Have you checked into a ‘green room’ yet?

Just as one would ask for a no-smoking room, in a growing number of hotels in British Columbia, business travelers with a concern for the environment can request a “green” room.

Make that request at Vancouver’s upscale Westin Bayshore, and here is what you get: a water-conserving toilet and shower head, aerators in all the taps, energy-saving light fixtures and heating systems, biodegradable wheat-germ soap and shampoo in a wall dispenser rather than in disposable bottles, paper products and room stationary made from recycled paper, and a recycling box to put used bottles and paper.

The Westin Bayshore is one of the 16 hotels in British Columbia that are now part of the B.C. Hydro Power Smart Green Hotels program, the first of its kind in the world. Under the program, B.C. Hydro Power Smart inspectors scrutinize hotels that have applied to the program and award points to those that implement and follow good environmental practices in their guest rooms and day-to-day operations.

To be “green” the hotels must have minimum of 2 per cent of their rooms as completely “green rooms” and 50 per cent of the remaining rooms with water-saving tap and shower devices. Points are awarded for each environmentally sound practice; a minimum of 120 points gives them the designation Power Smart Green Hotel. If they earn 180 points they are given the “plus” designation. Hotels that meet the criteria that are listed as “green” in the B.C. Accommodations Guide and on B.C. Hydro’s Web site, and are part of B.C. Hydro’s Power Smart promotional campaigns.

Richard Wohl, key account manager for B.C. Hydro who oversees the green hotel program, says a number of hotels are in the process of qualifying for the designation. “Because many hotels will have to do some renovations, it can take a couple of years to qualify,” he said.

The Westin Bayshore has earned the Green Hotel Plus designation. Although strict “green” rooms make up just 75 of the hotel’s 750 rooms, The Bayshore has adopted other environmentally friendly policies and practices throughout the entire hotel. The kitchen composts and recycles everything possible and unused foods are donated to the local food banks; requirements for heating and light for meeting rooms and common areas throughout the hotel are programmed on a computer so that they are turned off when not in use. Towels, bedding and furniture, when too worn for use in the hotel, are donated to the Salvation Army. Even left-over soap is donated to the Sally Ann, which melts it down to make new soap.

“It costs a lot initially to do the conversion, particularly for the lights, showers, and toilets, but now in energy costs alone we are saving more than $100,000 a year,” said Denis Forristal who also noted that the amount the hotel must haul to the landfill has dropped “500 per cent.”
Most of their clients have welcomed the change, but Mr. Forristal acknowledges receiving a few complaints from clients who expect a hotel experience to include lots of disposable luxuries. European visitors, however, have been very positive, he said.

Sherry McCutcheon, general manager of the Best Western Collingwood Inn in Courtenay, B.C., the only Power Smart Green Hotel now on Vancouver Island, says the savings for her hotel have been just a small aspect of the change.

“I think the biggest advantage is the positive comments we get from clients and the way it makes our staff feel. The staff is really into it. It makes them feel good. We think this is the wave of the future,” Ms. McCutcheon said.

By Anne Mullens: Special to The Globe and Mail