September 28th, 2010 by TRT Blog

Last week we were honored to be invited to the Wyndham Group Hotel Conference held in Las Vegas. Much like our trip to HD Boutique in Miami, we enjoyed the locale -of course, but were fortunate enough to learn a thing or two from one of the largest hospitality brands in the world.

As the first all brand global conference in company history, we expected a lot of news, and we were not disappointed. One of the major announcements made was that Wyndham will now franchise the Planet Hollywood brand hotels and provide management services around the globe. The agreement with the entertainment-focused hotel will give Wyndham a broader appeal to a wider audience. Along with this, many of Wyndham’s 13 hotel brands will see alterations to its logos and websites to strengthen and better market its worldwide appeal.

Without question, the best news coming out of the conference however was the Wyndham Hotel Group’s commitment to donate $100,000 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation. With this contribution, seriously ill children and their families are provided entertainment, activities, and education to help cope with the uncertainty that serious medical conditions can bring. In addition, Wyndham has pledged to donate $1 for every “like” they receive from fans on its Facebook page, up to $60,000, through November 30^th.

The upbeat nature of the conference was apparent as almost everyone had plans for what to do not only as a whole, but for their individual hotels as the hospitality industry continues to rebuild. And with over 5,000 owners, general managers, and staff in attendance, there was no shortage of ideas being passed around. We’re proud to have been a part of that exchange and are even more proud to work with a respected brand within the industry that has continued to give back.

conference, Events, The Refinishing Touch, Wyndham

September 24th, 2010 by TRT Blog

Despite the amount of work that takes place within commercial buildings, they consume the least amount of energy out of all the sectors in the US. Currently consuming roughly 20 percent of energy used in the nation, they are behind residential use (about a quarter of the energy consumed) and far behind transportation and industrial – approximately 25 and 30 percent respectively. Although they are the most sustainable – a term we’re using loosely – there still is much room for improvement.

A study by the Pike Research Group has indicated that one third of businesses are due for retrofits that can reduce energy consumption from 10 to 50 percent. While adoption of sweeping reforms within companies in terms of sustainability is lower than desired, it’s not for the reason you might expect. Companies are holding back on these changes because the trouble and inconvenience of retrofits could upset the flow of business for both employees and clients, offsetting any gains the reduced energy costs have on their bottom line.

In this article by Chuck Colgan he illustrates how simple (yet important) changes to the infrastructure of a mixed use building can dramatically lower costs, without being overly intrusive. Some highlights include:

-$66,000 savings annually through general equipment upgrades such as energy efficient lighting, and variable fans

-Correcting settings in the building management system that controls the fan override system, and heating and cooling coils can deliver $230,000 savings every year

There’s no question that businesses must look at the bottom line when running their operations. However, using the excuse that sustainability initiatives can get in the way of business is unacceptable if solutions like those outlined above are available and cause little intrusion on the workplace.

businesses, profit, Sustainability

September 21st, 2010 by TRT Blog

Sierra magazine has named top 100 greenest schools in America. The ‘coolest school’,  which received 88.6 points out of a potential 100, is Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont.

Coming in at a close second was Dickinson College,  Pennsylvania, with 86.1 points, and rounding out the top three is Evergreen State College, Washington, with 85.9 points.

The ranking was conducted by questionnaire, with schools across the country asked to share details  of their green initiatives and sustainable efforts. Categories included efficiency; energy supply; food; academics; purchasing; transportation; waste management; administration; and financial investments.

Green Mountain College secured the top spot with the use of a creative power and heating source – cow power – with  biomass and biogas are as sustainable fuels on the campus. By next year, the school plans to be completely carbon-neutral. Other schools implemented practices such as incentives for alternative transportation, composting toilets, maintaining a high efficiency energy plant, even a sustainable-business curriculum.

Colleges and universities aren’t the only educational institutions going green. IC BUS, in Warrenville, Illinois, also held a competition to find out which school is ‘America’s Greenest School’. Students, teachers, classrooms, and entire schools, from kindergarten to twelfth grade, were eligible to enter the contest. Ten finalists were chosen, and then it was up to America to decide the winner with online voting. Nearly 1,600 students participated nationwide and it all came down to Ms. Roberts’ 3rd and 4th grade classes at South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell, MA. To view their entry, please visit the America’s Greenest School website.

Congratulations to all the winners, to the schools that contributed and each of the participants. Though of course with these types of initiatives, everyone wins – and so does the planet.

awareness, green, schools

September 17th, 2010 by TRT Blog

This week, the Hospitality Design Boutique Expo and Conference was held in Miami. Our president and founder Mario Insenga attended and was thrilled to experience not only the locale, but the rich environment and the creative energy that designers in the field brought to the show.

Attending the conference was important to see where design in the industry is headed. Creativity breeds profitability and staying in tune with other trendsetters in our industry only makes sense. And while it’s mostly business at shows such as this, with so many unique and creative minds centered in one place, it was inevitable that attendees would get even more than anticipated. Mario reported back feeling refreshed after experiencing the volume and rush of new ideas, but especially from speaking with peers within our industry — especially the up and coming talent in attendance that were spotlighted throughout the event.

All of this was in addition to a noticeable increased green awareness overall amongst attendees. Sustainability for the industry is more important now than ever. If there’s any message that we can speak to more, it’s that sustainability can help cut costs while the hospitality industry as a whole rebuilds. Good green business just makes good plain sense – and it does so while showing that we are doing our part for the environment. The event provided LEED certification training, and much of the talent that was at the show attended those sessions – all great stuff, no matter how you spin it.

We pride ourselves on keeping the aesthetic standard of a living environment as high as possible, and we have no doubt that with what Mario learned and saw at HD Boutique this year, we’ll be finding new and exciting ways to offer smart, sustainable and innovative solutions far into the future.

design, green, HD Boutique, hospitality, LEED, Sustainability

September 14th, 2010 by TRT Blog

Governments play a big part in driving business’ environmental improvements, through public commitments, tax incentives and grants.  As well as this crucial role, local and state governments are also showing their own green abilities.

The State of Texas is showing its commitment to green by working to increase its sustainability and renewable energy. This year was a Texan milestone for the State reached its goal of 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy –  a full 15 years ahead of schedule. This established Texas is a leader in renewable energy. To continue the growth, a study by the State Capitol in Austin modeled three ways that Texas could improve as a catalyst for renewable energy and job growth, through aggressive, moderate, and conservative energy bill increases:

-       A high residential energy bill increase of $13 monthly would yield the most return with $2.7 billion in state revenue and 22,900 new jobs

-       A moderate residential energy bill increase of $4/month would create 6,000 jobs and up to $1 billion revenue

-       No change shows modest job creation and revenue for the state

The fact the State is so far ahead with its energy goals is enough to hang its giant ten-gallon sized hat on. With potential to create close to 23,000 jobs and generate over two and a half billion in revenue it’s all the more reason for states to begin implementing their energy plans sooner rather than later.

photo via texas.gov flickr

energy, Sustainability, Texas

September 10th, 2010 by TRT Blog

Do you know what happens to your old TVs or computers when you throw them out?  Mario Insenga, our president and founder, shared his thoughts in a recent guest column on electronic waste in Green Lodging News. In the article Mario reviews how as hotels work to maintain high standards and keep up with competitors, the appearance of the hotel is constantly changing – and the impact on the environment.  For instance, as manufacturers develop new technology, the more hotels get rid of the old technologies. Which produces around 50 million tons of e-waste a year. Some is recycled properly, but most is not.

In his article, Mario references the startling facts: “In the United States, the numbers are particularly grim. Nearly 400 million units of consumer electronics are sold per year. Relatively light regulations and recycling standards result in the production of 3 million tons of e-waste annually. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only 13.6 percent of all e-waste was recycled properly in 2007. The remaining 86.4 percent made its way into landfills, and the EPA estimates that e-waste is growing at two to three times the rate of any other waste source. The numbers are staggering, and so too are the results. Old TVs and computer monitors contain lead, cadmium and brominated flame retardants; all of which are hazardous to personal and environmental well-being.”

Developing countries are the ones suffering from our disposed electronics. According to the Basel Action Network, third world countries receive about 90% of recycled e-waste, but dispose of it improperly, therefore harming themselves and their land. It’s important to know where your e-waste is going and what is happening to it. Awareness is the first step in responsible recycling, so seek out domestic recycling companies. By making recycling a day to day routine in order to promote a long-term change, hotels can become truly sustainable organizations. After all actual green hospitality is far better than the appearance of green hospitality.

Click here to read the entire article.

e-waste, green lodging news, hospitality, Sustainability

September 6th, 2010 by TRT Blog

As the Labor Day holiday approaches we’re ready to have a long weekend and enjoy the symbolic end of Summer.

During the long weekend, some of the team here are sure to take personal time to continue to do the things we love – such as a home refinishing or do-it-yourself project, or perhaps really get to relax and enjoy some time grilling with friends.

We’re looking forward to the break – it’s been a busy summer here at The Refinishing Touch. We’ve worked on a range of projects including new clients in the hospitality, government and education industries; completed some great new projects with existing clients;  and seen an awesome response to the new electronics recycling service we launched earlier this year, as well as clients keen to incorporate the new hardware and new fabrics we introduced to complement our existing refinishing and reupholstery services.

With a great pipeline of projects, we’re expecting Fall to be just as busy, engaging, and fun.

If you’re on the East Coast, stay safe and dry – our thoughts are with you. Whatever you choose to do, be it travel or staying close to home, make sure to enjoy yourself.

The Refinishing Touch

September 3rd, 2010 by TRT Blog

Choosing which college to attend can be a stressful experience.  There are so many variables: location of the college, where friends have chosen, academic options, and of course, cost.  These are just a few of the factors students and parents face when trying to make their selection. Schools are all too aware of this and do everything in their power to appeal to their prospective students.

A new tactic colleges are using to separate themselves from the rest of the pack is selling the green and sustainable aspect of their university campus and operations. In a recent study 69 percent of schools said they had marketed their sustainability merit to prospective students. This ranged from everyday sustainable practices to energy efficiencies across college campuses.  In 2009, only 27 percent of schools reported using sustainability and green as distinguishing features to attract students.

Colleges such as Harvard, Yale, and University of California San Diego which are recognized as sustainability leaders in the collegiate field, promote their sustainability, and others are following.

But it is a two-way street: two thirds of  prospective students and their parents say they actively search for schools that have a strong sustainable or green-focused environment.

It’s up to colleges and universities to show that they are green: not only to attract good students, but to show how green the universe can be.

college, students, Sustainability, Universities