Hawaii Hospitality - May/June 2014 - (Page 16)
Small -scale
Sustainability
Hawaii's 'vintage' properties are discovering the value of going green
BY ELAINE KERRY
H
awaii's utilities costs are some of
the highest in the nation-and
when it comes to running a hotel,
lighting and air conditioning alone
can be big drains on profits. While
newer hotels have either transitioned
to cost-effective and environmentally
friendly "green" features or had
them built in from the get-go, many
of our older and smaller properties,
which comprise a large percentage of
Hawaii's accommodations, will likely
find the prospect of going green more
challenging. However, some have been
making the transformation and have
found it well worth the effort.
To malama ka aina, or take care of
the land, is homegrown wisdom close
16
Hawaii Hospitality May/June 2014
■
to the heart of Mike Dailey, president
and owner of the Equus-a family-run,
equestrian-themed boutique hotel in
Waikiki. Since its beginnings in 1990,
when Dailey bought what was then the
1960s-style Driftwood Apartment hotel,
he and his team have made innovative
strides in reducing both their energy
bills and carbon footprint.
"We didn't just decide to become
a green hotel overnight," says Dailey.
"It's something that happened
gradually over time."
He began by installing compact
fluorescent lighting (CFL) throughout
the hotel's 66 rooms, which use at least
two-thirds less energy than standard
incandescent bulbs. With new green
technologies on the market, he is now
in the process of introducing the more
cost-efficient light-emitting diode
(LED) lighting.
The hotel has added split airconditioning units so that one outdoor
unit on a lanai can simultaneously work
for two guest rooms. This on average
can save 25 to 30 percent on energy
costs compared with traditional window
units. And, each room has been recently
equipped with an electronic key card
system. As Equus' General Manager
Mariah Dailey explains, "It's an initiative
in which the guests also become part
of the solution." Each time a guest exits
his or her room and removes the key
card from a panel attached to the wall,
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hawaii Hospitality - May/June 2014
News Briefs
Are You Inspection Ready?
Lanai: Small Island, Big Aloha
Great Restaurants: W Bistro
Talk Story with George Szigeti
Small-scale Sustainability
Out of Sight, Not out of Mind
Food & Beverage SuperStars
Taking the Lead: Sales & Marketing
Jaclyn Loo of Google Inc.
Clean Talk
Association News
Hawaii Hospitality - May/June 2014
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