Oct

Green Gazette (Issue 9) Eco Hotels, Volvo and Dog Days

By Tim

Middle of the week, middle of the month and nearly the end of the decade. Please explain where the last ten years went as I’m anxious to know? Welcome back to the green gazette and I can report that ten years on from 1999 we are living on a planet that gets a B+ for green ideas and initiatives but only a C- for actual actions. Both results are better than a decade ago and I think we will see both results improve rapidly over the next decade. That’s why I write the blog, it’s interesting to learn, share and conceive of the green ideas that are happening every single day. As I’ve said before it only takes an idea to initiate change and change is happening…be positive!

1lt First on the agenda today is the continued PR nightmare on very public display that Sigg are weathering. There’s a lot of speculation about how much information was known versus how much was concealed. I’d read this article and ensure you consider the facts when buying a reusable water bottle. We’re proud of our product (pictured on the left) but most importantly I think you have to question the ethical strategy of a company that is wearing the eco-label with such pride and yet their honesty remains in question and also the commitment to customer satisfaction looks to be misguided. I’m being polite but it’s no good way to treat your clients plus it negatively impacts the green industry on the whole which grates!

Next up we have a promising story from the world of business and corporate travel. The giant Starwood hotel chain (Sheraton, W Hotels, St. Regis) has opened a new property in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado which is officially being designated ‘eco-chic’. Eco-chic will be a new branded ‘title’ for the chain

Denver skyline

and new properties constructed or converted will have to meet certain rigorous green standards. Starwood has introduced nine such properties - all of which are U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. At this hotel environmental amenities include low-flow toilets, high-efficiency kitchen appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs and recycling bins in both guest rooms and public areas. It even has replaced “Do Not Disturb” signs with magnets. When you realise the energy/resources a busy hotel can use you understand the significant impact postive changes can make. I applaud Starwood and other like minded chains, I know in the world of corporate travel people will ask for ‘green’ hotels in years to come in the same way that a ‘no-smoking’ hotel was considered novel not so long ago.

volvo Here’s one of those tidbits where you initially think ‘no way’ but after thinking it over you are just simply amazed at the innovation big companies can show when they apply themselves. Volvo (trust the Swedes - I mean that in the best terms) are in the midst of turning their truck factory in Umea Sweden into the benchmark for ece-creativity. The entire plant is going to be carbon neutral (it would be better if we didn’t need to make cars but I’ll keep it real) and here is the pinnacle of innovation. The production machinery in the plant will be cooled by an ice-cold underground river beneath the plant! Seriously! Thus saving energy usage on a daily basis.

My last story is going to the dogs. Well…it’s about dogs and being a responsible pet owner which should extend to making good eco-decisions. Woof Woof I hear you say? The fact is we spend more on our pets than we do on a number of more signifcant things (medical research being one example) and that’s fine I guess. So let’s make sure when an environmental option exists for your pet it is considered and taken. Here’s a few with links to get started and then I’ll stop hounding you.

Dog waste bags that are bio-degradable -

Organic Pet Food -

Eco Toys for dogs and cats -

That’s all for tonight. Talk soon….

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