General

• Ensure that your property does to impede access to, disrupt water supplies or cause any form of damage or inconvenience to neighbouring communities.

Staff

• Create a 'green team' at your property with the goal of continual improvement and scheduled re-evaluation and reporting.
• Create an incentive program to encourage your staff to participate in and improve upon environmentally-friendly practices.
• Put your sustainability policy and practices into writing and display in public and staff areas.
• Provide yearly staff training on green practices throughout the buildings and grounds and put informational posters in break rooms and guest areas.
• Under no circumstances employ children to complete work which is normally undertaken by adults and never under the age of 14.
• Ensure that children are protected against sexual exploitation at any time or place and that the Supplier and its employees follow the Child-Protection Code against sexual exploitation of children. Any suspicious behaviour from persons on the premises or on tour shall be reported to the local authorities.
• Educate your staff to:
• Turn off lights and turn down heating/air conditioning in unoccupied rooms and staff areas
• Continually check for and respond to leaking taps and toilets
• Close curtains to reduce the need air conditioning
• Continually check for and electrical equipment left on but not in use.
• Report opportunities to reduce resource consumption
• Make sure all rooms have linen reuse cards for both towels and sheets

Water and Energy

• Start a linen (both towels and sheets) reuse program in all guest rooms.
• To reduce water use, consider using rainwater or grey water for purposes such as watering the gardens, toilet flushing or fire suppression systems.
• Switch to drought resistant native plants in garden areas. Replace lawns with native ground cover.
• Install low-flow showerheads and aerators on all taps.
• Switch to low flow or dual flush toilets/urinals and check regularly for leaks. Add a sign in all bathrooms letting people know how to report leaks.
• Switch to LED regular and/or florescent lights in guest rooms, lobbies, and hallways.
• Install keycard master switches or occupancy sensors in guest rooms that control lights, electronics, blinds and temperature settings.
• Set the indoor temperature to 25° C or higher
• Purchase energy saving appliances install and insulated windows in all areas of the property.
• Make sure all waste-water is being properly treated either through an onsite or municipal sewage system.

Recycling and Waste

• Provide guest room recycler baskets for newspaper, paper, glass, aluminum, cardboard, metal and plastic.
• Provide recycling bins in public areas, in the kitchen and in the back office to make recycling as easy as possible.
• Ensure that all hazardous waste (i.e., paint, coating, printer cartridges, mercury CFL bulbs, electronic equipment, batteries, etc.) is stored and disposed of safely.

Food Services

• Buy organic, locally-grown food and/or plant an organic garden to provide fresh produce for your guests. Look for foods certified as organic and Fair Trade Certified.
• Take steps to reduce food waste by reducing overly-generous portion sizes and not over shopping.
• Donate leftover food to a local nonprofit organization and/or compost. Also compost garden waste and biodegradable products.
• Provide reusable items such as cloth napkins, glass cups, silver wear, ceramic dishes, etc. with all food and beverage services.

Garden

• Purchase plants that are native to your area.
• Consider adding a composting or worm composting bin to create important nutrients for your garden and an eco-friendly way to dispose of food waste.

Gift Shop

• If your property has a gift shop, sell only sustainable, fair trade products. Promote particularly locally produced souvenirs

Office

• Create a green purchasing policy for cleaners, sanitizers, paints, pesticides, office supplies, etc. throughout the property.
• Buy environmentally-friendly paper (copier paper, toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels, etc.).
• Minimize the amount of paper used for each guest and in the office.
• Buy locally produced furniture.
• Buy office and guest amenity products that contain recycled material.
• If offering dry cleaning services, use nontoxic, biodegradable dry-cleaning solvent substitutes.
• Buy nontoxic, biodegradable cleaning, laundry and dishwashing products, preferably locally produced.
• Buy organic, biodegradable, fair trade, locally-produced, cruelty-free guest amenity products (hair and body care, coffee and tea, etc.) with minimal or recycled, plastic-free packaging whenever possible.

Guests and Guest Rooms

• Stock a central library with local green guides, hiking and biking guides and information about the local environment and conservation efforts. Include a book swap section.
• Provide your guests with bicycles, walking maps, and information on public transportation.
• Donate leftover guest amenities, old furniture and appliances to charities.
• Donate used soap and shampoo to people in need through local shelters or charities.
• Provide glass cups and ceramic mugs (instead of plastic) for in-room beverages. Place cups and mugs upside down on paper doilies (instead of covering opening with a plastic wrapping).
• Whenever possible, buy food and guest amenities in bulk (i.e., use refillable hair and skin care dispensers).