Singapore’s Hotel industry comes together to push for environmental sustainability
Madam Kay Kuok, President, Singapore Hotel Association
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
A very good afternoon to all,
I am pleased to be here today to congratulate the inaugural batch of hotels that are receiving the Singapore Green Hotel Award. This award not only recognises the efforts by the hotel industry to incorporate green practices into work processes, it also seeks to encourage more hotels to adopt green practices and create greater awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability.
Towards a sustainable nation
For a small island state like Singapore with no natural resources and a very finite space for all our competing needs, achieving environmental sustainability presents an ongoing challenge as our economy and population continue to grow. We have been successful in developing Singapore into a clean, green and beautiful modern city, whilst achieving the necessary economic growth to drive and support this transformation. However, going forward, like a mountain climber reaching higher in increasingly rarefied air, this is by no means a given. We need to experiment, innovate, and constantly review how we can achieve economic growth without jeopardising the high environmental quality we now enjoy.
This is why an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development was set up last year to put together a master plan that will ensure that Singapore remains a lively and liveable city state. In April this year, the committee released the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint highlighting the key areas that we will focus on to achieve sustainable development.
Resource efficient buildings – A sustainable way of life
One of the key strategies identified in the blueprint is to improve our resource efficiency. By becoming more efficient in the way we utilise limited resources like energy and water, and minimising waste, we not only minimize our impact on the environment, we also become more cost competitive in the long run.
As buildings account for 16% of our nation’s total energy consumption, we can help reduce energy consumption by making our buildings more energy efficient. Hotels consume large amounts of energy, due to the need for cooling and lighting 24/7. In 2008, hotels account for about 7.7% of the electricity consumption by buildings. In the area of water usage, the non-domestic sector accounts for about half of the total potable water consumption, 5% of which is attributed to hotels.
It is encouraging to note that more and more hotels are stepping forward to demonstrate their commitment to “go green” through real, practical measures. And I believe that they do so not because it is fashionable, but because it is a hard nosed and properly considered decision that will yield superior commercial outcomes in the longer run. For example, The Regent Singapore adopted energy efficient measures like replacing its diesel boilers with a new heat recovery system and switching from conventional light fittings to energy efficient bulbs. The hotel now saves about 26% in terms of kWh consumption and is enjoying significant savings of $500,000 every year.
Reducing water consumption is another way where hotels can save on their utility bills. The Furama City Centre hotel, a Water Efficient hotel under PUB’s Water Efficient Building programme, is such an example. By adopting simple water efficiency measures like installing low-flow showerheads and dual-flush low capacity flushing cisterns, and replacing potable water with NEWater for their cooling tower usage, the hotel achieved 29% savings in water consumption. This translates to about $20,000 in annual savings!
Besides conserving energy and water, reducing waste is another area that warrants attention as it also affects the bottom-line. I am heartened to know that many hotels are already upholding the rubric of the 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. They have also introduced creative ways to subtly influence their customers’ behaviour to minimise wastage, such as in the use of towels and linens. Holiday Inn Park View Hotel is a case in point. The hotel has put in place a waste management policy so as to ensure proper disposal, maximise re-use and recycling. Among the hotel’s impressive achievements is that it recycles some 37,000 kg of food waste a month! I have cited a few examples of hotels that have demonstrated how going green makes good social and business sense. I believe as your customers become more environmentally conscious, hotels with good environmental practices will appeal to them and positively impact the bottom-line.
Concluding Remarks
Today, an inaugural batch of 15 hotels will be receiving the Singapore Green Hotel Award. This is the first time the hotel industry has come together to recognise excellence and best practices within its community in pushing for environmental sustainability. I would like to commend the Singapore Hotel Association for its efforts and contributions to this end. Among the 15 winners, 10 will be selected to represent Singapore at the ASEAN Green Hotel Award in Bangkok next year. I would like to wish you all the best and hope that you make Singapore proud by clinching the ASEAN Green Hotel Award!
Thank you.
Topics: environment, environmental sustainability, Governance, green practices, hotel industry, Singapore, Singapore Green Hotel Award
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