Our Environmental Commitment – A Green Hotel
Our Vancouver hotel is committed to programs and best practices that support our hotel associates, the environment and our local community. We are proud to have been awarded Four Green Keys from the Hotel Association of Canada's environmental performance program. This award is defined as a property that has shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide ranging policies and practices. The Hotel has mature programs in place that involve management, employees, guests, and the public and which have shown substantial and measurable results. We are always researching new methods or technologies to help us continue to reduce our eco-footprint. View the list of items "green hotel actions" we're committed to and learn about ways you can help during your next visit to Cascadia Hotel & Suites Vancouver.
Below is a chart outlining the different areas in which our efforts helped reduce our eco-footprint in 2008. In order to measure our impact year over year we work with an external company to audit our hotel’s waste and recycling services. With the help of our hotel associates and guests, in the last year we’ve implemented new strategies in our green hotel to continue to decrease the impact our business operations has on the environment. We are striving towards an even greener future and look forward to sharing our 2009 audit with you.
| Landfill Space Saved (cubic yards) |
Electricity Saved (killowatt hours) | Barrels of Oil Saved | Water Saved (gallons) | Trees Saved |
| 106 | 145,064 | 71 | 247,670 | 601 |
What are we doing to help?
- Our hotel has implemented a Zero Waste Program. Service containers are located throughout the hotel for three streams of materials: mixed container recycling, organic recycling containers, alternative recovery. Learn more.
- We educate our guests and business partners on the subject to encourage them to do their part.
- Our guestrooms have low flow shower heads to conserve water.
- We implemented a linen reuse program to conserve energy and water consumption.
- Our guestrooms, public areas and offices feature energy-efficient light bulbs to conserve energy.
- We print on 30% post-consumer recycled paper to saves trees, energy, water and landfill space.
- We have biodegradable pens in all guestrooms.
- We recycle photocopier and printer cartridges and use recycled cartridges.
- Our offices use printers and copiers that are energy star certified and therefore meet strict energy efficiency guidelines.
- We use non-toxic markers and white boards whenever possible. If our customers prefer paper flip charts we use recyclable newsprint with recycled content.
- We use bulk dispensers for sugar, salt, pepper, cream and other condiments to eliminate packaging whenever possible.
- We use biodegradable take-out containers in our hotel restaurant, MiBistro & Bar.
How can hotel guests help?
- Re-use towels.
- Recycle paper and plastic in your room.
- Turn off your lights when leaving the room.
- Turn off the heating when leaving the room.
How can meeting and event organizers help?
- When purchasing gifts for participants, consider environmentally friendly products with recycled content or items made by local artisans or invest in an eco-friendly project. We're happy to provide suggestions.
- Rather than printing the conference material, burn it to a CD or USB key, post it on a web site or email it to participants.
- Print the conference/registration package and any other required documentation on recycled paper and print double sided.
- Give your participants reusable coffee mugs at the start of the conference.
- Give your participants information on nature based activities or walking trails in the area.
- Organize vans or carpooling for conference participants.
- Send an email explaining to the participants what actions are being taken to make the event green.
