Eco 411
Eco Author | 10:18 am | September 30, 2008 | Hotel | Add a comment
As hotels and resorts are notorious consumers of energy and natural resources, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco strives to set the stage for change by reducing the property’s carbon footprint. Laundry wash loads are maximized to cut down on water and chemical usage. Dishwashing and laundry detergents are phosphate free, and VOC paints are not used. Guest’s plastic “to go” containers have been replaced with recyclable versions, and employee consumption of water in plastic bottles has been eliminated.
Abiding by the universally embraced “reduce, reuse and recycle” crusade, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco is striving to put discarded items to alternate use and transfer in more sustainable products wherever possible. Retired uniforms or linens receive new life as donations to charity or repurposing as aprons, rags and headboard covers for rollaway beds. Disposable plastic laundry and shoe bags have been replaced with reusable cotton bags in all guest rooms.
Four Seasons has contracted with CRS, Commercial Recycling Solutions, a company that is helping us manage recycling efforts by extensive staff training about compostable and recyclable items and continuous monitoring of our garbage disposal. An extensive, property-wide installation of new, larger and clearly marked paper recycling and non-recycling containers has greatly enhanced proper recycling procedures. In addition, the Hotel has implemented a battery and light bulb recycling program.
Eco Author | 9:18 am | September 26, 2008 | Restaurant | Add a comment
Honu’s Island Grinds & Bar is one of 1,800 San Francisco restaurants and other food-related businesses who are providing food scraps and other compostable material to San Francisco’s food scrap compost program. These food scraps are made into nitrogen rich compost and used by vineyards in the heart of California’s wine country, including Napa, Sonoma, El Dorado and Mendocino counties. These vineyards are making delicious wines that are being sold at Honu’s Island Grinds.San Francisco’s Department of the Environment is encouraging residents and businesses to place more food scraps and yard trimmings in green collection carts. The new outreach effort is part of an environmental initiative to help San Francisco reach 75 percent recycling citywide by 2010, a goal approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Honu’s Island Grinds has already reached an average of over 75% recycling, two years ahead of the citywide goal, and strongly believe in minimizing waste and keeping the earth GREEN. Honu, means turtle in Hawaiian, and we are doing our part to make the earth a better environment for Honu’s (sea turtle) to continue to rebound their population from being an endangered species, as well as all creatures of our earth.
Honu’s Island Grinds is also 100% compliant to using no Styrofoam, and all of our take out containers are either recyclable or compostable, even our waste cooking oil is filtered/cleaned and used for biodiesel fuel.
Eco Author | 9:22 am | September 25, 2008 | Attractions, Tours | Add a comment
Grgich Hills Estate is the largest certified Biodynamic winegrower in the United States, with 366 acres of estate vineyards in Napa Valley. Biodynamics is a holistic farming practice that uses the earth’s cycles and natural preparations to grow balanced, healthy vines without artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides. The winery also has switched to solar power with photovoltaic panels producing 142 kilowatts. The winery is located at 1829 St. Helena Highway (Hwy 29) in the heart of Napa Valley in Rutherford. Open daily 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Eco Author | 10:27 am | September 23, 2008 | Hotel | Add a comment
The days of sacrificing style and comfort to be environmentally conscious are long gone. Claremont Resort & Spa would like to be a pioneer and an inspiration to lead the East bay hospitality industry in its effort to preserve the planet.
The Resort started practicing the Greening program in November of 2007. It was launched in alliances with organization such as Stop Waste.org, Alameda Waste Management and Alameda County Environmental Health (Green Business Program certification). We are few months away from being certified as “Green Resort.”
The Claremont Resort has integrated practices such as waste recycling program, biodegradable cleaning products and recycled paper.
Just a few of the ways we’re eco-friendly at the Resort:
Eco Author | 9:03 am | September 18, 2008 | Attractions | Add a comment
The Giants are also the first Major League team to bring wireless internet to the ballpark and heavily promote public transit to the park. In addition, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Giants are starting a five-year public awareness campaign to educate and encourage Giants fans to use energy responsibly.
The San Francisco Giants and PG&E came together to install 590 Sharp solar panels in three areas of the park. The panels at AT&T Park, the first ballpark in Major League Baseball with a solar system, now provide up to 122 kilowatts of renewable energy for PG&E’s customers in San Francisco and throughout its service area.
AT&T Park’s in house caterer Bon Appétit has become a model for what is possible in sustainable food service. Bon Appétit Management Company was the first food service company to address the issues related to where our food comes from and how it is grown. They are still the largest restaurant company with a high level of commitment to socially responsible practice including the support of locally-produced food. They have won several awards for their work including the prestigious Ecological Society of America Corporate Award and the Humane Society of the United States Excellence in Food Service Award.
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