A guide to Australia’s sustainable seafood

If fishing, or just dining on seafood, is on the docket, an iPhone app from the Australian Marine Conservation Society can help travellers make sustainable choices. Instead of tuna or wild snapper, for example, opt for wild bonito or wild mahi mahi. The Sustainable Seafood Guide makes it easy to protect the oceans – while also savouring a well-crafted meal in Melbourne, Sydney or any of Australia’s world-renowned food towns.


http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sustainable-seafood-guide/id461656264?ls=1&mt=8

New method for estimating the energy consumption of rainwater

Simple life cycle analyses of rainwater harvesting systems may underestimate their energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 60%, according to research, which has used an improved method to estimate systems’ energy use more accurately. However, their energy use is still considered very small when compared to the overall energy use of a modern building.
Rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) can reduce dependence on the mains water supply, relieving pressure on often overused water resources. They are becoming more popular around world, in response to the desire for buildings to become more adaptable and resilient to climate change and as populations grow larger. As a result, some national governments, such as the UK’s, have set targets for rainwater harvesting in new sustainable buildings.
However, non-gravity rainwater harvesting systems require electricity to drive pumps and, in some cases, disinfect water using UV light. Some commentators have therefore questioned whether the energy use and associated carbon emissions outweigh the other environmental benefits of such systems.
Previous studies have used life cycle analyses to establish the energy cost of rainwater harvesting systems. However, these may not have captured the full energy use of the systems. In contrast, the latest study included a more accurate representation of the energy used by the pumps. In particular, the researchers included an estimate of the energy used on start-up as well as that used during operation. The new method also distinguishes between pumping phases and has been developed for RWH systems where no pump energy monitoring equipment exists. The improved method also considered the efficiency of the pump. As rainwater harvesting systems do not always incorporate energy use monitors, the researchers had to estimate energy use based on the volume of rainwater. The new method also estimated the carbon dioxide emissions from the process.
The researchers then tested their improved method on a rainwater harvesting system installed in an office building in the UK where rainwater is used to flush toilets.
Comparing their improved model with the simple method used previously, they found that the energy use and carbon dioxide emissions predicted by the improved method were 60% higher than those predicted by the simple method. For instance, the simple method predicted energy use of 0.32kWh per m³ of rainwater, versus 0.54kWh per m³ from the improved method. Similarly, carbon dioxide emissions increased from 0.34kgCO₂e per m³ of rainwater to 0.56 kgCO₂e per m³. These results emphasised the importance of the amount of pump start-up energy consumption and efficiency and underlined the necessity to estimate the total energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.
The results from the improved method closely matched the observed energy use identified by another study from Australia. The researchers also found that the overall total energy consumption of the rainwater harvesting system accounted for just 0.07% of the total energy use in the office. Thus findings suggest that the energy use of such systems is negligible when compared to the overall energy use of a modern office building.
The results also reveal that the examined rainwater harvesting system used marginally less energy than mains water distribution, and cost less per m³ of water. The research highlighted that emerging gravity systems, which do not require energy for pumping, present opportunities to reduce energy consumption substantially. The model provides a tool for benchmarking rainwater harvesting systems’ energy use, but needs to be applied to further case studies to verify the results presented in the study. The research also stressed that the water-saving benefits of rainwater harvesting systems are significant, and should not be overlooked.



Source: Ward, S., Butler, D., Memon, F.A. (2011) Benchmarking energy consumption and CO2 emissions from rainwater-harvesting systems: an improved method by proxy. Water and Environment Journal. Doi:10.1111/j.1747-6593.2011.00279.x.

World Green Tourism spotlights need for Middle East travel industry to focus on sustainability

The need for all sectors of the Middle East travel industry to place a bigger emphasis on sustainability will be highlighted at World Green Tourism, the three-day conference and exhibition in the UAE capital (5-6 December).

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), the event is designed to establish a strong regional voice to drive green tourism initiatives.

Hosted by ADTA and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, it is providing global experts and travel trade professionals alike with a platform to tackle key challenges, including the task of meeting a growing demand for more responsible tourism destinations.

Following an introduction from H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, the keynote address for the conference was delivered by  H.H. Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, known as ‘The Green Sheikh.’

Immediately afterwards, the Honourable Maurice F. Strong, Senior Advisor to the 2012 Rio+20 Summit, presented with the inaugural World Green Tourism Award in recognition of his pivotal role in shaping the global sustainable development agenda. Sponsored by Etihad Airways,  in partnership with the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), the award acknowledges Strong’s outstanding efforts to encourage thought leadership and action for green initiatives in travel and tourism.

Among his many public and private sector appointments, Strong has served as Secretary General of the 1972 Stockholm Environment Conference, and as the First Head of the UN Environment Programme. In 1992, he was Secretary General of the Rio Earth Summit, the United Nations conference on environment and development.

After receiving the award, Strong, who recognised the potential of Travel & Tourism to make a contribution to mainstream green growth transformation, will deliver the valedictory address.

Other opening day conference speakers include Prof. Harold Goodwin, Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism.

Among the exhibitors at World Green Tourism is a UAE-based company specialising in creating and maintaining healthy indoor environments, which says the price hotels pay for preventative measures is much less than the cost to fix the physical and reputational damage caused by a full-scale fungus invasion.

Steve Ashby, Managing Director of Vivoteq Middle East LLC, says mould and fungus are invading some hotels in the UAE, appearing on wallpaper, furniture, headboards and skirting, causing millions of dirhams worth of damage, and having a harmful impact on indoor air quality.

“In these days of ‘superbugs’ and microbial cross contamination, it is critical that hotel operators protect their guests and staff alike by maintaining a healthy indoor environment, well beyond what normal cleaning practices have provided in the past,”said Ashby.

“We have seen internal relative humidity levels in some UAE hotels reach as high as 70 per cent – fungus will start growing when this exceeds 60 per cent. Hotel air conditioning systems that are not capable of providing sufficiently dry air to the rooms can often lose 20-30 per cent of the treated air through leaks in the ductwork.  

“The use of organic wallpaper, unsealed timber in headboards, artwork and furniture, lack of anti-fungal sealants on building materials, dirty air conditioning systems and leaks in the building enable spores to enter and grow, leading to rapid and widespread infestation.”

Ashby said hotels which take preventative action can capitalise by promoting themselves as environmentally clean. “Hotel visitors are becoming more aware of environmental pollutants and the risks of cross-contamination, and it is a huge market advantage for hotels in the GCC to be able to advertise the cleanest, safest hotel rooms in the region, suitable for allergy sufferers, children and elderly folk,” he explained.

The World Green Tourism exhibition, organised by Streamline Marketing Group, is showcasing a wide range of products and services offering solutions in sustainability, and Vivoteq is using the event to launch its new ‘Hotel Safe by Vivoteq’ package, featuring the company’s signature product Pathene Plus. The EPA-registered non-toxic, water-based, bio-static surface protectant spray is odourless, colourless and kills any microbes which land on it for months after application.

When it is applied to every surface in the hotel room, including beds and soft furnishings, rooms can be treated and safely returned to housekeeping within 60 minutes.

“We’re participating at World Green Tourism to demonstrate how our new package can provide higher levels of protection against harmful dust, dust mites, bacteria, viruses, fungi and many other microorganisms which are in the air or on the surfaces of hotel rooms,” said Ashby. “Hotel Safe by Vivoteq will guarantee allergy sufferers and other guests a safe, comfortable stay”.


http://www.traveldailynews.com

Travel Trend 2012: UK: Rent-a-garden

With high household debt of five percent in 2011, the rent-a-garden concept provides extra financial support to cash-strapped homeowners. campinmygarden.com provides the opportunity for homeowners to rent their gardens, which can be used as campsites by travellers seeking to save money. The idea appeals to travellers wishing to experience the local community and go back to traditional and modest forms of accommodation. Rental demand is expected to increase during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

 

http://www.hotel-industry.co.uk/2011/11/travel-trends-2012/

Green Technology for Hoteliers

Hoteliers throughout the UK who want to remain competitive can no longer consider “green technology” as an industry fad. As a large consumer of energy resources, the UK hospitality industry should be putting sustainable green technology high on the agenda.
There is the argument that the demand to go ‘green’ is being pushed by environmentally sensitive guests who are growing in number and eco-friendly hotels are being favoured over ones that have not made moves to be more energy efficient.
This is backed up by Leigh Tymms from Green Edge Environmental who in a recent interview with hotel-industry.co.uk said, “there are a number of surveys that demonstrate such a trend for the hotel marketplace and these support wider UK research of an increasing awareness in both consumer and business buying decisions. One survey by Devon County Council showed that many guests consider environmental issues when booking a hotel and that three quarters think a green business is likely to be more quality conscious. A Travelocity report stated that 80 per cent of travellers are willing to pay extra to visit an eco-friendly destination or business. Exact figures vary survey to survey but together they do show a fundamental shift in peoples buying behaviour.”
Green initiatives, which were consigned to being the unique selling point of luxury hotels, have spread across the industry, which has seen hotels of all sizes and markets adopting eco-friendly practices, from sourcing local construction materials to installing technology that reduces energy use.

Green Technology Solutions

There are a range of options and technologies that hoteliers can employ to become more ‘green’, depending on budget and requirement. Some hotels, for example, are using wireless controllers that can run key cards, lighting and air conditioning in rooms, in an attempt to reduce energy consumption. This device helps lights and other devices turn of automatically in the room when the guests leave, and adjust to the most favourable settings when they return.
This technology requires no additional wiring and saves energy, which means operating costs are not added.
Other eco-friendly technology that is being used in hotels includes a system for heating, which starts up when a guest enters the room and turns itself down again when they leave. Compact hot water distribution systems that allow hot water to reach end users faster, dual flush toilets that use less water and high performance fireplaces that eradicate air leakage are also widely being implemented.
Energy-efficient technology might be costly initially, but the hotel industry is acknowledging the long-term benefits that can be made through savings being made on rising energy costs.
Mr Tymms added, “It is possible for every hotel to measure their return on investment (ROI) from green initiatives, both in terms of the sales/marketing benefits and cost savings. Whether the cost savings focus on water, waste, electricity or almost anything else used or produced in the hotel, environmental management will measure these, before, during and after steps are taken to reduce the associated environmental impact. The most important measurement will then be visible directly on the bottom line; how much is being saved.”
With the hotel industry wrestling with tighter profit margins, more demanding guests and fiercer competition, hotels need to employ a lean management principle and make decisions based on long-term perspectives, which makes introducing green technology the foreseeable choice.

http://www.hotel-industry.co.uk/2011/09/green-technology-for-hoteliers/

do you want to know more about this eco hanger ?

Santorini, Greece

An ancient island that endured one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, Santorini feels like no other place on earth. Here, 120 miles southwest of mainland Greece, everything is brighter: the whitewashed cube-shaped houses, the lapis lazuli sea and the sunsets that light up the caldera. (Courtesy Art Kowalsky / Alamy)


http://www.bbc.com/travel/slideshow/20111123-worlds-best-islands