Environmental pollution has become a burning issue for local media. Around the country there is news of polluted rivers and land caused by companies flushing wastewater or discarding solid waste into the environment, causing a headache as well as a challenge for environmental stewardship.
Some companies, to achieve their sustainable development targets, have decided to invest in energy saving and environmental protection programs. They have recognized that saving energy and reducing waste are not only good for the environment but also good for business, both now and in. the future.
In the hospitality industry, several local hotels and serviced residential management companies are pursuing their own "green initiatives" programs to demonstrate eco-responsibility in their communities.
Embarking for greener world
The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers is using common words such as reduce, reuse and recycle to define its green initiatives program, including saving energy and water and reducing detergent, among others.
"The idea came from our corporate office which is very proactive in identifying environmentally responsible initiatives for implementation in our hotels," said Dietmar Kielnhofer, general manager of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, when explaining the hotel's green program. Kielnhofer said the hotel was motivated to adopt the environmentally friendly initiatives by the multiple benefits that are achieved.
"The reduction of carbon emissions and less use of chemicals and water improves the earth's environment, while at the same time reducing our costs, which improves our financial performance," he said.
Kielnhofer explained that the en vironmental benefits of the program are explained to guests, providing them with a choice of when they would like to have their linen washed. If they chose not to wash every day the results are obvious; reduced use of water and detergents is better for the environment and beneficial for the hotel. Since launching its green initiatives program, the hotel has saved some US$2,400 based on not washing 13,600kg of bed linen and 12,600kg of terry linen, with the occupancy of 50-60%.
The serviced apartment building Norfolk Mansion has also been running an energy saving campaign since 2002, said Sven von Moock, general manager of Norfolk Mansion, which is run under Norfolk Group management.
"We are raising awareness of environmental issues, acknowledging that we, as a business and stakeholder, have to initiate action and take a leading role concerning energy saving and environment preservation," Moock said.
He said the company began the program by educating staff members about the benefits of energy saving. Then it followed with replacement of energy-saving light bulbs
throughout the premises, adjusting operating hours of high electricityconsumption devices such as light ing, water heaters and water pumps, and replacing entire air-conditioning system with a more energy-efficient and modern unit.
Moock said the program had resulted in total cost savings accumulating to approximately 15% per year. He added that the company was presently exploring the feasibility of installing solar
panels on the roof for water heating.
The Caravelle Hotel launched its green initiatives program this year, joining hands with others to become more environmentally friendly and responsible. "We are looking at every part of our operation to reduce our carbon footprint, reducing waste and energy costs and looking at all the products we use to see if they are environmentally friendly," said John Gardner, the hotel's general manager.
Gardner said the hotel had made a considerable investment to replace low energy light bulbs throughout the hotel and that it was currently evaluating the use of solar energy for water heating. He added that the main obstacle to implementing a green initiatives program is the mindset of staff, which the hotel is addressing through training and education about the challenges they face in the years ahead.
The Somerset Serviced Residence is rolling out its own green initiatives program. The company announced that it is in the last phase of implementing an environmental management system following the ISO 14000 standard system, adding that as it embarks on this journey to make Mother Earth cleaner and greener, it is encouraging its residents and staff to embark on their own green initiatives, like recycling plastic bottles, lines, towels and switching off electrical appliances when not in use, to name just a few.
Going beyond activities aimed at environment protection, the hotels participate in numerous charitable programs: one raises money to help orphans while others use their raised money to build houses for unlucky people and provide relief for victims of storms and floods.
