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With the world becoming ever more reliant on IT, from computers and laptops to smartphones, the issue of how you make it more sustainable, in terms of reducing energy requirements and electronic waste, becomes ever more pressing.

In 2010, it was estimated that 360 million computers were manufactured. A computer is one of the most resource-intensive pieces of equipment, requiring over 10 times its weight in fossil fuels to make

The production of a computer requires 22kg of toxic chemicals, 240kg of fossil fuels and 1,500 kg of water. 80% of life-cycle energy use is accounted for before we even switch a PC on for the first time. Computer Aid International About 2% of the world’s total energy is consumed by building and running computer equipment. BBC Office equipment is the fastest growing energy user in the business world, consuming 15% of the total electricity used in offices. This is expected to rise to 30% by 2020. In the UK, the cost of running this equipment is estimated to be around £300 million annually and rising each year. Carbon Trust 200 million computers and 550 million mobile phones reached the end of their life in 2008.  Computer Aid International 50 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide, but only 13% was recycled. US Environmental Protection Agency Reusing working computers is up to 20 times more energy-efficient than recycling them. Computer Aid International

Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers?

Investment in Hotel Technology Pays Off with Increased Group Revenue Tuesday, July 10, 2012 by Sarah Vining Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers? Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs At Hyatt Hotels with in-room HD TVs by Roomlinx Inc., guests are able make service requests, check email/weather, use the Business Center, print documents, and receive customized messages from meeting planners. Service requests like housekeeping and in-room dining are instantly sent through the system, improving the venue’s departmental efficiency. All of these virtual functions are hoped to appeal to new markets and drive group business. More efficient billing In the article, “Insert IACC blog post title URL” we learn that in 2012, meeting and group planners are prioritizing finance as very important during in their planning process (which made the top 10 list for the first time). Hotels making large investments in revenue management systems are taking advantage of new features that automate and process data to improve efficiency and increase revenue for properties. Virtual business centers Socialization through technology and food and beverage outlets is increasing revenue for TRYP by Wyndham in the NYC Times Square South property. Google TVs and access to Google Chrome laptops near the Gastro Bar in the hotel’s lobby offers guests an opportunity to enjoy a dining experience with the comfort of complimentary technology use. On-staff IT team When planners were surveyed, reliability was listed as a top concern of IT services in the white paper “What Do Planners and Trainers Really Want in Their Meeting Service?” All IACC-certified conference centers are required to have an on-site IT team to ensure technology functions properly. Now, the need for a knowledgeable IT team that really understands technology and can cater to individuals and group business is spreading to other hotel markets.   These impressive technology tools improve the guest experience and lead to a quick return on investment, especially in F&B. As we move beyond the discussion of required hotel Wi-Fi services, there will be a focus on technology amenities that provide the same comforts of home or the office. To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment knowing there’s a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests. Want to learn about other ways hotels are using technology to build relationships? Check out Enhancing Your Social Networking Site with a Social Concierge! to maximize social media and connect with guests, attendees and planners!

Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.

Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.

Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.

Mayakoba, Riviera Maya

uses no motorized vehicles throughout the entire property. Instead, guests can ride electric golf carts, bicycles, or electric boats on more than nine miles of canals.

Palmer House Hilton in Chicago

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport outfitted one of its gates with a new type of “smart glass” that can adjust for sunlight exposure

the product, called View Dynamic Glass, might improve passenger satisfaction

It turns out that a cooler, darker bar encourages an extra round or two. Alcohol sales soared 80 percent in October

Cool Factor: Future Of Computing Looks Like 'Minority Report'

What is the future of user

interfaces

Physical plant or mechanical plant engineers can be found in almost every business sector and industry and are responsible for maintaining large facilities. These individuals usually monitor their facility's heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Additionally, physical plant engineers must also service and repair their facility's plumbing and lighting.

Physical plant engineers are paid an average salary of at least $50,000 to make sure a plant's systems run safely.

HP has released two new POS systems, one of them designed to cope with ambient temperatures as high as 40 Centigrade.

The other can withstand relatively harsh environments such as food outlets where the unit must be located close to the kitchen or serving counter.

Going green is going Hi Tech. As hoteliers continue to embrace the necessary tools to be good environmental stewards, and of course reduce operating costs, leading hoteliers are forging new ground in how to utilize technology to significantly reduce energy consumption while also weaning themselves off fossil fuels. It’s a one-two punch that is just starting to catch on. And though these pioneers have some major challenges they’re forging the way for industry wide success.

“It is a tremendous opportunity not only because of where customers want us to be, but because there will be a cost now or later. We need to think about borrowing from the future,” said Daniel Connolly, an associate professor at the University of Denver, who noted that he expects energy costs to continue to rise so it’s best to invent in energy saving technologies presently.

At Hotel 1000 they went for a lighter shade of green approach by cutting energy costs by tying the energy management system through the PMS. That way, when a guest checks in a signal is sent to the room to start cooling or warming the guest room. However, they still have to preset the room by leaving lights and the television on (at least its Energy Star compliant, Incao said) to create the appropriate guest arrival experience. When the guest leaves sensors alert the system to allow the energy to go off to a predetermined set back level.

This means that hotels can be completely in charge of their own energy – and financial – output without compromising any part of a guest’s experience. It’s the technology that makes this all happen, however.

60% of travelers make eco-friendly choices when booking hotels and 50% say they are willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly location.

LEED-certified hotels obtain superior financial performance compared to their non-certified competitors for at least the first two years after certification.

Reducing energy, emissions and waste are concepts that have been around for many years, but one area that is often overlooked is information technology (IT).

it was estimated that 360 million computers were manufactured.

quiring over 10 times its weight in fossil fuels to make.

Bobby leads the commercial sales and marketing initiatives for Aeroseal, LLC, sole owner and licensee of aeroseal technology, the world’s only patented process of sealing HVAC ductwork from the inside out. Through this unique approach to duct sealing, aeroseal technology allows users to 1) save money by sealing old ducts instead of investing in new ducts, (2) perform sealing that is impossible or inefficient from the outside, (3) significantly lower energy costs and meet aggressive energy-savings goals, (4) address serious indoor air quality issues associated with airborne contaminants that spread through leaky ducts and (5) remedy airflow/comfort issues associated with ductwork.

Studies indicate that on average, 15-40% of all heating and cooling energy is lost through leaky ducts. Unfortunately, this problem was seldom addressed due to the difficulty associated with accessing ducts and finding leaks, the majority of which are hidden behind walls, under ceilings or beneath insulation. Aeroseal addresses these issues by automatically sealing ducts from the inside. The solution is obvious and easy, addresses serious issues, and delivers energy savings, with a 2-7 year payback.

Coolness is one reason to use an iPad as a point of sale (POS) system.

using an iPad as a POS system provides a lot more than social cachet to small businesses.

Cost savings; A tool for better customer service; The ability to streamline the sales process by providing catalogue and inventory data to customers as well as payment services; It's a good defensive sales strategy; The ease of employee training; The environmentally friendly aspect of e-receipts.

Our desert surroundings require that we be strong stewards of natural resources, especially water," Dumont said.

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the council's rating system for measuring the effectiveness of environmentally efficient buildings. LEED ranks buildings on a 100-point scale measuring energy and atmosphere, the sustainability of a site, efficient use of water and the use of environmentally responsible materials and resources in the building's construction and maintenance. It also awards six points for innovative design and four points for embracing regional priorities in products and services. The resulting levels are Certified (40 to 49 points), Silver (50 to 59 points), Gold (60 to 79 points) and the greenest category, Platinum (80 points or more).

he approximately 5 million hotel rooms in the U.S. rack up almost $4 billion in energy bills a year, or about $800 per room annually, according to Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Green Building Council.

Virtualization, server consolidation, new cooling approaches, and hosted services are among the projects that yield the highest immediate and long-term savings, according to respondents.

However, projects that are easiest to get green-lit and rolled out include migrating to more energy-efficient hardware.

implementing Energy Star-qualifying equipment stands out as the most popular of the low-hanging green fruit

Poll hotel guests on which amenity is most important to them and chances are they’ll vote for connectivity. But it’s more than just raw Internet access they expect these days. In this new always-connected age, guests want easy and persistent access to all things digital that can enhance their experience, both within and outside the premises. It’s a big reason why hoteliers are now spending as much time and resources on network technology and applications as they are on the quality of their linens and food service. Hotel customers expect the same online convenience and customization they have in their homes. And with seemingly every traveler equipped with laptops, iPads, and smart phones, they also expect their hotel to be place of ubiquitous connectivity. Indeed, according to Scot Campbell, chief information officer for MGM Mirage, the core of a hotel’s ‘cool' factor is technology. Campbell says that "we are building rooms where everything is on a network.”(1) Installing new technologies will give hotels a competitive edge with travelers for whom digital devices have become just another normal bodily appendage of sorts.

Poll hotel guests on which amenity is most important to them and chances are they’ll vote for connectivity. But it’s more than just raw Internet access they expect these days. In this new always-connected age, guests want easy and persistent access to all things digital that can enhance their experience, both within and outside the premises. It’s a big reason why hoteliers are now spending as much time and resources on network technology and applications as they are on the quality of their linens and food service. Hotel customers expect the same online convenience and customization they have in their homes. And with seemingly every traveler equipped with laptops, iPads, and smart phones, they also expect their hotel to be place of ubiquitous connectivity. Indeed, according to Scot Campbell, chief information officer for MGM Mirage, the core of a hotel’s ‘cool' factor is technology. Campbell says that "we are building rooms where everything is on a network.”(1) Installing new technologies will give hotels a competitive edge with travelers for whom digital devices have become just another normal bodily appendage of sorts.

t's a big reason why hoteliers are now spending as much time and resources on network technology and applications as they are on the quality of their linens and food service.

Top benefits of cloud computing Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources. Here are seven common reasons organizations are turning to cloud computing services: Cost Cloud computing eliminates the capital expense of buying hardware and software and setting up and running on-site datacenters—the racks of servers, the round-the-clock electricity for power and cooling, and the IT experts for managing the infrastructure. It adds up fast. Speed Most cloud computing services are provided self service and on demand, so even vast amounts of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes, typically with just a few mouse clicks, giving businesses a lot of flexibility and taking the pressure off capacity planning. Global scale The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale elastically. In cloud speak, that means delivering the right amount of IT resources—for example, more or less computing power, storage, bandwidth—right when they’re needed, and from the right geographic location. Productivity On-site datacenters typically require a lot of “racking and stacking”—hardware setup, software patching, and other time-consuming IT management chores. Cloud computing removes the need for many of these tasks, so IT teams can spend time on achieving more important business goals. Performance The biggest cloud computing services run on a worldwide network of secure datacenters, which are regularly upgraded to the latest generation of fast and efficient computing hardware. This offers several benefits over a single corporate datacenter, including reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale. Reliability Cloud computing makes data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity easier and less expensive because data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider’s network. Security Many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies, and controls that strengthen your security posture overall, helping protect your data, apps, and infrastructure from potential threats.

attendees can ask questions to the speaker via tweets or Facebook comments real time during an event.

FIFA World Cup

cool application that had been created especially for the World Cup that highlighted the real time schedule of the games and results as they took place. This event alerted us to the huge potential that has hardly been scratched.

Hotels and resorts have started to act by ramping up efforts to reduce or eliminate completely their resource and energy consumption.

“Sustainability is more than energy conservation or recycling; it is about sustaining communities for the tourism product.”

While Marriott International and other large chains have promised to eliminate items that never fully decompose, like plastic straws, there is still a lot more work to be done.