Hospitality
Hospitality Package
There are few sectors of the South African economy that have felt the need to address sustainability issues as much as the tourism industry. This is understandable as tourism in this country is dependent on our ability to conserve our natural resources. Green Earth Consulting has responded to the call from this sector by developing a range of management tools specifically suited to the hospitality industry.
All of the services and products below have been tailored to meet hospitality requirements and have been implemented in both urban and isolated bush environments by our specialised teams.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency is about minimising inputs while maximising outputs. The same applies to energy efficiency - using energy smarter and using less to achieve the same or better results. We provide energy efficiency solutions in the following areas:
- Efficient Lighting: Natural lighting; LED replacements; sensor installation; magnetic ballast replacement.
- Efficient water heating – heat pumps; solar water heaters and boilers.
- Heating, Ventilation and Aircon (HVAC): Heat reclamation and exchange; heat pump system design; passive heating, cooling and ventilation; thermal storage and insulation.
- Efficient engines and motors.
Water Efficiency
Few people are unaware of how precious and scarce a resource water is. Inner city hotels can benefit from decreased water use, the re-use of their grey water and capture of rainwater. Lodges can utilise these options to their benefit as well as protecting their groundwater and tapping into a wasted resource by employing effective sewage treatment techniques for effective recycling.
We provide water efficiency solutions in the following areas:
- Bathroom and kitchen fittings
- Rain water and grey water capture and treatment systems
- Irrigation
- Water wise plants
- Black water/sewage treatment
- Biogas – generating LP gas replacement from organic and food waste
Renewable and Alternative Energy
Renewable energy is the term used for energy produced from naturally replenishing resources such as sunlight, wind and water. Alternative energy refers to both renewable energy and other forms of energy that reduce or remove dependency on the main grid.
We offer solutions to meet a range of requirements from small scale battery back-up systems aimed at ensuring power to essential areas, to commercially sized applications for those wanting to go off-grid in the following areas:
Green Building
Green building is construction that utilises natural resources such as stone, rammed earth, straw bale and adobe. We follow a 7 point approach to environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing buildings.
Design management –intelligent design
- Land use
- Materials
- Energy
- Water
- Environmental quality – ensuring a healthy indoor environment
- Emissions
Carbon offsets
The reality of climate change has opened many people’s eyes to their individual contribution to the problem. As such individual tourists and even tour companies are looking for effective ways to neutralise their carbon footprints.
Green Earth Consulting has signed on to the Nomad African Trust’s Carbon Offset program which is supported by Rhodes University and the Department of Water Affairs. As such we are able provide a carbon footprinting and offsetting service to our clients.
Failure to acknowledge the role of community's in business sustainability is a fundamental flaw in many businesses. Our approach towards CSI consulting is guided by our awareness of the unique and delicate nature of each socio-environmental setting. We address this gap by understanding the issues, finding solutions and creating positive outcomes for all parties.
- Public participation processes - Identifying community priorities.
- Skills development facilitation - Specialised knowledge and training.
- Participatory tourism - Volunteering and client involvement.
Environmental Management Strategies (EMS)
Our EMS systems are based on the ISO 14001 environmental standard which states that an EMS is “the part of the overall management system that includes organisational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy.”
All of the products and services that we provide form part of an EMS. Identifying the possibilities and charting a course towards sustainability through an EMS however, is how the individual components are integrated and the end goals defined.
In addition to the interventions listed above, effective EMS designs benefit from addressing these additional components:
- Waste management
- Environmentally friendly product procurement
- Establishing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)
- Pest control options