EcoLodgical - Taking Action on the Environment in Your Hotel

ECOLODGICAL
TAKING ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Now that you understand the economic and environmental numbers, have learned about environmental design and operation, have developed an environmental management system, and have conducted an environmental audit, it is time to begin steps to lower your hotel's environmental impacts. In this final section, you will develop an Action Plan with objectives, measurable targets, responsible departments, and timelines.

Purpose

An Action Plan gives you an opportunity to examine all the environmental impacts and costs together simultaneously allowing for an effective comparison of each. This allows for efficient decision-making and prioritizing of action items.

Key Steps

It is important to identify the environmental and economic cost (current, remediation, and life-cycle) of each environmental impact or issue. Once this data is assembled and a budget is determined, prioritization of each item is done.

Identify impact or cost
Determine current, remediation, and life cycle cost and savings
Determine short, medium, and long term budgets
Prioritize items to the Action Plan
Establish goals and targets
Develop a timeline for adoption or implementation
Take action on goals and targets
Measure success at meeting goals and targets
Determine why, if goals and targets not met
Set new goals and targets

Figure 1: The 4 main steps in an action plan on the environment. Plan, Do, Check (Audit), Action (Review).

Download the form below and use as a template to develop your Action Plan. Combine the objectives and targets with design and operation elements by using the "add to checklist" tool.

Environmental Action Plan