Success Stories

Hotels/Motels

Business: Breaker Point Condominiums (Cannon Beach)

Number of Employees: 3

Vignette

• Reorganized garbage pick-up areas. A single large garbage dumpster was used to replace a large number of small dumpsters spread throughout the complex. While this made garbage removal slightly less convenient for residents, it saved an impressive amount of money. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $7,600/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 175 pounds of metal/year (less metal in dumpsters overall, amortized over the expected life of the dumpsters).
• Began mailing newsletters and bills are in a single envelope, rather than separately, reducing the use of envelopes and postage.
• Put lights in recreation areas (tennis courts, pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, and common room) on a timer so that lights automatically turn off after hours. The timers can only be changed by staff.
• Installed photocells and timers on exterior lights, so that lights are only on in the evening and early morning.
• Installed "toilet dummies" (foam inserts) in the tanks of 5 toilets to reduce the volume of each flush by ½-gallon. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $50/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 13,700 gallons/year.

Case Study

None

---

Business: Doubletree Hotels [formerly Red Lion Hotels] (Portland)

Number of Employees: unknown

Vignette

• By filtering and recycling water, the central laundry facility saves $35,900 annually in water costs and $16,000 annually in natural gas costs. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $51,900/year.
• Other comprehensive energy and water conservation measures include energy management control systems for heating, cooling, and lighting; chillers connected for more efficient operation; converting incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents; exit sign retrofits; more efficient ballasts in fluorescent fixtures; adjustable speed drives on fan motors; automatic fan controls for individual guest rooms; low-flow showerheads and faucets; and toilet tank adapters to reduce the amount of water used per flush. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: more than $200,000/year.

Case Study

• Call the City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development, 503-823-7222.

---

Business: Haystack Motel (Cannon Beach)

Number of Employees: 5

Vignette

• All guests used to be provided with a complimentary newspaper every morning. Now, guests are asked at check-in if they want a daily newspaper. Approximately 21% of guests say "no." FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $759/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 2,500 pounds/year.
• Switched the motel newsletter to a format that can be mailed without an envelope. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $162/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 50 pounds of envelopes/year.
• Landscaping is watered in the early morning, when less water evaporates.
• At least every 6 months, staff make a point to vacuum all refrigerator coils, check and adjust all refrigerator temperatures, and check toilets for leaks.
• As towels wear out, they will be replaced with colored towels. Colored towels can be washed at a lower temperature, thus saving energy.
• The motel makes very few photocopies. When documents longer than one page are being copied, staff try to use a different copier that has an automatic double-sided copying feature. This copier is located at the management office (down the street) of the company that owns the motel, so no extra trips are typically required. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $13/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 21 pounds/year (about 4 reams).

Case Study

None

---

Business: Sandtrap Inn (Cannon Beach)

Number of Employees: 4

Vignette

• Staff used to automatically mail confirmation notices to guests when they booked a reservation. Now, guests are asked if they want a confirmation notice. Approximately half of the guests ask not to be mailed a notice. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $426/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 14 pounds of paper/year.
• Redesigned promotional brochure to be a "self-mailer" (without an envelope). FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $15/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 5 pounds of paper/year.
• Reduced the number of exterior ornamental lights by 1/3. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $66/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 1,300 kWh/year.
• Eliminated an extra, unnecessary rinse cycle in washing machines. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $20/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 5,200 gallons/year.
• In a few condos, refrigerators and hot water are turned off during the slowest month of the year and these condos are not rented out. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $23/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 420 kWh/year.
• Installed low flow showerheads to reduce energy and water use. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $119/year. RESOURCE SAVINGS: 1,400 kWh/year and 10,200 gallons of water/year.
• Eliminated "sanitized for your protection" paper toilet strips. FINANCIAL SAVINGS: $23/year.

Case Study

None

---

Business: Winchester Country Inn (Ashland)

Number of Employees: unknown

Vignette

• Reduced water heater and laundry temperatures.
• Using less water in the kitchen and garden.
• Sealed air leaks in the building.
• Installing higher efficiency lights and educating staff to turn fewer lights on.

FINANCIAL SAVINGS: Winchester Country Inn expects to save $3,000/year from these measures.

Case Study

• Call Oregon Office of Energy, 1-800-221-8035.

[print version]