BCHA BLOG | Step 2 of the BCHA Playbook: Measure Your Baseline for Sustainable Success!

Welcome back to our series on sustainable practices for British Columbia Hotels! In Step 1, we discussed the importance of engaging your team in the journey towards sustainability. Now, let's dive into Step 2 - measuring your baseline. By understanding where you currently stand in terms of sustainability, you can set informed goals and take targeted actions to improve your hotel's environmental and social performance.

Why Measure Your Baseline:
As the saying goes, "What gets measured, gets managed!" By measuring your baseline, you gain valuable insights into your hotel's current sustainability practices. This information is essential for sustainability reporting, tracking cost savings, identifying efficiencies, and monitoring performance improvements over time. The BCHA Sustainability Toolkit offers guidance on various measurements that will help you gauge your hotel's sustainability performance.

Baseline Measurements in the BCHA Sustainability Toolkit: The BCHA Sustainability Toolkit provides guidance on a range of baseline measurements, including:

1. Sustainable Tourism Score Assessment
2. Sustainable Purchasing Analysis
3. Diversity and Inclusion Audit
4. Accessibility Audit
5. Carbon Footprint Measurement
6. Energy Consumption & Cost Measurement
7. Water Consumption & Cost Measurement
8. Waste Production & Cost Measurement
9. Single-Use Plastic Assessment
   
   

Taking Action:
While each measurement provides valuable insights, it's essential not to let a lack of information delay the creation of your action plan. If you don't have all the data readily available, don't worry! The toolkit recommends including several of these measurements as part of your action plan's initial steps.
Step 2 Action Summary: To get started, here are some actionable steps for measuring your baseline:

1. Sign up for a BCHA GoGreen Energy Analysis.
2. Consider any baseline data you may already have quantified annually, such as energy, water, and fuel consumption, waste volume, etc.
3. Take the free Sustainable Tourism Score assessment.
4. Based on the assessment results, identify areas where performance is lowest and collaborate with your Green Team to prioritize 4 to 5 key improvements. Record these as potential actions in a draft actions list.
5. Determine your priorities and add any remaining potential actions that you believe are important in the short term. For example, if reducing resource consumption costs is a priority, focus on the energy, waste, and water sections. Consider actions like performing an energy assessment, waste audit, and water audit.

Pro Tip: Remember not to get overwhelmed! This step is a guided brainstorming exercise based on an established set of potential actions. You'll bring these flagged actions to the next section to set goals and refine your action list.

In conclusion, measuring your baseline is a crucial step towards developing a comprehensive sustainability plan for your hotel. By leveraging the BCHA Sustainability Toolkit and taking these initial actions, you'll be on your way to building a more sustainable future for your business and contributing to the well-being of our environment and community.

Take the next step today and use the BCHA Playbook, the industry's all-in-one sustainability resource, to guide your journey. To explore the BCHA Sustainability Playbook and access step-by-step guidance for your sustainability journey, visit the resource section in the BCHA Member Portal.

Together, let's create a greener and more prosperous future for British Columbia Hotels!