With a focus on eco-friendly hoteliering, Townhouse Hotel has recently completed a futher installation of energy-saving light bulbs and a ‘future-fit’ grey water system on their premises.
The new light bulbs should provide an energy cost saving of over of R135 000 a year and a carbon footprint reduction of around 114 tons for the hotel. Some 1723 LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs have been fitted as part of the project.
LED globes, unlike the traditional filament-burning bulbs, do not lose heat as energy while producing light. They are therefore more energy efficient and have a longer lifespan, making them not only greener, but also more cost effective. Jacqui Williams, general manager of Townhouse Hotel, commented: “In keeping with global sustainability trends, we made the decision to replace the energy-guzzling and inefficient incandescent light bulbs with these energy-efficient LED bulbs. We are delighted by the result: longer-lasting bulbs which are kinder to the environment. It’s a win-win situation for us.”
With an eye on the future the recycling of our grey water may become critical to our future existence. The hotel has recently completed the installation of a grey water piping system on its premises. Grey water is the run-off from baths, showers and the laundry services that, while unfit for human consumption, can be re-used effectively for other things such as watering gardens or flushing toilets. “We take seriously our commitment to eco-friendly systems and practices. Excessive water consumption is an area we’ve targeted with this new installation,” explains Williams.
“By putting in place the infrastructure for a grey water system that reduces water consumption, we are literally laying the foundations that will keep the hotel ‘future-fit’ in an ecological sense. Grey water shouldn’t go to waste and our new system will ensure that it won’t. We are very proud of this project,” concluded Williams.
Both initiatives are part and parcel of the hotel’s sustainability business strategy. The hotel, along with its sister venues, the Vineyard Hotel & Spa and Oude Werf are committed to reducing their impact on the environment and working towards a sustainable future.
