Sustainability
At the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel we understand that the term “Sustainability” is not strictly defined by our efforts in environmental stewardship. We believe that Sustainability is the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by developing policies and programs in areas such as employee relations, community relations and development, as well as environmental stewardship.
The hotel is an active member of New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR) and our General Manager serves on the Board of Directors for NHBSR. In addition, the hotel is a certified member of the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging & Restaurant Program (NHSLRP). We actively take participate in training programs offered by these two organizations.
Summary of CSR efforts:
- Clean the World Partnership: Clean the World Partnership: Instead of sending leftover soaps and shampoo to our landfills, this program provides the opportunity for the hotel to collect, and ships all partially used soaps and shampoos to Clean the World. The products are broken down, sanitized, and re-made into new usable soap products that are shipped to areas all around the world to help stop the spread of diseases.
- Green Natura line of amenities in all of our guestrooms which includes; the use of bottles that are made of plastarch, a corn based biodegradable material, and waste reducing soap. The cartons for the soap are made from natural recycled packaging printed with soy based inks.
- Towel Saver Program implemented in all guestrooms with instructions to our guests on how they can assist us in reducing chemical and energy use.
- Single Stream Recycling: This is a unique program through Waste Management which allows ALL recyclables to be placed in the same container which is then sorted at a special facility.
- Our guest room key cards are made of BioPVC which is a 100% biodegradable product.
- Earth Plus paper towels for all guestrooms which are made of 100% recycled paper and made in a 100% bleach free process.
- Our Hotel Laundry uses an Aquawing Ozone cleaning process which allows us to wash at a lower water temperature and uses fewer chemicals to enter our septic system and about 30% less water. Ozone is a great disinfectant with 150% the germ killing power of chlorine. Using Ozone, we have a longer shelf life with our linens and they keep the fresh air aroma. Our sheets are softer and towels are fluffier.
- Our housekeeping department uses Green Seal Certified products, EcoLab’s Oasis Pro. These products meet the Green Seal™ environmental standard for industrial and institutional cleaners based on their reduced human and environmental toxicity and reduced volatile organic compound content.
- New in our Kitchen is an EcoLab Apex Washing system for our dishwasher. Using increased efficiencies tools to track and reduce water and energy consumption, control chemical usage and limits waste.
- Premier All Natural Filter's Humidity Control System has been installed in our kitchen coolers and freezer. These filters reduce energy usage, eliminates cross contamination, increases the shelf life of perishables, and more.
- The fitness center uses a Hydrogen Peroxide cleaner which allows us to cut out bleach altogether.
- System 8000 – this is a software monitoring efficiency tool that controls mechanics such as our boiler, cooling tower, heat loop, airflow and intake for the entire hotel. This system allows these mechanisms to work together and not against each other being more energy efficient reducing our fuel and electricity consumption and CO2 output.
- Contribute to Place Partnership: We are all supporting this beautiful region by partnering with the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust. A $1 per night donation is added to guest rooms and used by the USVLT for land conservation in the area.
- Numerous donations to local and regional charity events to assist in fundraising efforts.
- Participate in the Adopt-a-Highway program.
The Attitash Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center continuously seeks additional ways to reduce our footprint on the environment. We have a “Green Team” that continually studies future projects. Some of these changes cost us additional expense, but we feel they are all worth it! Your comments and suggestions are welcome: greenteam@attitash.com.