What We Do

 

Fitness Center:

  • Energy saving light bulbs and motion sensor light
  • Replaced plastic cups with paper
  • Security turns off lights & equipment (10pm to 6am)
  • Towels are old beach towels that have been converted 
  • Environmental Policy posted
  • Recycling bins for aluminum, green glass and paper

Cafeteria:

  • Lights turned off at 7pm by security when securing the area
  • “Green / Quality Corner” to display environmental & quality items
  • Display showing our community involvement
  • Energy saving light bulbs
  • Television on timer
  • No disposable items used (forks, knives, spoons, plates, cups etc.)
  • Environmental Policy posted
  • Water saving faucet HAACP approved
  • Recycling bins for aluminum, green glass and paper
  • A/C set for  7am to 7pm use only
  • Ozone machine controls a number of molds, mildew, algae and bacteria present in the environment.
  • Tables and chairs are reused from the Pirates’ Nest
  • Computer for associates use equipped with screen saver
  • Lending library for associates
  • Transfer breakfast items to cafeteria
  • Gas on steam table on 11 to 2pm and 4:30pm to 7:00 pm only
  • Juice bought in bulk containers

Associate Restrooms:

  • Bulk shampoo/soap/lotion dispenser in shower; locally made products
  • Energy saving bulbs
  • Lights on motion sensor
  • Water saving toilets
  • Water saving showerheads
  • Soap in a dispenser not individually packaged 
  • Save water signage
  • Water saving faucet HACCP approved
  • Toilet paper, small portion on rolls, reused from guest rooms

Hallway To H. O. T. H.

  • Hallway lights on timer
  • Housekeeping corridor ceiling light on motion sensor
  • Energy saving bulbs

Housekeeping & F&B Office:

  • Energy saving bulbs
  • Lights on sensor
  • A/C in offices and liquor storeroom on 7 am to 7 pm and food storeroom no A/C
  • Environmental policy and Purchasing policy posted and adhered to
  • Bulk purchasing when available
  • Transfer items from cardboard to plastic bins; recycle cardboard 
  • Purchase in returnable containers
  • Storeroom is HACCP compliant
  • Green & Quality corner in HK office
  • Maintenance
  • Energy consumption tracked and information shared
  • Incentive Programs based on savings of energy
  • Batteries, light bulbs and paint are separated from refuse
  • Freon R-12 recycled and most equipment is using R-22 and R-134a
  • Environmental policy and Purchasing policy posted and adhered to
  • All internal correspondence paperless
  • Paperless work order system
  • Annual testing for Legionella; water circulation monitored weekly so that water does not stand for more than 10 days.
  • Berson Inline UV lights installed on all water supply lines which combine a wide spectrum of useful UV wave lengths with a very high energy output.  This combination causes total and permanent deactivation of micro-organism, avoiding photo reactivation.
  • UV system for grey water system
  • Contractors agreement in place to ensure adherence to our Environmental Policy while working
  • Equipment energy star rating checked prior to purchase Dumpster Area
  • Recycle bins for carton, green glass, aluminum, paper and vegetable oil 
  • Meters on gas tank to monitor usage

 

Laundry:

  • Solar heated water
  • Waste water reused for irrigation
  • Convert stained and damaged linens i.e. bath towels to wash cloths or hand towels, sheets to pillowcases etc.
  • Reuse stained and damaged linens as rags if unable to convert
  • Load the machines (dryer & washer) to maximum capacity
  • Using environmentally friendly laundry detergents.
  • No A/C 

Administration Offices:

  • Energy saving copy machine
  • Reuse paper for back ups
  • A/C on timer on at 7am and off at 6 pm
  • Sales kits consist of brochures and a CD eliminating paper use
  • Website gives information to TO or TA without use of paper
  • Track consumption of copy paper and printer cartridges
  • Maintain Training Records and all documentation on environmental issues
  • External email contains green tag line
  • Majority of internal correspondence paperless via e-mail
  • Reservations informs guests about monthly beach clean ups and other environmental activities prior to arrival
  • Reservations offers a green package focusing on local activities, flora and fauna
  • Eco Chic Weddings offered with DIY, do it yourself, projects
  • Environmental policy and Purchasing policy posted and adhered to
  • Maintains training records on Emergency procedures and schedules CPR, First Aid, Fire and 

HACCP training annually 

  • Maintains records on all departmental training and follows up on annual training plans 
  • Newly hired associates are issued their own re-useable durable plastic glass
  • Electronic presentation for orientation
  • Guest Laundry
  • Environmental policy posted
  • Solar heated water
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Furniture is reused from the guestrooms and activities lobby
  • Recycling bins present
  • Light on sensor

 

Public Restrooms:

  • Energy saving bulbs
  • Lights on a sensor
  • Water saving toilets
  • Save water signage
  • Water saving faucet HACCP approved
  • Soap dispensers
  • GFCI outlet protected

 

Mini Market:

  • “Green Corner” showcases items made during recycling contest and newspaper article
  • Continually search for additional local suppliers as well as products made on Aruba
  • Energy saving bulbs
  • Light on motion sensor in storeroom
  • Environmental policy and Purchasing policy posted and adhered to 
  • Recycle signage and containers
  • Expired  license plates donated to the Mini Market for (“One Happy Island” souvenirs)
  • Reuse of packing materials to store and to wrap souvenirs
  • Shopping bags provided only when necessary and are recycled bags.

Front Desk/Lobby:

  • Energy saving bulbs; lights not turned on until necessary
  • Recycle paper 
  • Reuse keycards
  • Recycling bins
  • Inform guests of environmental programs; encourage their participation (reuse of linens & recycling)
  • Guests shown location of Environmental policy
  • Maintain electronic logbook via internal network
  • Monitors Emergency Procedures
  • Paperless correspondence
  • Trophy case featuring environmental and service awards
  • Furniture made from recycled plastic material
  • Folios double sided
  • Does not use color print if not necessary

 

Concierge/Deck:

  • Energy saving bulbs
  • Recycle bins (encourage guests to give them their bottles and cans and not to throw away)
  • Include environmental issues in 
  • Maintain lending library of books that have been left by previous guests
  • Environmental policy posted
  • Inform guests of environmental programs and encourage their participation (beach clean up, focus groups, recycling contest, etc.)
  • Consolidate flight inquiries etc. so number of calls reduced
  • Recommend cultural events, Eco Tours and Historical Tours/Bird Watching, Plant Tour
  • Maintain activities in Aruba book with laminated pages rather than hand out fliers
  • Maintain a restaurant book with copies of menus to eliminate unnecessary calls with inquiries 
  • Discourages activities that are harmful to the environment
  • Furniture made from recycled plastic material

Parking Area:

  • Use high pressure sodium and energy efficient bulbs
  • Lights on timer and sensor

Garden:

  • Gray water is used for irrigation in most areas however; sweet water is used around main entrance and circle.  
  • There is a three-chamber water tank set up to hold the gray water as well as an old sewage line that has been capped for use as a storage tank.
  • Sprinklers are on timers which are adjusted depending on amount of rainfall
  • Palm fronds are used for beach hut roofs
  • Lawn clippings composted
  • Chipper used to make mulch from tree trimmings
  • Walkway bollards use energy efficient bulbs and are set on timer
  • Old soap used in irrigation water to reduce mosquitoes
  • Grow additional plants for existing gardens 
  • Plants labeled with common and scientific names 

Guestroom Building, Corridors and Stairs:

  • Energy efficient bulbs
  • No A/C or fans in stairways
  • 400 gallon solar water tank on roof  (8 panels) on Bucuti 600 gallon (6 panels) on Tara
  • Aerators in use in all sinks. 
  • Automatic A/C shutoff when balcony doors are open longer than 20 seconds
  • Water saving showerheads (60% savings)
  • Water saving toilets 
  • Soap, shampoo and lotion in a dispenser rather than individual packages and locally manufactured product comes in a returnable 5 gallon container 
  • Recycle paper, aluminum, newspaper, soap, candles and green glass
  • Most bulbs are energy efficient 
  • Balcony lights on sensor in Bucuti and timer in Tara
  • Low voltage electronic door bells, do not disturb and make up sign eliminate plastic signs
  • Changing of bed linens only on Wednesday and Saturday and on request or check out
  • Towels changed only if found on floor or in tub and at check out
  • Room Attendants and House Attendants using organic cleaning chemicals or citrus cleaner
  • Use cloth laundry bags made out of discarded sheets not plastic
  • Signage for guest awareness for water and energy conservation
  • Use ozone machines rather that aerosol air fresheners
  • Use ionic breeze to clean air
  • Dehumidifiers in rooms and water claimed used in gray water system
  • Insulated draperies closed to last window section to reduce A/C usage Bucuti

Water recycled for garden

  • Associates trained to report leaks and turn off lights when not in use
  • Information Channel on TV eliminates excessive amount of paper given at check in
  • Placement of newsletter and misc. information  for our guests regarding environmental programs
  • Sofa in Tara made from recycled plastic
  • The blocks used to construct Tara made from recycled material
  • A map with a walking tour of Bucuti’s plant life located in all rooms
  • Traveler safety tips located in all rooms
  • Green channel on TV featuring our green power point presentation
  • Voice mail text message on TV
  • Folio review on TV
  • Event calendar in the room binder
  • Newspapers delivered in bags made from discarded sheets

Pirate’s Nest / Sand Bar:

  • Aruban dinner special offered weekly
  • Energy efficient bulbs
  • Durable cups at the bar replaced disposable cups 
  • Water saving faucet HACCP approved 
  • Recycle paper, aluminum, newspaper, oil and green glass
  • When purchasing equipment review energy saving information such as done when acquiring new ice machine
  • Biodegradable  plastic cups for to-go drinks made from corn husk
  • Open air, no A/C 
  • Water recycled for garden
  • Guest asked if they would like water before automatically pouring
  • Guest asked if they would like a straw not automatically given
  • Solar panel for heating water to dishwasher (100 gallons)
  • Portion control items practically eliminated through continual investigation 
  • Weekly internal HACCP inspections with management and bi-annual external inspections
  • HACCP colored cutting boards,
  • HACCP temperature controls of food and coolers to maintain safety
  • Restaurant and kitchen staff continually trained on HACCP standards
  • Grease trap installed and maintained
  • Cultural Night Event
  • Reuse breads from breakfast to make croutons and bread pudding 
  • Restaurant and bar deck made from farmed wood
  • Restaurant and bar furniture made from recycled plastics 

Pool Area:

  • Use of paper filters for pool filtration
  • 1/10 of the water used as no back washing required  
  • Pool deck lights on timer
  • Pool tested daily and treated according to results
  • Weekly safety inspection
  • Deck made from farmed wood
  • Deck Furniture made from recycled plastics
  • Umbrella pools recycled from the previous restaurant furnishings
  • Recycling bins

Miscellaneous:

  • Card board, green glass, soap, oil, batteries and aluminum are recycled
  • Business paper and newspaper recycled
  • All offices recycle
  • Copies are double sided whenever possible and single sided sheet reused for scratch paper 
  • When paper can no longer be recycled internally it is shredded and given to FedEx for packing material
  • Environmental section on Web Site Environmental tag line on out going emails from offices and on all welcome letters
  • Environmental questions on comment cards
  • ISO  used on all paper goods where appropriate
  • Iguanas breed on the resort
  • Turtle nesting areas on the beach marked with appropriate signage (when necessary)
  • Conduct monthly Beach Clean Ups w/guests invited to participate
  • On going training with associates & the community on environmental issues
  • Recognize suggestions for environmental improvements through Bucuti’s Best (associate reward program)
  • Conduct annual Guest Focus Group on environmental issues
  • Green Team in place
  • Member of AHATA Environmental Committee
  • All Managers required to prepare a Green Action Plan in addition to their Strategic Plans which are reviewed each month 
  • Documentation of ongoing training with all associates
  • Release newspaper articles and participate in television discussions regarding environmental issues 
  • Sponsor environmental posters and commercials asking for assistance in protecting our environment
  • Sponsor two environmental contests with resort associates annually with guest invited to participate as judges 
  • Emergency procedures manual located throughout the resort and updated annually; associates continually trained on procedures 
  • Environmental Power Point Presentation prepared and used for educating school groups, hotels and businesses
  • Member of EBA CAST, ATA and AHATA
  • ISO 14001 certified and Green Globe Certified
  • Maintains EMS documentation
  • CHA prepared case study on Bucuti’s Environmental practices as a link from their website
  • Discarded linens and furniture donated to the home for the aged
  • Conduct annual fire drill with guest, associates and fire department during International Fire 

Prevention week

  • Drug free working environment supported with random drug testing
  • Health certificates for all F & B associates on file
  • Reduce lights at night during turtle nesting season
  • Unclaimed lost and found items donated to children’s home
  • Sponsor fitness activities for associates
  • Donate to Animal Rights Aruba
  • Purchase Donkey Sanctuary post cards for associates to give to their repeat guest
  • Sponsor of Donkey Sanctuary Calenday (July 09)
  • Resort has chilled water a/c with closed system
  • Carbon offset program offered on our website

 

What we do (pdf)