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November 14, 2004
Kit Cassingham
ECOnomically Sound is owned and operated by me, Kit Cassingham. It is the culmination of my environmental and hospitality backgrounds and passions. ECOnomically Sound is also host to a Forum, or blog, where registered participants can discuss the issues. I have degree in Environmental Conservation from the University of Colorado's Boulder campus, have lived my life according to my environmental convictions of reducing waste, and have been in the hospitality industry for 30 years.
As an innkeeper, I was dismayed by the amount of waste that happened in hospitality properties, even a bed and breakfast. I knew that there had to be ample hot water, lighting, newspapers and magazines, and food to maintain the level of hospitality I strove for at all times. It took me a few years to figure out that I could have both my environmental and hospitality convictions supported under the same roof. I developed a booklet for my seminar attendees suggesting ways they could run a green inn. To further my campaign, I then started taking my leftovers from restaurants in non-foam boxes and supporting the restaurants that adopted green policies. I joined the Green Hotels Association to both support their actions and message as well as to learn more about being a green hospitality business. My ideals came together for me when I attended the conference on Greening the Hospitality Industry in February of 2004. That's when ECOnomically Sound was born.
What I have realized is that despite best intentions of having a green hospitality venue, business people feel that the bottom line must come first. I also have realized that much of what being green is about improves the bottom line because being green is about not wasting resources which cost business money. Being green doesn't cost a business money, it saves money. Money is saved by reducing labor costs, reducing utility expenses, and by reducing wear and tear. Better yet, money is earned by the increased business from people seeking green hospitality venues.
The way these realizations come into play, with my particular background, is that this site has been designed to talk about various aspects of green hospitality to show how you can save the environment and money by taking green actions. I have lots of ideas for steps you can take to save resources and take an environmental stand. As I research the ideas I'll write articles, and post them here so you can start coming up with more ideas for actions of your own.
There is green in being green. --Kit Cassingham
"Green Hospitality" Discussions, a Forum
Posted by Kit Cassingham
Comments
Dear Kit Cassingham --
Thank you for your website.
Are you aware that the US Department of the Interior has an extensive page devoted to green purchasing? On that page, one will even read that green products: , "MUST NOT contain petrochemical-derived fragrances." [Emphasis added by me.] You can find that info at: http://www.doi.gov/greening/sustain/trad.html
I hope this helps you help others to purchase products that are truly green -- FREE OF PETROCHEMICALLY DERIVED FRAGRANCES.
It is high time that the word gets out to restaurants, hotels/motels, health care facilities, schools, government agencies, et al regarding the AIR and WATER polluting capabilities of the petrochemically derived fragrances that have been foisted upon an unsuspecting public.
This trend has been growing since the 1970 . . . as have severe health problems, which are marching in lock step with the burgeoing array and sales of petrochemically derived products. Of course, Big Pharma is the winner, with all of its products advertised for the various illnesses and diseases that can be caused by the flavors and fragrance industry. But that goes all the further to show that public heallth is the BIG LOSER.
Thank you for doing your part to clear the air . . . and the water downstream as waste management practices do not remove these harmful chemicals from the water.
We ALL are stakeholders when it comes to breathing.
Sincerely, Barb Wilkie EHN president emerita www.ehnca.org
Posted by: Barb Wilkie at September 23, 2007 02:07 PM
