ALTO environmental sustainability fact sheet

Tourism Victoria 18 November 2010

Overview
At Alto Hotel on Bourke, we have made a commitment to a resource smart, environmental sustainable policy. With the help of our guests, suppliers, our committed management and staff plus a significant capital investment, we can make meaningful energy, resources and waste savings, therefore minimising our environmental impact. To stay true to our commitment we submit all our energy, water and waste accounts for benchmarking by "Green Globe - Earth Check" an independent assessor. Our program is highly regarded and is recognised by multiple awards and accreditations as follows.

Awards - Accreditation - Memberships

· Environmentally Friendly rating (AAA Tourism)
· Earth Check Certified - Silver Certified
· Grow me the money (Victorian state-wide sustainability program) - Platinum member
· Winner 2010 - Conde Nast World Savers - Environmental Preservation
· Winner 2009 & Finalist 2008 Victorian Tourism Awards - Sustainable Tourism
· Finalist 2009 & 2008 - Premier's Sustainability Award
· Winner 2009, 2008 & Commendation 2007 - Sustainable Tourism, HMAA Awards for Excellence
· Winner 2006 - Community Responsibility, Environment, Business 3000

Resource smart & environmentally sustainable initiatives implemented include;
Best Practice
· Based on Green Globe - Earth Check assessment report Alto Hotel exceeds best practice targets by at least 60% as demonstrated in the following below that is based on 2009/10 data. All figures are an average per guest night.

Worldwide average for hotels
Energy - Mega Jules 240
Water - Litres 500
Waste - Litres 14

Best Practice
Energy - Mega Jules 170
Water - Litres 350
Waste - Litres 9.8

Alto Hotel
Energy - Mega Jules 35.7
Water - Litres 126.8
Waste - Litres 3.8

Exceeded best practice
Energy - Mega Jules 79%
Water - Litres 63%
Waste - Litres 61%

Carbon Neutral
· We have reduced our carbon footprint to an average of 13.5kg per room, compared to standard allowance of 24-26kg as set by the Sustainable Tourism CRC. We have then offset this remaining carbon via the Carbon Reduction Institute.

Electricity
· We purchase only Green Earth Electricity, which is generated from carbon neutral sources (i.e. wind) ensuring minimal green house gas emissions, saving approximately 300 tonnes of emissions per year.
· Rooms have energy saving key-card switch that turns off lighting and A/C on leaving the rooms.
· 99% of all lighting use energy efficient FCL or LED globes of no more than 15 watts per globe.
· 3.8 watt LED globe replaced 40 watt globe for bedside lamp providing energy saving in excess of 89%.
· 30% of restaurant lights now 7 watt LED globes.

Air-conditioners
· Air-conditioning plant uses inverter technology which is rated as 6 star energy consumption.
· In room air-conditioning units use "movement sensors" if there is no movement, it switches itself off.

Water
· Flow restrictors of max 8 litres per minute to all showers, [and we still manage to get compliments!].
· All vanity and kitchen basin faucets have a maximum flow of 6 litres per minute.
· Washing machines are front loading delivering higher water efficiency than top loading models.
· All toilets have"AAA Water" rating using as little as 3 litres per half flush.
· Rain & air conditioning condensation - harvesting tanks used for toilet cisterns, gardening and general cleaning.

Gas
· Hot Water is heated "on demand", the energy savings of this is substantial, despite having 57 bathrooms and a commercial kitchen, yet we hold only 630 Litres of hot water in reserve as compared with a normal suburban household of 200 litres.

Design - construction
· Our windows open, which helps with air-conditioning as it is not asked to work 24 hours per day, as is the case for sealed rooms.
· 97% of windows are double-glazed, windows that face North and West also have a 10mm thick "green glass" pane. This lowers heat penetration in summer, and restricts heat loss in winter. An added bonus is noise abatement. Balcony doors are 20mm thick.
· Double insulated 16mm thick plasterboard & staggered stud placement walls. This design assists in temperature and noise attenuation between rooms. By staggering the wall studs the plasterboard on each side of the wall are independent therefore minimising vibration effects & temperature being conducted between rooms.
· Hebel block used in new construction areas. Hebel blocks have 3 times the insulation quality of brick veneer construction and uses one quarter of the raw material for an equivalent concrete construction.
· Room doors are sealed to minimise temperature and noise attenuation.

Toiletries
· We have eliminated all plastic bottles for toiletries and installed practical and stylish refillable pump-action toiletry dispensers.
· All toiletries used are biodegradable with some being organic.

Waste
· Recyclable rubbish is separated in the same manner as in residential homes; by glass, paper, plastics, metal and general waste.
· In-room recycling, whereby the guest is given the opportunity to help by placing their waste into recycling and non-recycling via twin compartment bins.
· Biodegradable bin liners.
· On site compost bin for all organic (vegetable) waste from the restaurant kitchen.
· Used cooking oil is collected and recycled into biodiesel.

Transport
· Free car parking for guests arriving in a hybrid or electric vehicles
· Fee recharging of electric vehicles with 100% Green Earth electricity
(renewable resources)
· Airport transfers in a hybrid limousine available - fee applies
· Encourage guests to walk to most major attractions which are within 2-10 minute walk of hotel - Carbon Neutral
· Encourage use of public transport including airport shuttle bus, trams & trains all within 50-100 meters

Management initiatives
· Promotional pens are made from biodegradable cornstarch.
· Guest key cards made from biodegradable cornstarch.
· Using only recycled or plantation timber paper on all printed items, copy paper toilet paper and tissues.
· Library with book exchange enhancing the opportunity for books, & magazines to be reused. Newspapers are complimentary; however are deliver only to rooms that request a paper.
· Option for guest not to have their towelling and linen changed daily.
· Recycle print cartridge and by-products.
· Recycle used light globes to remove harmful by-products from landfill. i.e. mercury.
· Use organic, biodegradable and non hazardous chemicals and material wherever possible.
· Continually research and test products and concepts for continued improvement in our environment program.

Suppliers
· Where practical source products and collaborate with businesses that practise environmental sustainability.
· Where possible source products, especially food and beverages within the closest proximity to our location therefore minimising transport requirements and associated environment impact.

Green Team
· All initiatives are team efforts, implemented by the ALTO GREEN TEAM and supported by all staff.

 

 

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