Overview. Aims and Objectives. Project Deliverables. Keeping Hong Kong s Hotel Industry Competitive - Environmental Management Systems for Hotels

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1 Overview Keeping Hong Kong s Hotel Industry Competitive - Environmental Management Systems for Hotels Funded by Industry Department (Services Support Fund) Initiated by HKUST/PolyU Executed by BSE PolyU Collaboration with HKHA Endorsed by UNEP, IHRA Endorsed by HK Hotel Owners The overall objective of this project was to make the Hong Kong Hotel industry more competitive and profitable and, at the same time, reduce adverse environmental impacts. This to be accomplished by assisting hotel staff to implement an and cleaner production techniques to their own operations. It is hoped that the benefits to the hotel industry will be increased competitiveness through cost savings, and increased customer satisfaction. Aims and Objectives make the Hong Kong Hotel industry more competitive and profitable reduce adverse environmental impacts assist hotel staff to implement an and cleaner production techniques to their own operations The project aimed to develop training modules, reference materials, and implementation tools targeted at general managers, senior and middle management, technical staff and hotel staff in general. Local case studies were undertaken in selected Hong Kong hotels. Workshops aimed at field testing the training materials and providing initial training for various levels of hotel management staff were held. Project Deliverables Training modules Reference materials Guides Seminars and workshops senior and middle management, technical staff and hotel staff in general FREE CD-ROM WEB Site The CD-ROM contains all the outputs from the project: The Guide. A PDF file (Acrobat file) corresponds to the printed version. In addition the folder contains Word files which can be edited for use by a hotel. The Clean Technologies folder contains PDF versions of the Waste, Energy, Water, IAQ and Legislation guides. Training materials in the form of PowerPoint slides and PDF documents, which can be used for in-house training purposes. Page 1

2 Outputs - Examples Guide to Legislation Guide to Energy & Water Conservation Information on alternative products Templates for EMS documentation, etc Indoor Environmental Quality For Update A number of additional files are included. Some of these are scanned versions (PDF files) of documents produced by various Hong Kong Government departments. The documents are included with the permission of the publishers. Seminars have been conducted in several case study hotels, and for the Hong Kong Hotels Association. Further seminars can be arranged if required. A WEB site is being developed and will be available from April Environmental Management (3 stage development) ❶ Environmental Initiatives Energy Conservation Waste Recycling, etc. Increase Efficiency,Save Money ❷ Environmental Management Follow ISO14004 Guidelines Provides a Systematic Approach ❸ ISO EMS More Formalised Documentation Leading to Certification An interesting question about the ISO14000 scheme is the extent to which certification under ISO14001 will actually derive environmental benefits. It just an add-on to management and another paper chase? Is the effort and cost worthwhile, especially for small to medium business enterprises? Many hotels have taken initiatives to reduce environmental impact, through energy and water saving, waste reduction, use of environmentally friendly products, etc. However, the argument for certification seems to be firstly a matter of international recognition of the efforts being taken, and secondly a demonstration of commitment to continual improvement How far do you want to go? A hotel s immediate answer to this question is probably dependent on where they currently lie along this road. New starters to serious environmental management should be attracted by the financial gains available from good housekeeping, good operation & maintenance practices, and waste recycling practices. These will reveal gains, as case study hotels in Hong Kong can testify, but gradual adoption of ISO14004 principles will capture greater benefits. If these principles are understood, then the effort towards certification under ISO14001 is not so great. Understanding the principles also raises the comfort level of staff and enables management to commission training and consultants within a framework of understanding, rather than mystique. Page 2

3 (ISO 14000) Intention is to be certified! One year programme? Resources available? Start-up: Establish Team and Co-ordinator Decide Environmental Policy Identify significant impacts Initial Review Gap Analysis Engage Consultant as advisor.. The guidance material contained on the CD-ROM will help hotel staff to become comfortable with the EMS, the key issues, and the need for an organisational framework that allows authority and provides resources to support initiatives. The start point is to define the hotel s environmental policy. A sample is included in the Hotel Generic Hongkong Environmental Management Guide. Hotel Generic is the name given to a hotel which is typical of the hotels found in Hong Kong in respect of management structure, guest facilities, engineering systems, and back-ofthe-house support. (Hierarchy by impact and potential cost saving) Ecological footprint Global impacts Local impacts Indoor environmental quality Energy conservation Energy Efficient Hotel? Water conservation Use of materials Emissions air, waters, land Waste disposal $ save! Words like aspect and impact are essentially semantics. Everything we do will have some environmental impact, however, this is not easily quantifiable. Sometimes, what appears to be an environmentally friendly action, may in fact have consequences which, overall, are not so. Often, efforts to recycle materials may be defeated by the lack of a complete chain of management. Print is separated at source, but ends up mixed with contaminated materials. Think about efficiency, simply put, a hotel should maintain the quality and level of services provided to guests, with the minimum of resource consumption. (Identification and Evaluation) Minor Aspects Keeping Records Environmental Aspects? Operational Control (CONTROL) Significant Aspects Objectives & Target (IMPROVE) ISO14000 documents do not offer much advice in respect of identifying environmental aspects, because it is essentially a framework for management. The CD-ROM and publications focus on the significant aspects for Hong Kong hotels. Energy, water, waste, etc., are all obvious targets. Compliance with legislation is a minimum requirement. These focus on impacts on the external environment emissions to air, land, water, immediate to the hotel, and at a distance, such as emissions from power plants supplying electricity. Of great importance, however, is the indoor environment. If this is not comfortable and healthy, there is no such thing as a quality hotel. Page 3

4 (Identification and Evaluation) Environmental Aspect Significant? Controlled through either legal or other requirements? Yes Likely to have a high severity of consequence to the environment or human health? Yes Has environmental accidents or incidents occurred in Yes the past? Have any legitimate complaints been received Yes related to the aspects? Result in large quantities of waste? Yes Large quantities of resources consumed? Yes Does use/ disposal of the product create concern? Yes A business concern, or a concern of interested parties? Yes t a significant aspect Identification of significant aspects, actions to be taken to reduce impacts, etc., are included. (ISO Guidance) Hotel Generic Hong Kong Templates available: Environmental Policy Operational Control Procedures Register of Significant Environmental Aspects Objectives and Targets Register of Legal Requirements, etc. Training available: Initial Environmental Review, etc. Hotel Generic Hong Kong Environmental Management Manual December 1999 As already mentioned, Hotel Generic Hong Kong is fairly typical of hotels in the territory. The documents available (printed, Acrobat PDF and WORD files) allows an hotel to draft its own version based on its particular circumstances. The environmental policy is the key. The operational control procedures identify a system of management, monitoring, and audit that can be modified to suit the EMS to be implemented. The details of the OCP s are intended to form checklists for each department or major section. English and Chinese versions are provided to allow the most junior of hotel staff to understand their particular role in the EMS. Clean Technologies Focus on departments and systems Example - guidance on energy efficiency and conservation Good housekeeping practices Audit and survey Equipment tune-up, etc Example - purchasing environmentally friendly products Example - waste and recycling The original version of the Energy & Water Conservation Guide has been updated and split into two separate documents. It should be noted that these are good practice guides in respect of day-to-day activities. Much of the content is repeated in the operational control procedures in the EMS document. An additional feature of the energy guide is a pro-forma for energy auditing. The waste management guide has endeavoured to capture the current situation in Hong Kong. The IAQ guide should help the hotel engineering staff to identify common problems associated with operation & maintenance, and well as the use of the hotel facilities. At this time no materials are issued with respect to purchasing practices and environmentally friendly products, but these may be available from the WEB site in due time. Page 4

5 Focus - Energy Conservation Electricity HVAC Systems Lighting Water Heating Kitchens Transportation, etc. HVAC Water side Air side Boilers Efficiency = Output Input Output = services Input = energy Energy efficiency is providing the required level of service for the minimum of input Energy Use and Energy Cost Energy Cost Electricity Town gas Diesel oil Energy Use Electricity Town gas Diesel oil Focus - Energy Conservation Stages: Audit & survey Implementation: Good housekeeping Equipment maintenance Tuning equipment & controls Energy Star Fabric Lighting HVAC Energy Star Buildings Program USEPA Green Lights Program USEPA Building Energy Codes EMSD Energy Efficient Buildings UK Water Use HW Kitchens etc. CW Kitchens etc Water and Sewage High zone (guest rooms) HW Laundry CW Laundry Focus - Indoor Environment Thermal comfort Lighting Air distribution Air pollution Operation & maintenance Materials use Refurbishment Guidance tes for the Management of Indoor Air Quality in Offices and Public Places (Draft) Indoor Air Quality Management Group The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hotel Building Environmental Assessment Scheme - HBEAS performance of hotels in respect of total environmental performance judged on global, local and indoor criteria hotels would be assessed against a range of criteria and benchmark figures, and given an appropriate performance rating self assessment or CET assessment certification (Satisfactory, Good, Very Good, Excellent) The IAQ Guide is intended to forewarn hotels of the current focus on the quality of the indoor environment. The guide has is based on a number of surveys carried out by the Department of Building Services Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in recent years. The HBEAS scheme is under development and will include elements of environmental management, building operations & maintenance practices, purchasing policies, benchmarks for performance in terms of energy use, water use, indoor environment, and materials use. For updates go to To contact the authors reply to bejeb@polyu.edu.hk Page 5