At the Moonrise, we take pride in being one of the best eco-friendly hotels in the universe. We work hard to do our part for the environment, and we know our guests care about the planet too. But between busy schedules and the many distractions of the modern world, it’s easy to forget all the ways we can be more eco-friendly every day. That’s why we came up with eight easy things you can do to reduce your environmental footprint in 2018!
1. Reduce Waste
There are tons of simple ways to cut down on the waste your household produces without tons of effort or inconvenience. Start by bringing your own reusable bags to the grocery store to cut down on plastic waste. Remove your address from mailing lists to stop receiving bulk amounts of unsolicited junk mail. Stop buying packs of bottled water and invest in a reusable water bottle. Be conscious of every item you bring in to your home and how much you throw out. To keep track of whether your efforts are making a difference, count up how many bags of garbage your home produces in a normal week, then set a goal to reduce that number by at least one bag.
2. Start Composting and Recycling
Of course, it’s impossible to reduce your waste production by 100%. But you can dispose of the waste you do produce in better ways. At the Moonrise, we place a mini recycling bin in every room as part of our commitment to being an eco-friendly hotel! Soda cans, aluminum foil and cookware, steel and tin cans, cardboard, paper items, glass, plastic, the list of recyclable items goes on. Just make sure your items, particularly plastic ones, are clean before you toss them in the recycling bin. One dirty product can contaminate an entire bale of collected plastics, causing them to go to a landfill instead of being recycled.
Composting is another easy way to dispose of waste items in a way that allows them to be repurposed and stay out of a landfill. Here, we compost whatever we can from Eclipse Restaurant and our employee break room. Proper composting keeps climate change-causing methane produced by rotting food from being released into the atmosphere. You don’t even have to live somewhere with outdoor space to do it! This guide will help apartment and small-space dwellers start a compost bin. For those with the ability to set up an outdoor compost, this tutorial will get you set up quickly and easily.
3. Buy Eco-friendly, Natural and Local Products
You can even help out the environment when you’re shopping! Buying eco-friendly products, whether they’re labeled as “natural” or “organic”, cuts down on consumption of products that use environmentally harmful additives and pesticides. That’s why the Moonrise is partnered with Aveda, so we can provide their eco-friendly, ethically produced toiletries in all our rooms. Purchasing locally-made products is beneficial as well because it often eliminates the thousands of miles products have to travel to reach you.
4. Switch from Disposable to Biodegradable
It’s easy to say you should never use disposable plates, utensils and cups, but when the alternative is a sink full of dishes, it can be hard to resist their appeal. Good news – you can still use these items and be eco-friendly! Just switch from disposable items to biodegradable, compostable or recyclable options. Green Paper Products offers all these convenient products and more.
5. Eat Less Meat and Junk Food
Did you know that factory farming is one of the greatest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions? And according to National Geographic, it takes nearly 2,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. By comparison, plant-based foods like potatoes and wheat use less than 200 gallons per pound during production. Also, processed snack foods are made with harmful chemicals and packaged in plastic containers. Reducing your meat and junk food consumption or cutting these out of your diet entirely is not only good for the environment, it’s good for your health!
6. Give Your Home Some Eco-Updates
Giving your home an eco-boost can save you green! Increase your home’s value, save money on energy and help the environment with just a few alterations. There are tons of big and small changes you can make, from switching to energy-efficient light bulbs to installing solar panels. (Did you know that the Moonrise has the first restaurant and eco-friendly hotel roof in America made entirely of solar panels?) Whether it’s as small as fixing leaky faucets to reduce water waste or replacing your appliances with new energy- and water-efficient versions, everything makes a difference!
7. Start a Vegetable or Herb Garden
Put that composter to good use by starting a vegetable or herb garden. With spring on the way, now is the perfect time to get going on developing a green thumb! Growing your own food cuts down on consumption of packaged goods and eliminates the need to ship tons of food. Plus, it saves money on your grocery bills.
8. Stay at the Moonrise
Next time you’re traveling or taking a staycation in St. Louis, choose the Moonrise! Our eco-friendly policies make the Moonrise the perfect place for environmental enthusiasts to relax in the knowledge that they’re making a positive choice for the planet. Not only do we do all the things mentioned above, we also offer our guests complimentary access to an electric car charging station. If you’re ready to stay at the best boutique, eco-friendly hotel under the moon, book a room today!