry areas, lobbies, etc. R30 reflector lamp and ballast is available in 23-watt bulb rating with electronic (instant-on) ballast. Weather-resist models available. Bulbs available in tinted hues for designers' color preferences. Projected life span of 15,000 hours and estimated payback of four to eight months (in 24 hour operation).
8. LED Exit Sign Retrofit. Uses LED (light emitting diode) technology to reduce energy usage to 2 watts. LED's are available as bulbs for easy and convenient installation. Projected life span of 20 years and estimated payback of six to 12 months.
9. LED and Electroluminescent Night Lights. Consumes less than 15 cents of energy annually. Prevents nighttime falls — the number one cause of guest injury. Also saves significant energy as more than 40 percent of travelers leave bathroom lights on as night lights, with these standard lights consuming more than $50 in energy annually per room. Hard wired as a light switch or as a socket outlet. Projected life span of 20 years and estimated payback of six to 12 months."All of the lamps in our guestrooms, corridors and passageways, and public areas now use GE Lighting's energy-efficient Hospitality Solutions offered by Green Suites International. By next summer, we will have paid for the entire project, and we expect on-going energy savings of $16,000 or more annually to be realized by our property for many years to come, " said Richard Gaines, GM of the upscale 110-room Radisson Beverly Pavilion in Beverly Hills, Calif. "Our Green Suites floors really 'showed us the light' as far as other efficiency gains we can capture across our entire property. With an anticipated rebate of $6,000 or just under 10 percent of our capital costs for this lighting retrofit, we expect to reach a payback in seven months. After that, it's a savings of $60,000 or more a year with Green Suites' energy-efficient GE Lighting solutions," said Sean Collard, Assistant General Manager of the DoubleTree Guest Suites at Times Square in New York, about the property's two Green Suites floors. Rounding out the list of Top 10 Green Cost Cutters is a solution that offers one of the quickest paybacks and provides increased flexibility in managing an inventory of rooms. Green Suites' Nature's Mist Odor Control System helps hotels guarantee non-smoking rooms and improve guest satisfaction related to room cleanliness. And now, for just Pennies Per Occupied Room, hotels can implement the popular business-boosting odor control system.
10. Nature's Mist™ Odor Control System. Guarantee non-smoking rooms with Nature's Mist, which converts the foulest smelling smoking room into a non-smoking room in less than 20 minutes. Long lasting, safe and non-toxic, with no masking agents and no ozone, Nature's Mist is effective on all odors (cigar, cigarette, body odor, vomit, food odors, new construction, mildew, etc.). The solution leaves no residue yet creates a residual barrier, successfully eliminating odors for weeks. Projected life span of 10 years and estimated payback of one day."We believe so strongly in the bottom-line benefits of the Nature's Mist Odor Control System and related preventative maintenance program that for the past two years we've mandated its usage at each of our 13 Phoenix Inn Suites, as well as at our Hampton Inn and planned Hilton Garden Inn," said Regional Manager Scott Snyder. "Half of the battle to retain customers is 'the first impression. With Nature's Mist today we make lasting, positive first impressions with smokers and non-smokers alike — and that's a competitive advantage that's hard to place a price tag on, " said Adriano Corsini, GM of the 237-room Hilton Seattle Hotel. Jack Juve, Owner/Manager of the 50-room AmericInn Lodge & Suites in North Branch, Minn., said his property is using a variety of Green Suites International solutions, including Nature's Mist, the Guestatprogrammable digital in-room thermostat and GE Lighting energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs.

"A rebate of $1,000 from the local utility will cover a recent GE Lighting retrofit of my entire first floor, and I plan to cash in on the rebate again next year and finish the second floor," Juve said. "GE Lighting solutions (offered to hospitality through Green Suites International) have helped our AmericInn reduce our monthly electrical bill by 10 percent or more. Just as sweet, the 10-percent-plus cost savings goes directly to the bottom line and the upfront investment is negligible thanks to ongoing rebates.

"We're also testing Green Suites' Guestat guestroom energy management system, and have long been raving fans of the organization's Nature's Mist system," he said. "The more I try different Green Suites International solutions, the more I wonder 'What else do they offer that I might be missing out on?'"

Based in Upland, Calif., Green Suites International assists hotels by developing solutions that are profitable to hotels and image enhancing to the more than 43 million environmental travelers in the United States. Solutions include natural amenities delivered from elegant dispensers, non-toxic cleaners, air and water filtration systems and energy and water efficient products. Facilities reaping the benefits of Green Suites' solutions include properties from every state and 17 different countries. For more information on Green Suites International and its wide array of ecological solutions providing significant economic benefit, please contact Ray Burger, VP Sales & Marketing, at 888-590-2285, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.greensuites.com