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Incentivise Environmental Action
Part of my soapbox for ECOnomically Sound is that those in the hospitality industry need to take action to become green before the government regulates environmental programs. I have a clue now as to why so many in the hospitality industry aren't being progressive in this area. Even with the financial savings associated with being a green restaurant, a green hotel, or any other green hospitality property there doesn't seem to be enough incentive and the U.S. government doesn't give incentives for taking green steps. I hope our government offers incentives soon so there won't be a need to regulate.
My realization came as I was listening to NPR while Richard Harris was covering the Kyoto Summit's regulations and how England's businesses are tackling them. One of his guests was Steve Howard of Marine Environmental Consultancy. The comments that Dr. Howard made that spoke to me the most were about the U.S. and its progressive technology.
Dr. Steve Howard opined that the U.S. is quite clever at solving many problems with technology, and coming up with new technologies and solutions to growing problems. But he added, U.S. companies aren't utilizing the technology being developed right here. Dr. Howard's theory is that U.S. companies aren't 'incentivised' to adopt the technology or take environmental action .
I have thought the realization of the financial savings would be a sufficient incentive to take green steps, to create an environmental program. Avoiding government regulation would seem a good incentive too. But it appears that more incentives will have to be provided and the government is the logical source for those incentives. My challenge is still there; make a green plan now, take environmental action while you can shape your own program. Be proactive in saving money for your hospitality business and the environment. It's an ECOnomically Sound plan.
Posted by Kit Cassingham
