Traveling Green in Wisconsin

Opportunities to maximize your environmental performance

Steve BrachmanSolid and Hazardous Waste Education Center

Overview

• Background on Travel Green Wisconsin

• Establishing baseline performance measures

• Key pollution prevention opportunities• Resources and tools

What is Travel Green Wisconsin?

• Voluntary certification program• Allows businesses to evaluate goals

and improve environmental footprint• Preserves state’s natural resource,

cultural and wildlife assets• Establishes unique marketing

presence.• http://www.travelgreenwisconsin.com/

Certification Components• Complete checklist

– Baseline items mandatory

• Rated in 9 areas:– Communication/ED– Waste– Energy Efficiency– Water Conservation– Air Quality– Wildlife/Landscape– Transportation– Purchasing– Local Community

Benefits

Baseline Environmental Performance Assessment

• Solid Waste• Energy• Water Consumption

Why???

Getting Started

Gather your baseline data – Why?This is your starting pointWill be used to measure improvement

Solid Waste Generation

• Volume of waste generated by business

• May be in tons or cubic yards• To calculate you will need:

– Volume of containers used– Number of times containers are emptied

OR• Information from previous bills

Example

• Business has one 4 yd3 container for garbage and one 2 yd3 container for recycling emptied weekly

• Garbage = 4 yd3 X 52 weeks/year• 208 yd3s of garbage per year

• Recycling = 2 yd3 X 52 weeks/year• 104 yd3s of recycling per year

Energy Use

• Electricity– Power bills from last 12 months– Many companies offer online accounts

• Natural Gas, Propane, Heating Oil– NG may be on same bill as electricity– Propane and Heating oil – delivery

slips/or bills• Gasoline, Diesel Fuel

– Bills or Vehicle Miles driven

Example

Historical Data Useful

Water Consumption

• Public water supply vs. private well• Water usage is typically in cubic feet

– Past bill from water utility – quarterly or monthly

• Private Well– Estimate flow if no meter installed – Dept.

of Commerce table– Install meter to monitor – May not be able to determine cost

Example

• Drive-in restaurant (all paper service w/ inside seating) – seating cap. 45– From chart – 10 gpd/seating space– Open 310 days per year– 45 X 10 = 450 gallons per day– 450 X 310 days = 139,500 gallons/year

Other “Low Hanging Fruit”Waste Reduction Reuse & Recycling

• Recycling and the landfill bans– Paper and Containers– Tires, Yardwaste, used oil, etc.

• Hazardous waste identification– Are you a hazardous waste generator?– Fluorescent bulbs, Thermostats (Mercury)

Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Management

• Fluorescent bulbs are used • Programmable set-back thermostats in

use• Purchase of renewable energy/power

through utility companies

Water Conservation and Wastewater Management

• Low flow fixtures• Non-toxic, phosphate free detergents• Hazardous chemicals are properly

disposed, not down the drain

Air Quality

• Air handling and other HVAC equipment are cleaned and maintained

• High Moisture areas are well ventilated

• Low/No-VOC paints and finishes are used

Wildlife & Landscape Conservation & Management

• Native plants are used while invasive species are avoided

• Soaker hoses or drip irrigation in use• Organic fertilizers and products are

used in landscaping

Transportation

• Bicycles available for use or rent• CO2 offsets are offered to customers

Local Community Benefits

• Staff are local with short commutes• Local Food products are purchased• Support other local businesses and

organizations.

Purchasing

• Impact nearly all other sections• Decisions will impact performance• Long term vs. short term• Look for recycled content products• Reduce or eliminate the purchase of

toxic or hazardous cleaners/chemicals

Purchasing Guides & Resources

• Building Green Guide• Office of the Federal Environmental

Executive• US EPA – Comprehensive

Procurement Database• Green Seal Products

Other Resources Provide…

• Answers to questions• Solutions that can save money• Reduced environmental impact• Enhanced customer satisfaction

My Favorite Web Based Resources

• P2Rx sector hubshttp://www.wrppn.org/hub/subsection.cfm?hub=14&subsec=4&nav=4&CFID=152221&CFTOKEN=25918191

• EPA Hospitality Site Abstract: The hospitality industry spends $5 billion dollars every year on energy. Explore and use the tools and resources on this site to help your company improve its energy performance.

More Favorites• Green Business Standards Checklist

Abstract: Green Business Standards Checklist For Hotels and Motels

• Green Business Standards Checklist Abstract: Green Business Standards Checklist For Restaurants & The Food Service Industry

• Transportation Project Addresses Impacts of Tourism Abstract: Santa Barbara Car Free, also known as the Take a Vacation from Your Car Project, is a cooperative project led by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District.

• Waste Reduction in Hotels and Motels - A Guide for Hotel and Motel [PDF]Abstract: This guidebook was developed to assist hotel, motel and restaurant managers in organizing their waste reduction initiatives .