Someone else may be doing the laundry (awesome), but guests are responsible for a big portion of a hotel’s total water use. Listen up:
Simple things, like turning off the faucet and reusing the towels, can help your hotel save water and create a greener world. (via Nicor)
Yes, hotels and motels use a lot of water, but guess what—it’s not all within their control. According to Tara O’Hare of the EPA’s WaterSense program, guests are responsible for about 30 percent of a hotel’s total water use.
Luckily, there are simple ways water-loving travelers can help conserve. For starters, O’Hare suggests travelers take the same steps they do at home, such as keeping their showers short, and turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth.
“Guests can also keep their thermostat at a moderate temperature to reduce the energy and water needed to heat and cool their rooms,” she adds.
Another hot tip: Ask at the front desk if the hotel has a towel and linen reuse program. Participating reduces the water used for laundry – and gives a whole new meaning to the term “traveling light.”
Learn More:
- Read about more ways to save water while traveling from Go Green Travel Green
- Love taking a hot shower after a full day of travel? Learn how reusing your towel makes a difference in this article from the Smithsonian
- Stay someplace greener with the Green Hotels Association
The fine print:
- This segment was produced in partnership with Cornell’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
