greening your lodging - water conservation

Money Saving Tips - Water Conservation
Reprinted with permission from www.GreenLodgingNews.com

• Cover your pool to reduce evaporation. Pool covering also helps to keep the pool clean and will reduce heating bills. Drain pool only when necessary.
  
  
• Implement a linen and towel reuse program.
  
  
• Install reduced flow shower heads. Some come with filters that filter out chlorine.
  
  
• Repair leaky taps and toilets. Implement a preventive maintenance program to catch leaks.
  
  
• Install waterless urinals.
  
  
• Install dual flush toilets. These can use less than one gallon per flush compared to standard 1.5-gallon models.
  
  
• Install low-flow faucet aerators in kitchen and bathroom sinks. In most cases, aerators can be installed without having to replace the entire faucet.
  
  
• In public areas of the hotel, use faucets that incorporate motion sensing or infrared on/off technology.
  
  
• Purchase water-efficient dishwashers.
  
  
• Collect rainwater and use it for lawn and landscaping irrigation.
  
  
• Do not use running water to defrost food.
  
  
• Do not let the tap run while cleaning vegetables. Rinse them in a plugged sink.
  
  
• Use a broom rather than a hose to clean outdoor paths and paved areas.
  
  
• Water grass and plants only when needed.
  
  
• Water early in the morning or late in the afternoon when evaporation is minimal.
  
  
• Water the roots of plants, not the leaves.
  
  
• Switch off automatic sprinkling systems during rainy periods.
  
  
• Reduce your lawn area by using native shrubs and plants. They require less water.
  
  
• Mulching can prevent up to 70 percent of evaporative loss.
  
  
• Consider closed-loop or reclamation systems that recycle water.
  
  
• Incorporate separate water meters throughout the property.
  
  
• Set targets for water consumption.
  
  
• Implement a procedure for staff to report problems involving water waste.
  
  
• Check all drain stoppers in bathtubs and sinks regularly to ensure proper function and seal.
  
  
• Clean all aerators and showerheads regularly to ensure optimal water flow.
  
  
• Make sure spout diverters in the bathtub are in working order.
  
  
• Drip irrigation systems are much more efficient than sprinklers.
  
  
• Place signage at the back of the house to encourage water conservation.
  
  
• Pool or beach showers should be controlled with a pull chain.
  
  
• Serve water in the restaurant by request only.
  
  
• In meeting rooms, serve water in pitchers but do not pre-pour water in glasses.
  
  
• Retrofit flushometer (tank-less) toilets with water-saving diaphragms, which save one gallon (20 percent) per flush.
  
  
• Set urinals with programmable automatic flush valves to a water-saving mode that flushes the urinal after more than one use.
  
  
• Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste.
  
  
• Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up.
  
  
• Insulate your water pipes.
  
  
• Install water softening systems only when necessary. Save water and salt by running the minimum amount of regenerations necessary to maintain water softness.
  
  
• Pre-rinse nozzles in the kitchen can save tens of thousands of gallons of water per year.
  
  
• Plant drought-tolerant plants.
  

Reprinted with permission from www.GreenLodgingNews.com.