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Fern Group of Hotels Ecotel Certification |
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• All about Eco Commitment
• A crochet plastic bag a day, saves the planet
• Check videos |
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| Ecotel®: The Hallmark of Environmentally Sensitive Hotels |
The 5 Globes
The Ecotel Certification is based on five areas of environmentalism, each of which is designated by a Globe award. These five areas are referred to as the ‘cornerstones of environmental responsibility’ or simply as 'Globes'. These Globes are:
Energy conservation
This requires the existence of a formalized framework to actually reduce the energy consumption of the hotel. For instance, whether the hotel has been designed and constructed keeping in mind maximum energy conservation. Factors like whether minimum lighting is being used, the extent of involvement of the guests as well as the employees etc. also make a difference to the final score.
Water conservation
Evaluates the effective conservation of water in all departments of the hotel, across all levels. The extent to which water is recycled and utilized is also considered an important factor. Again, all employees are expected to be well-versed with the water conservation operations of the hotel.
Solid waste management
The hotel must effectively recycle and manage waste wherever generated. Proper systems for collection, recycling and disposal of these wastes in all departments of the hotel are a must for the Ecotel certification. Moreover, all employees of the hotel must undergo training in the basic solid waste management techniques.
Employee environmental education
Evaluates how involved the employees are in the efforts of the hotel to contribute towards the environment. The hotel should have training modules in place for employees at all levels to familiarize them with the eco-friendly initiatives of the hotel.
Environmental commitment
The hotel/ resort/ inn must demonstrate the existence of a formalized commitment towards the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment. It must, through all operations, activities and written statements, communicate its commitment to the environment. For e.g. the mission statement of the hotel/ resort must mention its environmental dedication. Additionally, every hotel should have a green team headed by a member of the top management ensuring that all departments are working in consonance with the hotel’s mission of environmental responsibility.
The Scoring
The inspection for each globe involves three levels of criteria and scoring- Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. Hotels applying for certification must satisfy the primary criterion before an inspection is scheduled. Once it is evident that all the primary criterion have been satisfied, inspections - unannounced as well as guided by the hotel staff - are conducted throughout the lodging facility to determine if the environmental programs that the hotel reports to have in place are actually part of the daily operations. Each department or function area of the hotel (i.e. main restaurant kitchen, banquet kitchen, kitchen, front desk and office area, executive office areas, etc.) is inspected and scored individually. A percentage score is calculated for the inspection of each department and each department must score above a certain level to be awarded the certification.
If any department scores below that level, but above a minimum threshold, the tertiary criterion can boost that department's score so that the hotel becomes eligible for the certification. The tertiary criterion is simply described as a bonus system. The hotel receives bonus points for environmental programs discovered in operation that are not part of the primary criteria, and are considered to be above ordinary levels of environmental responsibility.
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A crochet plastic bag a day, saves the planet
Posted by : "Sheetal - Karmayog" info@karmayog.org
Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:29 am (PST)
A crochet plastic bag a day, saves the planet....Ahana Chaudhuri
A Texas based eco warrior is teaching Mumbai's slum dwellers to make fashionable items out of the thin plastic bags that you discard after carrying fruits in them.
An idea can save the planet' -- this line may seem like any other hackneyed environmental slogan, until you chance upon an idea that compels you to think differently. Cristen Andrews' green initiative is one such example.
Hailing from Austin, Texas, this young woman popularises plastic bag crochet as an art form and livelihood skill. Andrews, a content writer by profession, has taught economically disadvantaged people from across India to make everything from drawstring backpacks, shopping bags and purses to top hats, rugs and drink holders, all striking in their designs and colour, out of discarded plastic bags.
"Finding unsoiled plastic bags, which can be used to create products fit for sale, however, is a major challenge," admits Andrews, who calls this her India Project. It all began when, during the India leg of a 2008-2009 world trip, she noticed the tremendous volume of plastic waste in the urban centres. "I also noticed the large volume of ragpickers and slum dwellers living off the small income they can generate by recycling trash.
They generally avoid picking up the thin plastic bags because they are lightweight and therefore have low resale value. And so these bags are a terrible problem in the country -- even in states where plastic bags are officially banned," explains Andrews.
That's when she decided to work with slum dwellers, teach them basic crochet stitches and show them how to create simple bag designs. "They could become skilled artisans capable of transforming waste material into fashionable products," she says.
Today, Andrews and her partner Miguel conduct workshops across the world to make people aware of the hazards inherent in disposing plastic bags carelessly. They have collaborated with a number of NGOs and ecologically conscious individuals. In India, they've conducted workshops at Mumbai, Jodhpur, Vrindavan, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Fatehpura, Umbergaon and Pune. Clearly, Andrews is passionate about the cause.
"During impromptu workshops in places like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Iceland, and Australia, I found many who were interested in my idea. I'd always envisioned turning my concept into a self sustaining project -- one that has a direct impact on cleaning up communities and improving the lives of underprivileged women and their families."
One of the people she tied up with during her stay in Mumbai was Monisha Narke, who runs a non-profit organisation called RUR that is actively engaged in spreading environmental awareness. "We organised three workshops -- one for RUR volunteers, one for a city school and another one for women tailors at our organic garments factory. People with elementary knowledge of crocheting learnt faster. But we need more intensive workshops for people to master the skill and pursue it on a long-term basis," feels Narke.
The duo also collaborated with advocate Vinod Shetty and organised a workshop at Dharavi. While applauding Andrews and Miguel's commitment, Shetty said, "Slum women have to struggle for basic necessities. Time spent on learning a craft is like a luxury for them. They cannot afford it everyday. But plastic bag crochet is definitely an option for women who are economically better off."
Andrews, who's presently back in Austin, is unsure of the next stage of the project. But she's hopeful that at least some of the groups she has worked with will give the project a worthy conclusion.
URL: http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2012/jan/080112-A-crochet-plastic-bag-a-day-saves-the-planet.htm |
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