LIFE Third Countries Development of Methods and Tools for the Establishment of Good Environmental Performance in the Tourist Accommodation Sector in Jordan – Implementation of pilot studies GREEN-TAS

Evaluation of Alternative Environmental Systems

Ms Margarita Vatyliotou Mr Marios Avraamides Dr. Despo Fatta

First Edition

Nicosia, 2006

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents.......................................................................................................1 1.

Introduction .........................................................................................................2

2.

Environmental systems and schemes applied in Europe...................................3

3.

2.1

International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO-14001 ........................3

2.2

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)............................................6

2.3

Eco-label scheme ........................................................................................8

2.4

Suitability for implementation of in Jordan ................................................13

Evaluation of environmental actions and systems ...........................................14 3.1

Energy management .................................................................................15

3.2

Water management...................................................................................18

3.3

Use of environmentally friendly products ..................................................20

3.4

Waste management ..................................................................................21

3.5

Use of chemicals .......................................................................................23

3.6

Air emissions .............................................................................................25

3.7

Training and information to staff and guests .............................................27

3.8

Miscellaneous issues ................................................................................30

4.

Conclusions ......................................................................................................31

5.

References........................................................................................................32

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1. Introduction A number of environmental management systems and schemes are implemented worldwide by organisations in order to reduce the environmental impacts, which result from their activities. The tourist accommodation sector, has recently also moved towards this direction and several hotels worldwide have implemented and applied environmental management systems. In Europe, a number of environmental schemes are used, the most widely known of which are the international ISO-14001, the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the European Eco-label scheme. Eight hotels, which have successfully implemented such systems, were visited in Cyprus, Greece and Spain in the context of this project. These regions bear resemblance to the environmental and tourism characteristics of Jordan, thus, some actions implemented in the hotels visited could as well be incorporated to a hotel environmental programme in Jordan. In the first part of this report (Chapter 2) the procedures followed for the implementation of the ISO-14001, EMAS and Eco-label environmental schemes are described and their differences are discussed, while, their applicability for implementation in Jordan has also been examined. The second part of the report (Chapter 3) aims at evaluating the various actions and systems, established within the framework of the hotels’ environmental programmes. The benefits as well as constraints towards the implementation of each measure taken are determined while the applicability of each action for implementation in Jordan is examined.

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2. Environmental systems and schemes applied in Europe 2.1 International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO-14001 ISO-14001 was published in 1996 and revised in 2004 to improve compatibility with ISO-9001 (quality management) and to clarify the existing text without adding any new requirements (Commission of the European Communities, 2006a). It is part of the ISO-14000 series of standards which include standards in the fields of environmental auditing, environmental performance evaluation, environmental labelling and life cycle assessment. The particular standard is applicable to all types and sizes of organisations worldwide. It aims at developing a systematic management of the activities of an organisation in relation to the environment, aiming at the continual improvement of its environmental performance. The ISO-14001 provides an organisation with a structured process and a framework with which to achieve and systematically control the level of environmental performance it sets for itself. In order to achieve its objectives the EMS encourages organisations to consider implementation of best available technology where appropriate and where economically viable. However, it does not itself state specific environmental criteria as the main aim is the continual improvement and not achieving a certain level of environmental performance. Yet, in the long run organisations with an effective EMS are expected to improve their performance (Tibor and Feldman, 1996). Apart from the main environmental aspects, occupational health and safety issues may as well be incorporated in the system although the standard does not address such requirements (Tibor and Feldman, 1996). The ISO-14001 EMS methodology consists of five steps: [1] Environmental policy setting, [2] Planning the EMS, [3] Implementation and operation of the EMS, [4] Checking and corrective action, [5] Establishment of an EMS review procedure.

Figure 1 - The ISO-14001 framework (EPA, 2006b)

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Environmental policy setting

In this phase the organisation defines an environmental policy and ensures commitment to it. This policy gives an overall sense of the organisation’s direction and commitment to the environment. Thus it provides a framework for setting goals and objectives. In setting this policy, various factors are considered such as the existing legislation in regards to the environment, the local conditions and the requirements of interested parties. Organisations are advised to start where they can have obvious benefits (Tibor and Feldman, 1996). The top management of the organisation is responsible for formulating, implementing and modifying this policy. As previously mentioned, the EMS is flexible enough as to the way the system is to be improved. However, there are some key requirements for the setting of the policy. According to these the policy should be appropriate to the nature, scale and the environmental impacts of the organisation’s activities, products or services. It shall also include a commitment to the prevention of pollution and compliance with all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements (EPA, 2006a). In the policy, there should be stated clearly that there is a commitment to continual improvement. It shall finally be documented, implemented, maintained and communicated to all employees and made available to the public (Tibor and Feldman, 1996).

2.1.2.

Planning

In the planning stage the organisation formulates a plan to fulfil the requirements of the policy. Firstly the organisation develops a consistent and verifiable process in order to identify the aspects and impacts of its operation as well as their significance. The impact assessment of all these aspects should be up to date and also include the aspects that are not regulated (EPA, 2006a). Secondly the organisation shall obtain information regarding the legal and other requirements that apply to the environmental aspects of its activities and services. Then, performance objectives and targets are documented, by taking into consideration all the minimum policy requirements as well as the commitments established in the policy, and prioritised. Finally an Environmental Management Programme is established explaining how the objectives and targets are to be met. Responsible personnel for each aspect is usually identified and milestones, dates and predicted measurements of success are noted.

2.1.3

Implementation and operation

In this phase the EMS is implemented for the objectives set to be met. The programme is put into action by the organisation and the resources and support mechanisms are provided.

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The accountability structure and the relevant management are firstly defined and their responsibilities identified. All the personnel receive applicable training regarding the EMS. The training includes general items such as knowing the policy and more specific ones having to do with their responsibilities and emergency response. ISO-14001 also requires that procedures for internal and external communications of the monitoring results should be established; however, the degree of openness and disclosure of information is up to the organisation. The EMS should be documented so that the system requirements can be verified. The distributed documents shall be up to date, thus, system procedures and work instructions shall be established. Procedures and work instructions are also established to ensure proper execution of activities, especially of the ones related to significant aspects or objectives and targets. The stage also requires that a process exist for identifying the potential emergencies including the incidents that may cause significant impact as defined by the organisation.

2.1.4

Checking and corrective action

In this phase the organisation measures, monitors and evaluates its environmental performance against its set objectives and targets. The key parameters related to the significant aspects, objectives and targets legal and regulatory compliance shall be monitored / measured and procedures are required on how the organisation will achieve this. Cross references are made to procedures and instructions describing measurement and equipment calibration. Procedures are also established for corrective and preventive action in the case of non-conformance identified through audits, monitoring and communications. Records shall be maintained for the verification of the system operation. Apart from monitoring, the system also provides for internal audits. The audits shall be periodically conducted. Methodologies, schedules and processes shall be established for conducting these audits regarding the operation of the EMS. Based on the monitoring measurements as well as the audits conducted, the organisation’s compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements is periodically evaluated (EPA, 2006a).

2.1.5

Management review

The top management of any organisation implementing the ISO-14001 is expected to periodically review the system to ensure it is operating as planned. Resources must be provided for corrective action in the case of non-compliance. The organisation’s management is expected to continuously improve the programme, by making adjustments to it, to overall increase its environmental performance.

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2.2 Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) 2.2.1

General

The EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. The scheme is voluntary and is applicable to public or private organizations operating in the European Union member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. A number of candidate countries are also implementing the scheme in preparation for their accession to the EU. The scheme has been available for participation by companies since 1995 and was originally restricted to companies in industrial sectors. The EMAS objectives and overall requirements are defined in Regulation 761/2001 (European Parliament and Council, 2001). An EMAS logo has been adopted to signal an organization’s EMAS registration (Figure 2). The logo shall always bear the registration number of the organisation.

Figure 2 - The EMAS logo (European Parliament and Council, 2001)

The EMAS follows the same procedure as the ISO-14001. In particular, ISO-14001 has been integrated in the EMAS scheme as the EMS required. According to Article 1 of the Regulation (European Parliament and Council, 2001) the objective of EMAS is to promote improvements in the environmental performance of organisations by various means, one of which is the introduction and implementation by the organisations of environmental management systems based on the ISO-14001 requirements. The adoption of ISO-14001 as the management system element of EMAS, allows the European and EEC organisations to progress from ISO-14001 to EMAS without undue duplication of effort (Commission of the European Communities, 2006b). However there are some basic differences between the ISO-14001 and EMAS requirements. In particular, a number of additional steps and some modifications

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are required for an ISO-14001 certified organisation to meet the EMAS requirements as described in the EMAS regulations. Apart from the five main stages of ISO-14001 there are two additional elements that are required for acquiring EMAS. The first one is the preparation of an Environmental Statement that allows the EMS to become publicly available whilst the second is the external validation and registration of this statement before this is further disseminated.

Figure 3 - Procedure followed for acquiring EMAS (Commission of the European Communities, 2006b)

The most important difference between EMAS and ISO-14001 is that EMAS focuses more directly on the improvement of the organisation’s environmental performance whilst ISO-14001 places more emphasis on establishing and improving the EMS as a whole. In the following sections the evident differences and modifications to the ISO-14001 scheme with regard to the various implementation elements, including the additional EMAS elements, are described.

2.2.2

Differences between EMAS and ISO-14001

ISO-14001 includes a commitment but not a provision to comply with relevant environmental legislation. Thus, an ISO-14001 certified organisation must strengthen its statement of commitment included in its environmental policy, to make provision for regulatory compliance. Furthermore, in the planning stage EMAS requires a verified initial environmental review, which this is not specifically required in ISO-14001. However, when an organisation is already certified to ISO-14001 it does not need to conduct a formal environmental review when moving on to EMAS implementation as long as the environmental aspects stated in the EMAS regulation are fully considered in the EMS.

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The EMAS Regulation also has very specific requirements on the type of environmental aspects which must be addressed while ISO-14001 is less prescriptive in this area. Thus, all the EMAS requirements should be addressed in identifying the organisation’s environmental aspects. Under EMAS it is mandatory to keep registers of all the identified environmental effects and relevant legislation although many ISO-14001 certified companies do this as well. Apart from that, EMAS requires the active participation of employees in the environmental improvement programme. The organisation shall also take steps to ensure that any suppliers and contractors used comply with the organisation’s environmental policy. ISO-14001 simply states that the organisation’s environmental procedures are communicated to contractors and suppliers. In the Checking and Corrective Action stage, ISO-14001 does not specify the frequency of the audit cycle, where, according to the EMAS regulation the maximum audit frequency is three years. The environmental performance of the organisation must also be addressed annually, as an evidence for continual improvement. EMAS requires that an environmental statement shall be externally validated annually and be published and made publicly available. This statement shall include the policy, programme, environmental management system and details of the organisation performance. ISO-14001 requires that only the policy shall be made publicly available. Additionally, in ISO-14001 the organisation is the one to decide whether its significant environmental aspects are to be externally communicated (Commission of the European Communities, 2006b).

2.3 Eco-label scheme 2.3.1

General

While ISO-14001 and EMAS are Environmental Management Systems focusing on the general environmental performance of a company, the EU eco-label scheme focuses on the specific products or services produced or offered by the organisation. The eco-label scheme is designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are less harmful to the environment. The identification of the scheme is through a common label, the “EU Flower” (Figure 4). The flower can be awarded throughout the European Union as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

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Figure 4 - The EU flower, logo of the eco-label scheme

In order to apply for the eco-label award, the interested organisation applies to the competent authority, responsible for the scheme in the respective country. The competent authority is also responsible for verifying compliance to the eco-label criteria. Within the framework of eco-label, special criteria are set by the European Union eco-labelling board (EUEB), in close collaboration with the Commission, for the different eco-label product groups. The EUEB comprises both the competent bodies from all the participating countries and members of the consultation forum. The consultation forum comprises representatives of consumer and environment NGOs, trade unions, industry, small and medium enterprises and commerce. The EUEB is also responsible for the revision of the criteria (Commission of the European Communities, 2006c). Criteria for each product category are classified into mandatory and optional. All mandatory criteria should be fulfilled by the applicant if they are applicable. In regards to the optional criteria, each carries a weighting factor and the organisation must fulfil a number of those criteria with so that a minimum score is achieved. The scoring requirements are specific for each product category. As of October 2006, criteria have been set for products and services classified into seven general categories: cleaning products, appliances, paper products, home and garden, clothing, lubricants and tourism (Commission of the European Communities, 2006c). In regards to tourism, criteria have been set for tourist accommodation and camping services. The criteria for tourist accommodation services were adopted in 2003 whereas the criteria for camp site services were established in 2004.

2.3.2

Eco-label for tourist accommodation

The European eco-label for tourist accommodation serves as an added quality value when customers are choosing a resort as the certified enterprises are officially distinguished as environmentally friendly. All tourist accommodations being a “sheltered overnight accommodation in appropriately equipped rooms,

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including at least a bed, offered as a main service to tourists, travellers and lodgers” can apply for scheme award. Overnight shelter accommodations “may also include the provision of food services, fitness activities and/or green areas” (Commission of the European Communities, 2003). In the tourist accommodation sector category 84 mandatory and optional criteria have been defined. The criteria address issues related to energy, water, dangerous chemicals, detergents and disinfectants, waste, general management as well as other issues such as the designation of no smoking areas, the provision for public transportation and the provision for environmental communication and education. The mandatory criteria for energy saving, amongst others, require that at least 22% of the electricity shall be from renewable resources, no oil with a high sulfur content and no coal shall be used as energy source, the boiler efficiency shall be higher than 90%, high efficiency air conditioning shall be used and the buildings shall have adequate window insulation. In regards to water saving issues, the water flow from taps or showers shall be less than 12 litres per minute, no more than 5 urinals shall be flushing at the same time, towels and sheets shall be changed once or twice a week or at request while gardens shall be watered after sunset or before high sun. Wastewater shall also be treated while the amount of disinfectants used shall be limited. Waste separation shall be facilitated by guests while hazardous waste shall be sorted out by staff. Disposable products such as soaps, shampoos and cutlery shall not be used in the accommodation. If applicable, sorted waste shall be separated and transported to appropriate treatment sites. Furthermore an environmental policy shall be established. A simple environmental policy statement and a precise action programme ensuring the application of the environmental policy shall be drawn up. Environmental performance targets shall be set every two years regarding energy, water, chemicals and waste. A person must be identified as the environmental manager of the scheme and he/she shall be responsible for taking the necessary actions for reaching the targets set. The tourist accommodation shall also establish procedures to collect and monitor data on energy, water and chemicals consumption and the volume of waste produced. The general management criteria also require that the staff shall receive an environmental training to ensure application of the environmental measures. Guests shall be informed of the organisation’s environmental policy, objectives and actions, notices shall be located for turning off lights and air conditioning, saving water in bathroom and toilets and informing the staff of any leaks. Information on local public transport shall also be provided.

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Application procedure

Hotels or other tourist accommodation services, have to follow a simple procedure in order to apply for the EU flower, as shown in Figure 5.

Application to competent body

Competent body checks application documents

Affirmation that requirements are met

Verification and payment of application fee

Official award

Right to use EU flower logo within marketing

Figure 5 - Eco–label award procedure (Commission of the European Communities, 2006d)

Firstly the interested enterprise contacts the responsible national competent body in order to get information on the application procedure and to get the application pack. The application pack comprises of a verification form and a user manual. When applying, applicants must provide a detailed dossier showing how the set criteria are being met. The dossier usually contains verification documents such as self-declarations, certifications, declarations from qualified professionals and other relevant documents. If it is not possible to comply with a mandatory criterion the applicant shall provide the necessary documentation for explaining why. In regards to the optional criteria at least 16.5 points should be gathered out of a total of 77 points. The applicant submits the dossier and the competent body reviews the documentation and inspect the applicant’s premises in order to verify that the criteria are satisfied. Additional documentation may be requested if necessary. If the Competent Body finds that the application is in conformity with the set criteria, the applicant is awarded the Eco-label.

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After granting the award, the enterprise has the right to use the logo inside the accommodation and in advertisements.

2.3.4

Correlation of Eco-label with ISO-14001 and EMAS

As previously mentioned the eco-label scheme focuses on specific products or services, while ISO-14001 and EMAS focus on the environmental performance of the organisation, however, it is expected that the environmental performance of the organisation will improve their products and services environmentally. The ecolabel scheme is more specific compared to ISO-14001 and EMAS as the actual actions to be taken are, predefined from the set of the eco-label criteria. However, the management of the tourist accommodation is also invited to take additional actions to the ones covered by the criteria (Commission of the European Communities, 2003). Nevertheless, the implementation of recognised environmental management schemes such as ISO-14001 and EMAS is taken into consideration by eco-label competent bodies when assessing applications (Commission of the European Communities, 2006c). For example, eco-label applicants who are already certified under EMAS or ISO-14001 can be granted reductions on the annual fee required for the eco-label (Commission of the European Communities, 2006c). Furthermore, certified applicants under EMAS or ISO-14001 automatically fulfil the mandatory general management criteria for the tourist accommodation sector that are required for the eco-label scheme. These criteria provide for (a) maintenance and service of the equipment in compliance with the law and by qualified personnel, (b) maintenance and servicing of boilers at least yearly and testing of their efficiency, (c) the establishment of an environmental policy, a simple environmental policy statement and a precise action programme identifying environmental performance targets that should be set every two years, (d) adequate training to the staff, (e) active dissemination of information to guests and visitors on the accommodation’s environmental policy and the actions taken, (f) frequent monitoring of energy, water and chemicals’ consumption and of the volume of the waste produced and annual report of the data to the competent body (Commission of the European Communities, 2003). Furthermore, when assessing the optional criteria, extra points are given if the applicant is certified under EMAS or ISO-14001. Moreover extra points are given if at least one of the main suppliers or service providers of the accommodation is registered under EMAS or ISO-14001 (Commission of the European Communities, 2003). In the other hand, the eco-label scheme may also influence some companies’ decision to implement an EMS because it forces them to evaluate their products’ overall environmental impacts. Thus it can form a part of the aspects and impacts assessment that the implementation of an EMS requires.

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2.4 Suitability for implementation of in Jordan Of the three systems described only ISO-14001 can be practically applied in Jordan. Jordan’s Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) is Jordan’s national body responsible for standardisation (International Organisation for Standardisation, 2006). This organisation is also a member body of the International Organisation for Standardisation. There are four certification bodies in Jordan: LLOYD’s, TÜV, SGS and DNV (Jordan’s Institution for Standards and Metrology, 2006). EMAS and the eco-label scheme cannot be applied as Jordan is not an EU member or candidate neither is a signatory to the European Economic Area agreement. Nevertheless, although the systems themselves cannot be applied at the moment, their characteristics could be used for the development of national systems or schemes. Thus, eco-label criteria for tourist accommodation sector could serve as guidelines in identifying the measures to be applied for the improvement of an accommodation’s environmental performance, whereas EMAS framework should be considered when establishing an EMS and the following principles on which EMAS is based could be followed: •

Active participation of employees in the environmental improvement programme.

•

Emphasis on the improvement of the organisation’s environmental performance.

•

Compliance with the relevant environmental legislation

•

Compatibility of suppliers environmental policy.

•

Relatively short audit cycle.

•

Publicly available environmental statement including the policy, programme, environmental management system and details on the organisation’s performance.

and

contractors

with

the

organisation’s

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3. Evaluation of environmental actions and systems Various environmental actions and systems implemented by hotels have been identified during the site visits in 8 hotels in Cyprus, Greece and Spain in the context of Task 2 (Vatyliotou et al., 2006). In this chapter, these actions and systems are tabulated in categories and evaluated in regards to their advantages, disadvantages, cost and suitability for implementation in Jordan, based on the analysis of the tourist industry in Jordan and the identification of the prevailing environmental opportunities and constraints related to the hotel accomodation sector undertaken in the first task of this project (Shdeifat et al., 2006a, 2006b, 2006c, 2006d).

Costs of implementation of these actions, where included, are based on the costs encountered by the hotels visited and the figures are indicative. The cost of their implementation in Jordan will vary based on many parameters such as the specific selection of system, capacity, tax parameters, personnel costs and many others.

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3.1 Energy management

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.1.1

Installation of high efficiency heatrecovery chillers, which recover energy to produce hot water.

Significant reductions in energy or fuel required for heating water for sanitary use. Although the cost of their installation can be high, a short pay back period of about two years can be expected, based on technology and capacity selected as well as fuel and electricity costs. It is suitable for installation in Jordan, especially in hot regions, such as the Dead Sea, where continuous simultaneous cooling and water heating occur. The systems are more effective in large hotels, which have large domestic hot water needs and large amounts of conditioned outside air.

3.1.2

Replacement of common incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent or halogen incandescent lamps.

Significant reductions in the electricity consumed for lighting and air-conditioning. In incandescent lamps only 5% of the power consumed is emitted as visible light, the rest being emitted as heat. In fluorescent lamps light efficiencies are about 20% and subsequently produce less heat and at the same time reduce air conditioning needs. Quality halogen incandescent lamps are closer to 9% efficiency, which will allow a 60 W bulb to provide nearly as much light as a non-halogen 100 W. Although both fluorescent and halogen lamps usually have a higher initial cost, they usually have longer lives, which in combination with the reductions in electricity costs, provide overall better value for money. They are suitable for installation in Jordan.

3.1.3

Installation of timers, dimmers, photosensors and occupancy sensors to lighting systems in common indoor or outdoor areas.

Significant electricity consumption reductions with short pay back period. Installation cost is lower when provision for such systems is made during the design of buildings. The systems are suitable for installation in Jordan.

3.1.4

Installation of automatic power cut off systems through key cards, keys or through the provision of central

Significant electricity consumption reductions, however cost of installation is significant, especially in existing buildings. They systems where electricity in the room is supplied only when the key or key card is attached to a magnetic reception at the room entrance is more effective than the central electricity

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electricity switches in rooms

switch. The system can be installed in hotels in Jordan.

3.1.5

Installation of automatic switch off system for air-conditioning when balcony doors or windows are open.

Significant electricity consumption reductions. Some systems shut off both water circulation and the fan, whereas others only stop water circulation. The former are more effective both in terms of direct electricity consumption but also because they alert guests about the activation of the system. The cost of installation is average and can be further reduced when provision for such systems is made at the design stage of new buildings. The system can be installed in hotels in Jordan.

3.1.6

Installation of solar water heating panels

Significant reduction in fuel or electricity reduction for the operation of boilers. Can be used in combination with heat recovery chillers to meat the whole of demand for hot water in the summer. Purchase and installation cost is significant, however pay-back period is short, especially with rising costs of fuel and electricity. A typical cost reported during the site visits was 34,700 euros for the installation of 75 panels. This installation reduced the consumption of diesel by 15,600 litres per year reducing operational costs by 8,700 euros per year. Thus investment was returned in about 4 years. The systems are suitable for use in regions with high sunshine duration such as Jordan

3.1.7

Natural cooling provided through the building architecture and/or the provision of shading through trees.

Reduced demand for air-conditioning over the summer months with associated reductions in electricity consumption. Building architecture can only be considered at the design stage of new buildings or major renovations, otherwise cost will be very high. Tree shading can be provided in existing hotels, however species selection must take into account tree characteristics such as adaptability to Jordan’s climatic conditions, seasonal characteristics (evergreen trees are not be suitable when exposure of building to sunlight in winter is desired), water demands (high water demands can offset the environmental advantage gained) etc.

3.1.8

Installation windows.

They provide thermal (reducing the losses of room heating or cooling) as well as acoustic insulation. The cost of installation is average, providing average pay-back periods. Cost is significantly lower when installed in new buildings rather than replacing single glazing windows in existing buildings. In the latter case gradual replacement based on a cost/benefit analysis can be applied. They are suitable for installation in Jordan.

of

double

glazing

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3.1.9

Promotion of the use of stairs through space design.

Reduction of electricity consumption from lifts operation. Guests tend to use stairs, for 1-2 floor lifts or 13 descents, more, if located at a more accessible location than lifts. This action is only suitable for implementation in new hotel blocks and rarely has an additional cost when concept is considered at an early stage of the design.

3.1.10

Fitting of air curtains in large freezing units.

Reduces freezing losses when freezer door is opened (electricity savings). Their installation cost is low.

3.1.11

Installation of electricity /fuel consumption monitoring systems.

Allow control of electricity/fuel consumption to ensure proper operation of devices, in particular high electricity or fuel consuming systems and prevention of any faults or misuse. Their cost is highly variable depending upon the system selected, however they have been proved very effective where applied.

3.1.12

Control of fuel leakage (regular inspections and maintenance, installation of collection systems, provision of sand bags in fuel storage areas)

Minimises the risk of pollution and fire accidents. Prevents fuel losses. Such actions do not entail significant cost.

3.1.13

Installation of a central Building Management System for simultaneous control of high energy consuming systems.

Allows central monitoring and control of the operation of a number of high energy consuming systems: air-conditioning systems, chillers, boilers, heaters, pumps, lighting etc. and allows for automatic halt of devices, which can be very useful when electricity demands approaches capacity. Its installation cost can be high. It is suitable for large hotels in Jordan.

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3.2 Water management

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.2.1

Use of recycled water (from public or on-site sewage treatment plants, backwash water from swimming pools, used water from the swimming pool showers) for irrigation of gardens.

Significant reduction of consumption of fresh water. Water from municipal plants can be purchased at a lower cost than fresh water; however the applicability of this action depends upon the availability of the public infrastructure in the area. In cases where a hotel operates its own plant, treated water can be utilised at no extra cost. Backwash water from swimming pools and used water from swimming pool showers can be a valuable source of irrigation water in hotels with large swimming pools, however, the quality of swimming pool water must be monitored and its suitability depends on the plant species.

3.2.2

Installation of water-saving irrigation systems (sprinklers, drop systems).

Reduction of volume of irrigation water used by root-targeted irrigation and reduction of evaporation losses. The cost of their installation is low and they suitable for use in Jordan especially in hotels, which meet their irrigation demands with fresh water.

3.2.3

Irrigation of gardens at suitable times.

Reduction of volume of irrigation water used by reduction of evaporation losses when irrigation takes place early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This action is particularly suitable in Jordan where sunshine durations are high and it is essential in hotels meeting their irrigations demand with fresh water, whereas no cost is entailed.

3.2.4

Use of endemic plants in the garden.

Endemic plants are generally adjusted to the particular climatic conditions, thus their demands in fertilisers, pesticides and water are less and therefore the use of chemicals and water consumption are reduced. The plantation of endemic species rather than imported ones also results to cost savings.

3.2.5

Installation of water-saving toilet flushing systems (systems with half/full volume option, reduced volume flushers, systems with motion sensors).

Reduction in water consumption to 3-6 litres per flushing depending upon the system selected. Systems with half/fill volume option are more appropriate for rooms, whereas reduced volume flushers and motion sensors are most suitable for public toilets and urinals respectively. The cost of such systems is generally low and the investment in such systems offers short pay-back periods.

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3.2.6

Installation of water saving devices (aerators, single-handed lever water mixers, motion sensors, timers, pedals) in taps and showers

Aerators mix air in the water jet reducing water flow while maintaining pressure. Indicative reductions to 6 litres per minute from 12-15 litres have been reported in the hotels visited. The installation of singlehanded lever water mixers control water temperature not only reduces water consumption but also hot water and thus energy consumption are reduced. Motion sensors are suitable for use in public toilet taps whereas timers and pedals can be very effective in outdoor swimming pool showers. These systems have been found to be very effective in reducing water consumption. The installation of such systems has a low to moderate cost of installation. Cost is significantly lower when they are installed when the building is constructed. In existing buildings gradual replacement of tabs and showers is an option.

3.2.7

Installation of water saving devices in the kitchen area (motion sensors in kitchen taps, water jet pistols for cleaning water hoses)

Reductions in the volume of water used by simple control of its flow only when required. The installation cost for these systems is low.

3.2.8

Application of the “change-per-request” scheme for linen and towels for guests

Tremendous reduction in the use of detergents, electricity and water consumption. 50% typical reduction of laundry volume was reported in the hotels visited. This action is suitable for implementation in all hotel categories and no cost is entailed, however, the scheme must be effectively communicated and justified to guests. This scheme has been introduced to many hotels worldwide thus many hotels guests are familiar with it.

3.2.9

Installation of high-efficiency, saving washing machines

water

Reductions in energy and water consumption. The installation of new washing machines in operational hotels may entail significant cost, however short pay-back periods have been reported. Gradual replacement of old washing machines is a viable option. For new hotels the cost difference in purchasing such appliances is negligible compared to the benefit.

3.2.10 Introduction of a water monitoring programme (frequent check for leaks, installation of consumption meters in key installations, frequent maintenance).

Reduction of water losses and identification of potential improvement areas. In hotels visited 1,0002,000 litres of water losses from dripping taps and 70,000 litres from leaky toilets have been identified and rectified through such monitoring programmes. The cost of such a programme varies, however its benefit can be much higher, especially in relatively water-stressed countries such as Cyprus and Jordan.

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3.3 Use of environmentally friendly products

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.3.1

Use of environmentally friendly paper (eco-labelled paper, recycled, produced by ISO-14001 certified companies)

Improves the image of the hotel by indicating its environmental character, while at the same time contributing to environmental protection and resource conservation. Its cost compared to conventional paper depends upon local availability; however its price is usually slightly higher.

3.3.2

Use of organic/locally produced food and drinks

The use of organic products ensures high quality of food and drinks while, while at the same organic and locally produced products improve the image of the hotel and promote its environmental character. Furthermore locally produced products require less packaging, thus reduce waste volumes. The cost of organic products is typically higher than conventional equivalents. The cost of locally produced products is typically lower than imported equivalents.

3.3.3

Use of environmentally friendly materials (construction materials, decoration, supplies)

The use of environmentally friendly products promotes the environmental character of hotels and can improve their compatibility with the surrounding environment, e.g. locally produced stone/slate and timber (where available) in particular, as construction materials. The same principle applied for linen, towels and decoration. The cost of such materials can be lower than alternatives when locally produced.

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3.4 Waste management

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.4.1

Treatment of wastewater (through public sewage network in public treatment plant, through temporary storage and transportation to wastewater treatment plant, through on-site treatment plant).

Prevention of groundwater pollution and compliance with statutory requirements is achieved. Treatment through the public network is the best option however only applicable where the infrastructure exists, which is rarely the case in sparsely populated resort areas. The cost of treatment options varies, but typically the use of public network is cheaper whereas the operation of an on-site treatment facility is the most expensive option. Nevertheless through the latter option, direct utilisation of treated water for irrigation is possible.

3.4.2

Separate collection and treatment of kitchen waste oils.

Collection of oils and fats can be achieved through the installation of simple separating devices in kitchens. Prevention of groundwater pollution and compliance with statutory requirements is achieved. Waste oils can be supplied to treatment facilities for utilisation into fuel or soap production. In that case the cost of separation and collection is low. However, when no utilisation market exists, which is typically the case in Jordan, the cost for collection and transportation to disposal facilities can be significant.

3.4.3

Use of refillable beer and soft drink bottles and use of post-mix system.

Reduction of packaging waste quantities, whereas safety hazards from handling glass waste is avoided since glass bottles are returned to the supplier. Soft drinks and beers purchased in bulk quantities (postmix system) cost less than those individually packaged, whereas products in reusable packaging are usually also cheaper.

3.4.4

Installation of refillable dispensers (soap in toilets, cleaning chemicals, detergents, jars for jams, honey, butter etc).

Reduction of packaging waste quantities, whereas products in bulk quantities typically cost much less.

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3.4.5

Installation of carton-box compactors.

Reduction of waste volume. Waste collection authorities typically subsidise such equipment in Europe.

3.4.6

Separate collection of waste materials (metal, glass, plastics, garden waste etc.).

Promotes the environmental character of hotel and improves its image. Reduction of residual waste volume. Furthermore certain material streams provide a positive value. Compost from garden waste can be utilised on-site. Recyclables collection and treatment infrastructure as well as utilisation markets are required, not established in Jordan. Export of recyclables is an option. Cost varies on market price of recovered materials.

3.4.7

Separate collection of hazardous waste materials (batteries, fluorescent lamps, toners, oils, chemicals etc.).

Promotes the environmental character of hotel and improves its image. Reduction of residual waste volume. Improvement of operational safety. Cost is higher than normal waste.

3.4.8

Monitoring generated.

Allows control of the volumes of waste produced and allows for identification of improvement opportunities. More effective if waste material streams are monitored separately in combination with a waste separation scheme.

of

waste

quantities

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3.5 Use of chemicals

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.5.1

Use of environmentally friendly chemicals (concentrated, biodegradable detergents, products with ISO-14001, eco-label or equivalent certification, water based paints and coatings, pesticides, fertilisers etc)

Concentrated detergents typically provide better value for money. Reduction of packaging waste. Environmentally friendly cleaning chemical reduce pollution hazards and ensure quality of wastewater is within acceptable limits. The cost of such products is typically higher to conventional products, however, not significant, when available in local market. Significantly higher when import is required.

3.5.2

Installation of dosing devices for controlling the quantities of chemicals used (cleaning chemicals, swimming pools chlorine etc).

Ensure optimised use of chemicals and avoidance of excessive consumption as well as prevent accident hazards. The cost of such devices is low.

3.5.3

Preparation of guidelines for the use of chemicals by staff (type per activity, dosage, health and safety precautions)

Achieves optimised use of chemicals and avoidance of excessive consumption as well as prevents accident hazards. Raises awareness of staff. No cost is entailed.

3.5.4

Adoption of chemical-free cleaning methods (microfibre cloths etc.) where applicable.

Avoids unnecessary consumption of chemicals (cost reduction). Shall be used only where appropriate. Hygiene standards shall not be compromised.

3.5.5

Application of the “change-perrequest” scheme for linen and towels

Tremendous reduction in the use of detergents, electricity and water consumption. 50% typical reduction of laundry volume was reported in the hotels visited. This action is suitable for implementation in all hotel categories and no cost is entailed, however, the scheme must be effectively communicated and justified

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for guests

to guests. This scheme has been introduced to many hotels worldwide thus many hotels guests are familiar with it.

Monitoring of quantities of chemicals consumed

Allows control of the volumes of chemicals consumed and allows for identification of improvement opportunities. More effective if dosing devices are used.

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3.6 Air emissions

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.6.1

Frequent monitoring of the efficiency of boiler systems. Frequent maintenance / adjustment of boiler systems

Ensures early detection and repair of faults. Typically efficiency shall exceed 90%. Fuel consumption is optimised. Ensures compliance with the existing legislation requirements. Cost depends on the number, type and capacity of boilers. Monitoring shall be undertaken by an external company.

3.6.2

Replacement of diesel boilers with propane boilers.

Lower NOx and carbon emissions. Propane systems typically have higher operational cost but less maintenance cost. Suitability depends on propane cost compared to diesel cost and access to markets. These systems are recommended in the case of new installations.

3.6.3

Installation of refrigerators and air conditioning plants with environment friendly coolants.

Fluorocarbon emissions are reduced. If not possible to immediately convert all the existing equipment the opportunity shall be taken when repairs are made and new pieces of equipment purchased. Cost not important if replacement is gradual.

3.6.4

Use of halon-free fire extinguishers

Less hazardous to the environment. Compliance with existing or future legislation. No significant cost.

3.6.5

Installation of solar water heating panels

Significant reduction in fuel or electricity reduction for the operation of boilers and reduction of associated emissions. Can be used in combination with heat recovery chillers to meat the whole of demand for hot water in the summer. Purchase and installation cost is significant, however pay-back period is short, especially with rising costs of fuel and electricity. A typical cost reported during the site visits was 34,700 euros for the installation of 75 panels. This installation reduced the consumption of diesel by 15,600 litres per year reducing operational costs by 8,700 euros per year. Thus investment was returned in about 4 years. The systems are suitable for use in regions with high sunshine duration such as Jordan

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3.6.6

Use of electric vehicles for transportation within hotel premises

No emissions produced, low noise disturbance of guests. Promotes the environmental image of hotels. Purchase cost is significant; however operational costs much lower than conventional vehicles. Suitable for 5 or 4 star hotels built over large land areas.

3.6.7

Provision and/or promotion of bicycle renting services

Reduction of air emissions at hotel premises. Promotion of environmental image of hotels. Short payback periods and additional economic benefits if operated by the hotels.

3.6.8

Frequent maintenance of ventilators

Ensures good indoor air quality. Low cost.

3.6.9

Designation of non-smoking areas

Ensures good indoor air quality. Such hotels attract both smoker and non-smoker guests. No cost entailed.

3.6.10

Promotion transport

of

pubic

modes

of

Reduction to parking space requirements, noise reduction, air quality improvement. Promotes environmental image of hotels. However, depends upon the availability of public transport infrastructure. In cases of non-availability of such infrastructure, the promotion of a car-sharing scheme is a good alternative. No cost entailed.

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3.7 Training and information to staff and guests

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.7.1

Training of management prior to implementation of a scheme

Introduction to the requirements of an Environmental Management System and on the procedures to be followed by suitable environmental consultants. Informs management about the procedures to be followed for the preparation of the system. Helps management to take a decision whether to proceed to implementation prior to further resource commitment. No significant cost.

3.7.2

Induction training to the new employees (introduction to the company’s environmental work, and environmental programme accompanied with site-tour and practical application)

New employees are introduced to the hotel’s environmental programme. A necessary action in order to gradually involve the staff into the scheme. Can be undertaken internally at low cost provided that management itself is well trained or by external consultants at a higher cost.

3.7.3

Regular staff training courses on various topics (rational use of detergents and chemicals, separation of waste / hazardous waste, ways to reduce electricity and water consumption, general environmental issues)

Improves the effectiveness of the system by providing staff the opportunity to be informed on the hotel’s new environmental actions, discuss any problems faced in implementation, discuss the environmentally friendly practices used and to seek new solutions, discuss each person’s contribution towards achieving the hotel’s goals. Can be undertaken internally at low cost provided that management itself is well trained or by external consultants at a higher cost.

3.7.4

Preparation of staff manuals (chemicals, waste, water, electricity etc)

Manuals serve as guidelines to the staff. Improve the effectiveness of the system and give an incentive to employees to take an active role in the implementation of the various environmental measures. Can be undertaken internally at low cost provided that management itself is well trained or by external consultants at a higher cost.

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3.7.5

Provision to staff of access to documentation related to the EMS (electricity, fuel, water and chemicals consumption, waste production)

Employees become aware of the hotel’s consumptions and of the volume of waste produced. Thus, they can notice any deviation from the set targets and correlate their actions with the environmental goals of the hotel. Can be undertaken internally at low cost provided that management itself is well trained or by external consultants at a higher cost.

3.7.6

Frequent discussions of management with staff on environment issues and exchange of ideas among all the heads of the staff

Employees become aware of the procedures followed in other departments. New solutions are sought through discussions between the employees of the different departments.

3.7.7

Information notices on the rational use of water, the rational use of high energy consumption devices, the rational use of chemicals, waste separation, “change-per-request” scheme for staff and guests.

Improve the effectiveness of the system. Promote the environmental image of hotels. No significant cost entailed.

3.7.8

Guest invited to inform the staff of any leaks.

Ensures early detection and avoidance of losses. Raises environmental awareness of guests and improves their participation in other environmental actions. No cost entailed.

3.7.9

Exposure of environmental certificates and awards in common areas.

The environmental image of hotels is communicated to guests and visitors and they become aware of the hotel’s environmental efforts and actions. No cost entailed.

3.7.10

Provision of environmental information (leaflets, booklets, environmental policy documents, magazines) in guest rooms

The environmental image of hotels is communicated to guests and their participation in environmental actions is improved. No significant cost entailed.

3.7.11

Interaction

Improvement opportunities are identified. Guests feel part of the system and their participation is

with

guests

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and direct

Organisation of environmental events (rubbish collection, visits to sites, lectures etc) with the participation of staff and guests

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improved. The environmental image of the hotel is promoted. No significant cost entailed.

The environmental image of hotels is communicated to guests, their environmental awareness is raised and their participation in environmental actions is improved. No significant cost entailed.

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3.8 Miscellaneous issues

No.

System / Action

Advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs and suitability for implementation in Jordan

3.8.1

Noise level measurements and reduction measures (indoor carpets, outdoor trees, purchase of low noise equipment and regular maintenance of equipment)

Ensures a quiet and environment friendly environment for guests. No significant cost is entailed.

3.8.2

Cooperation with local authorities, environmental organisations and other hotels

Close collaboration between the hotel and local authorities allows for the organisation of local environmental activities/events with the hotel participation, the exchange of views on the improvement of the existing local infrastructure (e.g. recycling infrastructure, transportation etc), the hotel participation in pilot projects related to the environment. Close collaboration between the hotel and environmental organisations allows for the participation of the hotel to activities organised by the organisations, the support of the organisation’s actions by the hotel (for example by informing on pollution incidents or helping in preserving protected species), and exchange of views on environmental matters. Close collaboration between hotels which implement environmental systems allows for the organisation of common environmental activities or events and discussion of the problems faced during the EMS implementation.

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4. Conclusions In this report alternative environmental schemes used and the systems related to the environmental management of hotels were evaluated. From the 8 hotels visited in the context of Task 2 of this project (Vatyliotou et al., 2006), the best systems have been selected and evaluated in relation to the special characteristics of the hotels in Jordan. None of those systems and actions is binding for any hotel wishing to implement an EMS in Jordan. Systems such as ISO-14001 and EMAS in particular provide to the organisation the flexibility to plan, design and implement its own actions in order to achieve its own environmental targets. Thus, the list of such actions can be endless, however the actions evaluated could, serve as guidelines towards achieving a better environmental performance of hotels in areas with similar characteristics to the areas examined. For each system a brief description was given. Also the advantages and disadvantages that are related to each one of them have been determined and analysed, the aim being to determine which aspects of these good practices are applicable to Jordan, determine which parameters affect the implementation of these systems, suggest potential improvements and describe the benefits of applying these systems. Although most of the actions evaluated could be suitable for implementation in Jordan, the exact actions to be implemented in any Jordanian hotel for the improvement of its environmental performance will depend on many factors. For example, the exact characteristics of the area in which the hotel is situated may affect the incorporation of some actions into the hotel’s environmental programme. In addition, the local and statutory requirements and the existing local infrastructure may as well prevent the implementation of a number of procedures. Furthermore, hotels are businesses aiming to maximise return for their owners, investors and shareholders. Thus, the cost and benefit parameters are possibly the most important factors when evaluating the implementation of environmental management systems and actions. Although in the previous sections, an indication of the level of cost and return that could be expected for various actions was given, the exact cost and benefit varies greatly depending upon the location of hotels, capacities, labour costs and access to markets as well as on the political and legal setting. For this reason each action should be analysed and evaluated at an individual basis with all those parameters known. Nevertheless, the experience and knowledge gained from the identification and evaluation of best examples of systems and actions applied in hotels located to regions facing similar problems and having similar characteristics with the natural and environmental conditions of Jordan can help in identifying those elements that will make an environmental strategy for the hotels in Jordan successful.

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5. References 1. Commission of the European Communities (2003) Commission Decision of 14 April 2003 establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to tourist accommodation service, OJ L 102, 24/04/03 2. Commission of the European Communities (2006a) Commission Regulation No. 196/2006 of 3 February 2006 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council to take account of the European Standard EN ISO-14001:2004, and repealing Decision 97/265/EC, OJ L 32, 04/02/2006, Brussels 3. Commission of the European Communities (2006b) Official webpage (on line) Environment - EMAS (Accessed 29th October 2006) Available from World Wide Web: 4. Commission of the European Communities (2006c) Official European Union Ecolabel Webpage (online) (Accessed 16th August 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 5. Commission of the European Communities (2006d) The European Eco-label for tourist accommodation service & camp site service, Official Webpage (online) (Accessed 17th August 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 6. Environmental Protection Agency (2006a) Voluntary Environmental Management Systems / ISO14001, U.S. EPA Official Webpage (Online) (Accessed 15th October 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 7. Environmental Protection Agency (2006b) Mid-Atlantic Region Environmental Management System, The ISO-14001 EMS Approach, Official Webpage (Online) (Accessed 30th June 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 8. European Parliament and Council of the European Union (2001) Council Regulation No. 761/2001 of 19 March 2001 allowing voluntary participation by organizations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), OJ L 114, 24/04/2001, Brussels 9. International Organisation for Standardisation (2006) Official Webpage (online) (Accessed 15th September 2006), Available from World Wide Web:

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10. ISO Technical Committee 207 (no date), Official Webpage (online) (Accessed 15th September 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 11. ISO14000 Environmental Management Group (2002) ISO 14000 / ISO-14001 Environmental Management Guide (online) (Accessed 15th September 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 12. Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (2006) Official Webpage (online) (Accessed 1st October 2006), Available from World Wide Web: 13. Shdeifat, O., Mohsen, M., Ali, Y., Mustafa, M., Al-Mhaisen, B., (2006a) Tourism in Jordan, GREEN-TAS LIFE05 TCY/HKJ/000132, Task 1, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 14. Shdeifat, O., Mohsen, M., Ali, Y., Mustafa, M., Al-Mhaisen, B., (2006b) Determination of environmental problems that are related to the hotel accommodation service, GREEN-TAS LIFE05 TCY/HKJ/000132, Task 1, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 15. Shdeifat, O., Mohsen, M., Ali, Y., Mustafa, M., Al-Mhaisen, B., (2006c) Information on the Actors Involved in the Tourism Industry in Jordan, Their Role and Responsibilities, GREEN-TAS LIFE05 TCY/HKJ/000132, Task 1, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 16. Shdeifat, O., Mohsen, M., Ali, Y., Mustafa, M., Al-Mhaisen, B., (2006d) Some Proposals Suggested for Achieving Sustainability of Resources and Energy in the Hotels of Jordan, GREEN-TAS LIFE05 TCY/HKJ/000132, Task 1, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 17. Tibor, T., Feldman, I. (1996) ISO 14000 A Guide to the New Environmental Management Standards, IRWIN, United States of America 18. Vatyliotou, M., Avraamides, M., Fatta, D. (2006) Description and Analysis of Selected Success Stories, First Edition, GREEN-TAS LIFE05 TCY/HKJ/000132, Task 2, Gaia Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia