By P.A Koliyabandara
The hotel industry is lagging behind other industries with respect to applying environmentally conscious practices and research dedicated to these practices. Some individual hotels and chains have taken the first steps towards greening the hotel industry, but considering environmental requirements as integral goals of business is novel to most organisations in this industry. Therefore it’s important to have an overview on current hotel systems to which extent they have succeeded in reducing their impacts on physical, biological and social environment. Nestled at the foot of Mt Ereulagala and Mt Dikkandahena in Sri Lanka is the Kandalama Hotel. Kandalama’s attractiveness and uniqueness lies in its location which is at the cross-roads of different ecological zones that harbour a spectrum of wild life leaning against a thickly wooded rocky outcrop, in close proximity to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is spanning 995 metres and covers 55 acres. It is a common place to watch herds of elephants migrating across the plains towards the seasonal tanks.
The Kandalama hotel was the first environmental hotel project in Sri Lanka when it was conceived with significant consultation with the local community in 1992. Initially, the development was met with much public debate as many people living in the relatively pristine and undeveloped region opposed to any tourism development, as the area is one of the most significant regions of the country for wildlife. The first EIA report was failed due to its less comprehensiveness. The key environmental issues targeted by EIA were the impact of the initial construction on local forest and scenic beauty, the impacts during construction activities (clearing, disturbance, erosion and sedimentation), the effects of the hotel site on natural hydrology and run off patterns, the discharge of solid and liquid waste into the lake system, the discharge of waste and operational by-products in the proximate semi-pristine forest system and the impact on the local community. Major issue faced by the Kandalama hotel was the release of waste water to the nearby Kandalama reservoir which was the main source of irrigation of people in the area. The disposal of solid wastes was also considered to be a threat to the water quality of the reservoir. Biological impacts are soil erosion in construction phase, damages to water quality and amount, flooding due land filling, disturbance to natural water ways, air quality reduction due to smoke,vibration, dust and serenity disturbance Problems to endemic fauna flora, habitat reduction, increase in hunting pouching activities, disturbance to animal migration paths are some of the biological impacts that were anticipated. Job creation, infrastructure improvement, disturbance to cultural and religious life is some social impacts. Priority was placed on reducing water consumption in kitchen, laundry and rooms. The hotel has taken a management decision to reduce their carbon footprint through improving energy efficiency and through offsetting. Reduced water use by operating dish washers at full capacity, operating the laundry machine at full capacity and reducing water quantity, introducing dish washes to the employee’s kitchen, training the employees and attending to housekeeping. The has improved the quality of waste water by segregating and adding an extra filter. The water is recycled for urinals and irrigation. Solid wastes are segregated to 16 different categories and bio degradable waste is now composted. Bio gas is generated and used for employee kitchen. The hotel has invested a new bio gas plant to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The fuel switch has led to additional CO2 emission saving 500 tons per year. By fuelling the biomass plan with Grilicedia wood, a renewable source compared with the existing boiler, the diesel consumption has been reduced by 18.000 litres annually, drastically reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the hotel. However, the Gassifier does not only benefit the environment, it also helps the surrounding communities by financially securing them and uplifting their livelihood. While 200 families within the community strongly benefits from supplying wood to the hotel, the planting of Grilicedia also had the effect that abandoned and fallow lands are enriched as the nodules in the roots nitrogenise the soil.
At the same time the leaves of the plant also provide food for livestock which raises the income for the villagers and increases the milk supply in the area contributing to better public health and saving of foreign exchange to import powdered milk which is not as healthy. The leaves if not used for livestock can be used as mulch to fertilize the soil, prevent erosion and prevent drying up especially in the dry zone. As the plant requires only a small amount of water it can be harvested biannually and in conjunction with other crops such as pepper. An annual yield of 74 tons of woody mass at the required moisture level of 20% from an acre is obtained. As a result 500 tons of carbon dioxide are saved by Heritance Kandalama annually.
The hotel has developed and implemented system for monthly monitoring of waste water, solid waste, carbon foot print. Targets are set, monitoring is conducted regularly and performance is reviewed monthly for continuous improvement. Keeping updated checklists, monitoring results and records, auditing through internal audits are the positive steps taken by the hotel. The purification processes of waste water recycling plant are regularly checked by scientists to ensure the compliance with the highest possible standards. The hotel has a comprehensive water-conservation policy, so surface water isn’t utilised by the hotel. Water is obtained from 150-200 foot tube wells and a maze of gutters collects rainwater.
Endemic birds like Ceylon blue magpie, Ceylon jungle fowl and reptiles like green pit viper, animals like Ceylon sloth bear, Ceylon spotted deer, Ceylon sambhur, wild boar elephant, black necked stork, green bee eater and monkeys could be found in this area. Though it is said no disturbance would occur to fauna during construction phase they could be harmed or disturbed. Comparatively with the other hotel projects the damage occur is low.14 macrophytes, 35 indigenous trees are found in the area and minimal cutting has been done. Replanting programmes are carried out. The building follows the contours of the hill outcrop and in some cases, is elevated on concrete piles allowing for surface habitat to remain. Open, concrete hallways span the length of the hotel, providing easy access to amenities while providing the guest with an unprecedented view of the surrounding environment.The concrete roof, which can absorb a large amount of passive solar energy, is being covered by sod with the intent of growing organic produce and insulating the structure. Food in the restaurants is locally grown and organic where available. The entire hotel has been non-smoking since 2001. An environmental ethic is fostered through what is known as the .Eco Park., an area near the employee residences that provides an environmental education centre for all employees and guests. The park includes a composting pit, a native tree nursery, the wastewater treatment plant, and an Eco Library for employees, guests and local school children. Kandalama’s outstanding performance in the tourism industry is reflected in the many awards received particularly for Eco management. I n addition to Kandalama being the proud recipient of the first Green Globe Certified Hotel in Asia, its other achievements include World Travel Market Awards for ‘Environmental Company’ in 1997, Leeds Green building certification and PATA Green Leaf Gold Award. These awards show Kandalama’s commitment to protecting the natural environment. It is a successfully implemented project by minimizing the negative impacts on the environment
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