How much pollution do hotels and buildings produce?

Answer 1

I think resource depletion is the biggest flaw of the hospitality industry in regards to environmental abuse. Water and petroleum aren't the only Natural Resources hotels use extensively, though they are the biggies. Consider construction and decorating materials, and furnishings too. The hospitality industry may not directly cause pollution, but it contributes to it in other areas, the areas where their goods are made, and along the way to delivery. More care needs to be taken with the purchasing of goods to minimize resource depletion.

The authors identify ten environmental issues to watch because of the impact they can have on our lives. They list climate change, energy, water [resource sources and pollution], biodiversity and land use, chemicals and heavy metals, air pollution, waste management, ozone layer depletion, oceans and fisheries, and deforestation. By managing nature's bounty we will minimize our vulnerability to the changes we are facing. Draw upon your creativity to be innovative about ways you can run your business without depleting resources as fast, and maybe even help avoid that depletion.

Key environmental metrics include:

* energy: total used and renewable energy bought or used

* water: total used and water pollution

* air: greenhouse gas emissions, release of heavy metals and toxic chemicals, and emission of particulates

* waste: solid, recycled, and hazardous

* compliance: notices of violations and fines or paid penalites