What is Brookstreet doing to be environmentally friendly?

• Maintains a four out of five Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating.

• The Brookstreet Green Committee, started in 2006, actively organizes green initiatives throughout the hotel and sends weekly green alerts to educate Partners [staff] energy efficient actions they can take to make a difference.

• Works with On Your Marks, the Eco-Logical Print Source; On Your Marks goes beyond printing on FSC papers to using vegetable-based inks, recycled packaging and planting a tree for every $50 print order.

• Has recycling programs throughout the hotel: in guest rooms, administration offices, kitchen and housekeeping.

• Conducted a waste audit in 2007 resulting in a variety of waste reduction actions:
  • Implemented organic waste collection, which reduces monthly waste by 1.76 tonnes.
  • Extended recycling program to include room amenities (donated to The Mission), batteries and ink cartridges.
  • Use refurbished ink cartridges
  • Added more recycling bins throughout the hotel.
  • A paperless night audit saves over 70,000 pieces of paper per year.
  • Incoming faxes are received by e-mail thereby reducing printing and saving up to 1000 sheets of paper per year.

• An automated climate control system reduces heating / air conditioning in unused guestrooms and meeting space.

• Removal of all high energy use accent lighting on floors.

• Progressive replacement of lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs. The objective is to have only compact fluorescent lightbulbs in all guestrooms by the end of 2008.

• Turns off lighting and heating in guestrooms and meeting rooms which are not in use.

• Installation of Infared sensor in our kitchen overhead vents to reduce electricity use to on demand as well as reduce the amount of air requiring for re-conditioning.

• Encourages guests to use towels and linens for more than one day.

• Brookstreet's Au Naturel Spa uses rechargeable candles and gives a $1 discount on pedicures for spa devotees who bring their own flip flops.

• Coffee and tea lovers receive $ 0.10 off their hot beverage purchase when they bring their own mugs to Brookstreet Café.

• Member of Savour Ottawa; supports local producers thereby reducing energy required to make deliveries while supporting the local agricultural economy.

• Member of the Endangered Fish Alliance.

• Participated in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 29:
  • Turned off all non-essential lighting on guest floors and public areas including lobby, restaurants, parking garage, outside of hotel and back-of-house areas between 8 and 9 pm.
  • Dimmed essential lighting where possible.
  • Shut down escalator and reduced elevator service.
  • Invited guests to participate in Earth Hour by turning off guestroom lights.
  • Celebrated Earth Hour at Options Bar with Canapés by Candlelight.

• Silver Sponsor of the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair.