Thursday, November 5, 2009

'Seaport Saves' Even More with New Toilets

I first wrote about the Seaport Hotel and Seaport World Trade Center in Boston shortly after launching Green Lodging News in July 2006. Matthew V. Moore, director of rooms and environmental programs at the property, leads the hotel's Seaport Saves program. I have gotten to know Matt over the past few years and he has consistently been among the first in the lodging industry to try new green programs and technologies, including an allergy-friendly rooms program and food composting machine.

The Seaport has been 100 percent nonsmoking since 1998 and uses cleaning fluids produced by an electrolyzed water system. Other green highlights include an ozone laundry system, Grander pool water treatment system, yearly recycling rate of 43 percent, thermo-glass windows in guestrooms and public spaces, the purchase of renewable energy credits, a "smart thermostat" system in guestrooms, a green roof on the World Trade Center East Podium, and a Green Wedding Package.

I just learned that the Seaport has completed the installation of 400 water-efficient toilets in guestrooms. The toilets will use just 1.28 gallons per flush (gpf) compared to the older 1.6 gpf model being replaced. The new toilets are expected to reduce annual water consumption by approximately 200,000 gallons. "These new water-saving toilets will help us reduce water consumption by 20 percent per flush," Moore said. What will happen to the old toilets? Through the Institutional Recycling Network, the toilets will be donated for use in various developing countries. The donation will divert 17 tons of waste from the landfill. A great idea.

To learn more about Seaport Saves, click here. Also be sure to search on "Seaport" at www.greenlodgingnews.com.

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