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We do many things in our everyday practice to support our goals; a few of them are:
Vision The managing partners of Habitat Suites Hotel, Eduardo Longoria and John McCready, had a vision and commitment to a sustainable future, and the resulting award-winning hotel is a model of environmental consciousness for other hotels to follow. Programs in air quality, land use, energy efficiency, waste reduction and management, recycling, resource conservation, water quality and conservation, human health, and public education make Habitat Suites a pleasant place to stay for guests and a more profitable business. Environmental practices are entrenched in every aspect of our business. We started with simple ideas for air quality like a smoke-free environment and live plants in each suite. We have eliminated chemical pesticides and toxic/aerosol cleaning products, and we use non-ozone depleting fire extinguishers. Action Energy efficiency starts outside where trees have been planted to shade suites from the summer sun, lowering air conditioning costs. All suites have windows that open for natural ventilation, window tinting, radiant barriers, proper insulation, weather stripping; duty cycling timers on circuits; and high efficiency air conditioning units. Water heaters are lowered to an efficient temperature and lighting fixtures have been changed to compact fluorescent. We have partnered with Austin Energy to reduce electricity demand by installing programmable thermostats, which the city can "cycle off" during peak demand times. About 20% of our energy needs are satisfied by our on-site 18 Kilowatt 108 solar panel PV (photo-voltaic) system. The PV system will pay for itself in 5.7 years. In June 2007, a solar-powered hot water system was installed which reduced the hotels our dependence on natural gas by 60%. Water
quality and efficiency are at the forefront of our measurable successes.
We have planted native plants and flowers that require less water, and
we use water-saving sprinklers. We water in the evening or morning, the
most efficient times to do so. Low flow aerator faucets, water-saving
showerheads Habitat Suites has a recycling program. Buying recycled-content products and minimizing consumables is a big part of it. All promotional and sales materials are printed on recycled paper. We use 100 percent recycled-content bathroom and facial tissue in suites and recycled paper in the offices. Our toilet paper is "coreless," reducing waste and eliminating the cardboard normally used by manufacturers. Kitchens have sanitized glasses, silverware, dishes, and cloth napkins instead of disposable ones. Individual recycling bins are provided in each suite and throughout the hotel. Habitat Suites employees are encouraged to participate and implement new "green" programs and are rewarded for taking initiative. An "Eco Brochure" detailing these programs is provided to guests, potential corporate clients, other hotels, and environmental organizations desiring "green" hotels in their communities. Everyone at Habitat Suites works together in a commitment to ecological consciousness. Our biographies can be viewed here. Awards Habitat Suites began publicizing its environmental efforts and accomplishments in 1997. We realize the importance of receiving recognition for our sustainable practices as part of our commitment to educating both others and ourselves on how to leave the smallest environmental footprint possible. To this end, we have submitted applications for various awards. We apply for awards selectively, based on who is giving the award and what possible audience we will reach in winning it and getting to speak about our work. In 1997, we applied for and won the BEST Success Award, a citywide award sanctioned by a group called Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow. Not only did we receive the comprehensive "Success" Award, but also the award for "Innovation in Waste Management." This was our first attempt at being publicly recognized and rewarded for doing the "right thing." As part of the application process, we called in local permaculture expert, Patricia Michael, to help us define our mission, explain our programs, and map out how these practices can be replicated in homes and other businesses. We put together an environmental booklet that has become a wonderful teaching tool. Our guests take it home with them; teachers take it back to their schools; and business people are awakening to the possibilities of calling their employers to follow suit. Nothing we do here is secret. In fact, we encourage replication and have even consulted with other hotels on how to implement similar programs. We have become a resource for our knowledge and application of sustainable practices. Having gained this reputation, we are constantly striving to do more and better. We continue to look for new innovations, e.g. a waterless urinal installed this year in our guest house that results in water savings of 52,000 gallons a year, and we are tireless in our efforts to do things with greater efficiency. In 1999, we received prestigious statewide recognition from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. We were awarded the governor's Texas Environmental Excellence Award for Small Business. This honor gained us great public response. Additionally, the TNRCC issued a request to all its employees throughout the state to stay with us when they travel to Austin. This kind of endorsement has positively influenced our success. In 2001, we again received both citywide and statewide recognition from environmental groups. In May, the City of Austin awarded us the ICI Water Conservation Award. In October, we were awarded the Austin Corporate Recycling Coalition's Environmental Vision Award for Landscaping and Composting. In November, the Texas Corporate Recycling Coalition recognized us with its Environmental Vision Award for Comprehensive Program of the Year. Consistently, we obtain recognition for our efforts in sustaining and restoring our own habitat. While we always feel fortunate to be honored, we are also aware that what we are doing here is exceptional. In 2003, we were a finalist for the Texas Environmental Excellence Award. In 2005, we received the Keep Austin Beautiful "Industry Leadership Award." We also received the recycling alliance of Recycling Alliance of Texas Outstanding Sustainability Award - 2005 and the Co-op America National Green Business Leadership Award - 2005 (our first national award - click here to read the press release) In 2006 we received the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce first ever environmental award, the “Greenbelt Award ” and 2007 got us another "Greenbelt Award" Although all people and businesses could take similar actions, few in fact, have done so. These actions are what make us different. Our guests appreciate these efforts. Habitat Suites enjoys a loyalty almost unheard of in the transient hospitality industry. We have been actively working to make our hotel a model of environmental stewardship. |
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Click here to see our humorous tale of the how we became green
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If
you would like more information about our environmentally responsible
management practices, please view our 
and
toilets are in each suite. Guests are given the option of reusing towels
and sheets to save on laundry water. These and other efforts save Habitat
Suites (and Austin) 6,410 gallons of water per day, almost 2,400,000
gallons
per year. We have also installed a "waterless" urinal in our
guesthouse. This single application saves an estimated 50,000 gallons
of water annually.
