ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT
Hotel Mocking Bird Hill
2003/2004 Sustainability Report
Section 4: Environmental Performance
Energy use
Energy that is used at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill for hot water heating is minimal to the utilization of solar panels. Electricity from the grid is used as a back-up primarily in the winter months. The measurements listed below are those from our server, Jamaica Public Service Co., and are given as listed as total energy used, as well as energy per square foot, and energy per guest night. All energy is measure in the standard for of kWh.
Water Usage
The following statistics dealing with water usage at the Hotel Mocking Bird Hill does not indicate the total water used, but rather the total water used that was supplied by the public water service. Our use of rainwater tanks greatly reduces what we need to use from this service. This is only an indication from invoices provided by the service.
As of 2003 rainwater usage is also being measured so that we will be in a position to calculate total water usage in our next report.
*The data for 2000 was missing several months worth of readings, so we decided to leave it our rather than estimating.
Emissions
The emissions produced by Hotel Mocking Bird Hill are generated from the operations of the hotel, staff commuting to work from neighbouring communities, and the occasional use of air travel for business purposes. The numbers given are an estimate, especially those for employees commuting, as record was not kept of total miles, and a survey was done at the time of this report. Conversions for emissions were also taken from the (emission conversion used), and as Jamaican automobiles due not have to be kept up to the same standards, exact numbers are impossible.
2000 2001 2002
Total Emissions from Electricity Use (in lbs. of CO² equivalent) 296,508 313,493 389,148
Normalized Emissions from Electricity Use (in lbs. of CO² equivalent per guest night) 220.26 202.25 191.87
Air travel at Hotel Mocking Bird Hill is not a common practice for the staff, but occasionally the two owners/managers travel to different locations for the purpose of business. During the 2002 year, both travelled once to London and once to Germany. There was also one trip taken to Chicago, and another to New York, although these trips were only taken by one of the two.
Air Travel Destination Total Distance (km) CO2 Equivalents (lbs) per year
Kingston-London (2 round trip) 30,164 km 14,876
Kingston-Amsterdam (2 round trip) 31,512 km 15,546
Kingston-New York (1 round trip) 5,054 km 2,493
Kingston-Chicago (1 round trip) 5,680 km 2,803
Total 72,410 km 35,718
Determining total emissions produced by automobiles due to employee commuting and travel was a bit difficult since there is no record keeping of such activity. We can however, estimate using daily averages for employee commutes, as well as a weekly trip to Kingston for supplies, and a daily trip to Port Antonio.
At years end 2001 there were 10 employees, and at years end 2002 there were 19. One of these employees walks to work daily, so for the year we had an average of 14 employees who commuted to work. These employees each worked 5 days per week, producing a total of 70 commutes per week. For the year, there were an estimated total of 3,640 commutes per year for the staff. Each commute averages 7 km one way (14 km round trip), to either Port Antonio, or the neighbouring village of Fairy Hill. Total estimated round trip commuting for 2002 totalled 50,960 km. Since we are dealing with emissions produced per person, it should also be noted that people travel in taxis in groups in Jamaica, with an average of 4 people per taxi. So we must divide 50,960 km by four, giving us a total of 12,740 km for the year 2002.
In addition to commuting, our maintenance supervisor, Mr. Wynters travels daily to Port Antonio for business purposes. Based on a 5 day work week, this would total 260 trips of 14 km per year resulting in 3,640 km per year.
The two owners/managers also make a weekly trip to the city of Kingston to pick up supplies once a week. This trip is a total of 200 km round trip, tot/falling 10,400 km per year.
Automobile Emissions resulting from: Total km Total CO2 Equivalent (lbs.)
Commuting 12,740 7,221
Daily trip to Port Antonio 3,640 2,063
Weekly trip to Kingston 10,400 5,895
Total 26,780 15,179
* It should be noted that automobiles in Jamaica are not held under strict emission standards which may also further affect these results.
Materials and Waste Streams
The Hotel Mocking Bird Hill has very strict policies regarding the processes of waste at the hotel. In fact, nothing here is wasted no matter what that material may be. Several techniques are used on-site, as well as different partnerships throughout the surrounding communities. It should also be noted that as we are a very small establishment it has difficult to formally keep record of all waste produced in terms of size or weight. During 2003 we have begun to try and estimate these amounts working with the volume of our two solid waste containers and we hope to be able to produce some (at least estimated) figures in our next report.
On site facilities include:
• On property anaerobic wastewater treatment plant for all wastewater
• Compost facility which is mixed with manure from local rabbit and chicken farmers
• Restaurant remains are given to the many dogs currently residing on the property and all items that cannot be consumed by the dogs are collected by a local farmer for his pigs.
• Any egg cartons are saved and later used for insulation in the storerooms, or returned to the supplier
• Plastic bottles are used for setting plants
Off site facilities and partnerships:
• Glass bottles are used by the local Beekeepers Association
• Paper and cardboard is recycled by Natures Handmade Paper Cooperative
• Aluminium cans are donated to the Portland AIDS Committee
• Toner cartridges from printers are returned to the supplier
Introduction: Why We Produced This Report
Section 1: Key Indicators and Vision
Section 2: Organizational Profile
Section 3: Policies, Management Systems and Relationships
Section 4: Environmental Performance
Section 5: Social and Economic Performance
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