The hotel and leisure industry uses an exorbitant amount of water and electricity. The large number of toilets, showers, wash basins, swimming pools, lights, heaters, televisions and other appliances consume a lot of resources and add to pollution through the toxic emissions and radioactive waste emitted from power plants. More energy and water is wasted because of guests leaving appliances on and being careless with water usage.

Various hotels and gyms have gone 'green' and begun to enforce water and energy saving systems to assist efforts to help the environment and to protect the earth' natural resources. Recycling has also been instituted to reduce pollution and reduce waste material.

Saving energy in the hotel and leisure industry
Changes have been made to hotels and gyms to assist in decreasing the amount of power used in establishments. Small changes include measures such as energy saving light bulbs, timers which turn off lights at times of day when they are not needed and raising awareness amongst guests and clients about the importance of conserving energy. Larger changes include passive infra-red sensors, solar panels for energy creation and heat recovery systems.

Solar panels generate energy through the absorption of sunlight. This avoids pollution as the energy is created from sunlight only and does not require the burning of fuels to create power and also lowers costs.

Heat recovery systems in gyms use excess energy from the air conditioning system which can be used to create power for heating shower water and swimming pools, as can solar power.

Water-wise campaigns for saving water
Water conservation efforts have become a priority to many establishments as to prevent the depletion of the planet's limited water resources.

Bathroom and kitchen fittings have been replaced with aerated taps and water saving shower heads which use far less water and amount annually to massive savings. Proximity sensors have also been introduced to detect when people are within close distance to the taps which automatically turn off if there is nobody close-by.

Two way flush systems have also been installed to save water allowing for light and heavy flushing according to what is needed.

The use of recycled grey-water has been instrumental in saving large quantities of fresh drinking water. Grey-water is used water from showers, wash basins and washing machines which is then recycled and used for flushing and irrigation.

The hotel and leisure industry has also introduced water saving practices in their gardens. As well as the use of grey-water to irrigate plants and lawns, the removal of alien vegetation helps to conserve water as these plants consume so much of it. Borehole water is also now used by many hotel and leisure establishments to save water.

The millions of hotels and leisure establishments worldwide can make a significant difference to stop the depletion of water and electric resources and reduce water and energy wastage and pollution.