I had a conversation this past week with the CEO of a company that sells food waste decomposition machines. During our conversation he touted the reliability of his company’s machines from a maintenance perspective. It was a differentiator, he said, when compared to his competitors. I suspect every company in every product niche would tell you that but what stood out in our conversation was his emphasis on TCO—the notion of “total cost of ownership.”
How often do you consider TCO when purchasing a green product or technology? What I mean is not only the actual upfront cost but also the utility costs involved over the life of the item, the maintenance-related costs, the disposal costs, the human costs (ergonomically, for example) and the overall environmental impact (carbon impact, impact on air quality, water, etc.).
TCO analysis is often used when referring to automobiles and in the computer and software industries. I believe it is something that should be considered much more often in our industry—not only when referring to food waste decomposition machines and other foodservice equipment but also everything from mattresses to guestroom energy management systems to soaps. It is only on a rare occasion that I read or hear about TCO.
Closely Related to LCA
LCA, life-cycle analysis or assessment, the technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product’s life from cradle to grave, is closely related to TCO in that they both can consider environmental impacts but other factors come into play with TCO—even the hiring decisions you make and the training you provide.
Let’s say you purchase the most eco-friendly towels available. The supply chain involved in their production is stellar from a sustainability standpoint and the supplier even has a take-back program once those towels no longer meet quality standards. However, for whatever reason, your employees underload washers, add too much chemical and overdry the towels. All of a sudden the TCO of those towels has gone up substantially with higher utility costs, shorter towel life, and possibly even higher labor and maintenance costs. Of course the environment is further strained because new towels have to be made, purchased, transported, etc.
Considering TCO is a smart, green way of doing business. It requires a broadening of thinking behind every purchase. Employ TCO analysis at every purchase level—whether for a biodegradable fork or a highly expensive solar photovoltaic system. Inevitably, your business will be more profitable and the environment will benefit greatly. Consider TCO as well when hiring new employees. The TCO of a bad hire can be dramatic—for your operation and for the environment as well.
Your thoughts? I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com, or by phone at (813) 510-3868.
GLN Adds EndInMind Design as Directory Partner
Green Lodging News welcomes EndInMind Design as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. EndInMind Design’s RecyclerSack reinvents in-room recycling through unique engagement with hospitality guests via fine art. When placed prominently in properties’ rooms, guests will be encouraged and reminded to recycle the water/beverage bottles, etc. that they’ve accumulated during their stay. This pre-sorting will reduce a property’s associated labor costs at the back-of-house, and the increased guest participation in recycling will translate into reduced waste-hauling fees. RecyclerSack customers also receive social media support to share a property’s innovative approach to recycling. Call (608) 332-2281, e-mail info@endinminddesign.com, or go to www.endinminddesign.com.
Green Lodging News Adds Verdafero Case Study to Website
Green Lodging News has added a Verdafero case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study details the implementation of the MyVerdafero—Utility Optimization Software Platform at the Hilton Concord in Concord, Calif. To help hotel management gain greater transparency into the impact of their sustainability initiatives, Verdafero, a San Francisco provider of SaaS software and services, worked alongside Hilton Concord management and Hotel Sustainability Solutions, Inc. (HSSI), to implement their software platform at the hotel. HSSI, a consulting firm providing comprehensive expertise and management of integrated sustainability systems, technologies and products for the hospitality industry, provided the interface and focus for the property systems development.
“By using the MyVerdafero software we are now able to accurately track, analyze and report our waste disposal streams, energy usage, water consumption and carbon footprint at the touch of a button rather than having to employ a spreadsheet expert to try and track all these metrics manually,” said Jack Hlavac, General Manager of the Hilton Concord.
As part of its ongoing upgrades Verdafero has implemented the new global Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative (HCMI) methodology into MyVerdafero. This enables the Hilton Concord to analyze and report their carbon footprint reduction on a real-time basis.
To read the entire case study, click here. For more information on Verdafero, call Alastair Hood, CEO at (650) 206-2441, e-mail alastair@verdafero.com, or go to www.verdafero.com.
We Have Moved Our Offices!
Green Lodging News has moved its offices from University Heights, Ohio, to Tampa, Fla., as of December 23, 2013. Our new address is: 7438 Gunn Hwy., Tampa, FL 33625. The new office number is (813) 510-3868. My cell number is the same: (216) 702-0334. Of course my e-mail will remain the same: editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for 2014?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2014. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2014 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (216) 848-1406, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
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As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
