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Intermittent disturbances may be encountered due to refurbishment of neighboring property.

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Green Practices. Inspired by Nature Program

Our Inspired by Nature Program is our commitment to preserving the environment and caring for the world we live in. It was created to help The Palms continue to elevate its status of a responsible corporate citizen in the Miami Beach community.

The Palms Hotel & Spa has been recognized as one of only 14 Miami Beach hotels to achieve an honorable designation from the state of Florida’s Green Lodging Program. The Green Lodging Program awards Florida hotels, motels, resorts and bed & breakfasts that have demonstrated a commitment to succeed in protecting Florida’s natural resources.

Criteria for achieving this distinguished award, which is valid for three years, include forming an internal Green Team with an “Environmental Champion” leader, carefully managing water, and energy conservation, implementing at least two new environmental practices during each three year designation and working to reduce the amount of waste produced.

Our Inspired by Nature Program encompasses many environmentally conscious initiatives. Every day we strive to become greener, constantly reminding our team members to act with the environment in mind. The goal is to challenge the status quo to find greener solutions. This program is a work-in-progress, evolving and improving on a daily basis.

Below you will find a summary of environmental initiatives already in place at The Palms, as well as our future plans for continued green success.

Reducing

Use of paper

  • Documents are printed only when absolutely necessary
  • Printed memos are avoided where possible
  • Guests and clients can choose to receive emailed proposals and final folio statements rather than physical ones
  • Guests can choose if they really require an envelope for their final bill
  • The HRIS system in the HR Department has created an automated process which simplifies paper processing
  • From December 2010 staff receives pay stubs, W-2, W-4 forms online and can submit any changes via computer
  • FUTURE initiatives:
    • Internal reports will be kept electronically rather than being printed out
    • All reports will be kept on-line
    • Only necessary BEO’s will be printed – others will be emailed
    • All PO’s will be approved and filed on-line

Use of Energy

  • KW consumption has been minimized by replacing incandescent lighting to fluorescent throughout the hotel
  • Thermostat in offices, rooms, communal areas, spa and meetings rooms is set at 72 degrees in the Summer and 75 degrees in the Winter
  • Energy management building automation system controls AC and lighting in many areas of the hotel already
  • Fans/heaters are turned off when leaving rooms/offices
  • All guestroom ceiling fans are high-efficiency fans
  • All lights and most electronic equipment are turned off when staff leaves offices, guest rooms, meeting rooms, etc.
  • FUTURE initiatives
    • Implementation of sub meters for pool and cooling towers to save on sewer cost
    • Add motion sensors in store rooms, offices, stairwells, etc to switch off lights when no one present

Use of water

  • 1/3 of our toilets are eco-friendly toilets that use hand wash water to flush
  • The rest of our toilets are water conserving toilets that only consume 1.4 GPM
  • All our showerheads and faucets are low flow at 1.5 GPM
  • Water consumption is reduced through our Linen and Towel re-use program
    • Approx. 3 gallons of water are conserved for each towel that is reused
    • Approx. 4 gallons of water are conserved for each sheet that is reused

Re-using

  • Paper is printed on both side where possible
  • Used paper is re-used for internal note taking
  • Shredded paper is used to stuff boxes
  • Envelopes and filing folders are re-used
  • Most of the guest drink-ware is already re-usable (including that at the pool and beach). The only exceptions are:
    • The spa
      Tea cups are made of paper and water cups are made of plastic (PETE 1 and both of which are recycled). In the future these will either be re-usable or made of a more environmentally-friendly alternative such as PLA and bagasse.
    • The complimentary fruit water cups at the entrance and in the garden
      These are made of plastic (PETE 1 which is recycled). Steps are being taken to find environmentally-friendly alternatives made of PLA.
  • It is the hotels endeavor to make all staff drink-ware reusable – currently no plastic or styrofoam is used in the staff cafeteria. Paper containers are being phased out and the hotel will provide all staff members with a reusable coffee/drink mug at the end of January 2011.
  • Nail files and buffers in the spa are sanitized and re-used
  • Spa sandals are sanitized and re-used
  • Mildly used office material and toiletries are donated to Camillus House shelter
  • Mildly used towels and linens are given to employees or also donated to Camillus House shelter
  • Guests can decide to re-use their towels and linens
  • Dry-cleaning clothes hangers are given back to the dry-cleaning company and re-used

Recycling

  • Recycling bins are available in all rooms, outside areas, in the spa, offices and back-of-the-house areas
  • All cardboard, plastic, paper and metal is recycled
  • Batteries and fluorescent bulbs are on a special disposal program which does not go to a landfill
  • All printer cartridges are recycled
  • The hotel encourages all staff members to take the I recycle pledge
    AmericaRecyclesDay.org
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