Self-Reliance

Oil seems to be the key to many countries' self-reliance and independence. It also seems to be the key to power -- excuse the pun. But the country with the most oil seems to be king, and coveted by other countries. And the supply, or lack thereof, of oil brings out the worst in people and countries; those who have it effectively blackmail and control those who don't have it and want it. Those who don't have oil, or at least as much as they consume, fight with those who have it. Look at Russia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and at the U.S., Ukraine, and Georgia. He who has the most oil reigns.

Maybe.

It's time to be energy independent. It's time to clean up our act. It's time to conserve.

I have suggested for years that everyone needs to reduce their oil consumption to lighten the load on oil demand. That's especially true in the U.S., in my opinion. The hospitality industry is in a great position to make a huge difference on oil demands by conserving, and by adopting alternative energy sources.

I read in Barak Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope" that the U.S. possesses 3 percent of the worlds oil reserves and consumes 25 percent the world's oil. That's a losing proposition. We can't rely on any other country and be a strong or independent nation. His suggestion is to develop more alternative energy operations which not only creates a more stable energy foundation for the U.S. to grow on, but also creates much needed jobs. I agree, and have been urging the development and use of alternative energy for years.

When the Ukraine became independent from Russia oil played a role in keeping the people still dependent on Russia's supplies. Georgia seems to be suffering the same plight today. I don't want to see the U.S. succumb to the loss of dependence because it's not self-reliant with its energy resources. I'd like to see every country in the world be self-reliant with its energy.

This article isn't a political stance but is about conservation and a paradigm shift in the way we think about energy and oil supplies. This article is about what the hospitality industry can do to further the independence of countries. It's about reducing your consumption of products that rely on oil for their manufacture.

Oil is used to make so much of what the hospitality industry relies on for business. There is the obvious transportation issue; transportation to provide food, supplies and waste removal. Oil is used not only for the transportation that brings you items you use in your hospitality venue, but it also it's used in lubricants, tar, not to mention asphalt for roads, parking lots and runways.

And there is so much more it's used for in the hospitality industry! Furniture, finishes and surfaces, curtains and linens, cleaning supplies and guest amenities, food storage products, computers and office supplies, and disposable dining ware and decorations. The hospitality industry heavily relies on oil.

Here's where your paradigm shift comes into play. Change your buying habits to include more natural fiber products, natural ingredient supplies, and the bulk dispensing of amenities, cleaning supplies and water; that will go a long way toward lifting the burden on oil. Instead of relying on plastic cups and utensils when you need disposables, why not use compostable products, like those made of sugar cane (bagasse) and potato starch. Better yet, use durable goods and wash them. Natural pesticides and herbicides, if needed, are better than chemical-based products, the chemicals relying on oil for their manufacture. The list goes on and on.

Oil is also used for cooking, nutrients and medicines, fertilizers and pesticides, food processing and storage, toys and clothes, and technology like computers and cell phones. Oil is used for such a vast array of items we use daily that we would suffer greatly if we were cut off from oil all together. Why not reduce oil consumption where it can be replaced by alternative energy sources or natural fibers or plant/animal by-products? Not only will that increase our self-reliance but also our oil reserves' duration.

I used to work for an electric company and learned a lot about the grid. Its backbone is so delicate that I'm amazed we don't have more region-wide blackouts. A headline I saw recently stated the grid is in worse shape today than it was five years ago. California had rolling black- and brown-outs in the early 2000s. Consider what could happen today.

Nevada and Colorado claim to have a power shortage too, based on the energy surcharges they apply to their guests. Resorts around the U.S. levy "resort fees" on guests to cover basic services, and to keep their room rates competitive, and to help pay rising energy costs. Power independence would lessen the demand the hospitality industry placed on the grid. Alternative energy is a great way to reduce power dependence. The cleaner energy sources would help clean the air, and the cheaper energy would go toward improving the bottom line.

I know much of electric consumption is based on coal (50 percent), another petroleum product, but it also relies on natural gas and oil. The U.S. has a seemingly ample supply of coal, but it sure scars the earth to attain it. And we have already discussed its lack of oil supplies. And there is still the issue of a weak power grid. Why not go for more localized power generation, maybe right at your hospitality venue? And why not reduce your need for oil?

Conservation and changed buying habits will really go the furthest in reducing our reliance on oil and make us a self-reliant industry and country. Buy in bulk. Conserve energy. Conserve water for that matter. Use natural fibers and low VOC finishes. Buy locally grown, organic food when possible. That's a big part of the path to self-reliance.