World Enviroment Day

[Felicity11]

🌍Happy World Environment Day, Hosts!

Tourism contributes nearly 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the biggest sources being aviation, energy use, and transport. While we can’t control how guests get to us, we can take meaningful steps to reduce the emissions and waste from our listings—and gently invite our guests to join us.

Some ideas that are working well in my listing:
💡Buying electricity from a renewable energy provider (not just carbon-neutral)
🚗Sharing local EV charging tips
🧴 Refilling amenities to avoid single-use plastic
☕Guests leave their used coffee pods for me to recycle—100% do it, just because I ask kindly!
🌱Over 70% use our compost bin, and many comment on how nice it is to have the option

According to Booking.com’s 2024 sustainability report:
📊75% of travellers want to travel more sustainably
💬67% say witnessing sustainable practices while travelling inspires them to adopt those behaviours at home

So I’ve asked the community:
💬What are you doing to reduce emissions or waste in your listing?
💬How do you make it easy for guests to be part of it?
💬What results have you seen?

Let’s share and learn from each other—one small step at a time 🌱

[Daniel1651 · Accepted solution]

Wow @Felicity11 ! 🌍✨

Thanks for always reminding us how important it is to take care of our planet 🌱💚

In my case, I had the chance to invest in solar panels for two of my listings ☀️🏡, and I can proudly say we generate more energy than we need ⚡️😄 I love sharing this data with our guests — they really appreciate it! 📊💬

Then, I installed a special water filter 🚰 so guests can drink straight from the tap, avoiding plastic bottles ♻️🚫🧴

Also, when I welcome them, I take time to explain how we separate the trash 🗑️🔄 and where they can find the bins to do it correctly ♻️✅

And lastly — among other small things I’ve learned over the years — I provide reusable bags 🛍️ for grocery shopping, so there’s no need to buy plastic ones at the supermarket 🛒🌿

[Felicity11]

HI @Daniel1651 

Thank you for sharing all that you are doing to set your home up to reduce the emissions it creates and the steps you have taken to help your guests minimise the waste they may generate during their stay. I  love hearing that your guests appreciate this.   

Making our homes more sustainable is not hard, and a little extra effort can go a long way to engaging our guests and helping them feel like they are making a difference. 

Wonderful, I can't wait to hear what you do next! 

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Felicity11 

As an Airbnb Host, I make it a priority to minimize our carbon footprint through small but meaningful actions. While hosting in a condominium setting limits certain sustainability initiatives, there are still many ways to make a positive impact.

All our lighting fixtures use energy-efficient LED bulbs, and we provide reusable eco-shopping bags to reduce single-use plastic consumption. We also practice garbage segregation to support proper waste management. Stock basic supplies in refillable containers rather than single-use sachets (e.g., shampoo, body wash, dish soap).

To promote low-impact transportation, we encourage our guests to explore the area by walking or using the free community shuttle service. 

 

[Felicity11]

Hello @Patricia2526 

It is wonderful to hear from you, and thank you for sharing what steps you are taking to make your guest experience that bit more sustainable. I love hearing about all the little things you are doing that make it easy for guests to take steps to reduce the emissions and waste they create!

[John5097]

@Felicity11 

I happened to see this Solar Powered Mini Split Heat Pump kit and thought it was pretty cool.

 

https://signaturesolar.com/eg4-hybrid-solar-mini-split-kit-energy-star-certified-air-conditioner-hea...

The mini split is designed to run off DC power and directly connected to the solar panels, and also is connected to AC power to run when there is no sun available. 

The price for the kit seems reasonable at about $2100. 

I'm considering/planning to add solar and more mini splits. 

I'll likely just install a whole house solar system that ties into the grid, as our state has net metering, which buys back any extra electricity produced by the solar panels. 

And will likely DIY smaller system that uses micro inverters for each panel so I could add more pannels later. As my  house is also already really efficient so there would be no cost savings having a professional install a whole system, as I only need a small one now.

But I was already planning on adding two more mini splits to my living space, and if they were also solar powered that could cut my power use a lot, with minimal investment, and it all may quality for the 30% federal tax rebate and our state has an additional 25% tax rebate. (the rebate is for solar equipment)

 

 

[Felicity11]

Thanks for sharing this @John5097   This looks like a really interesting system and I imagine it could be very popular.

[Fz3]

Love this post—thanks for sharing your efforts and the great stats from Booking.com!

At my listing, a few things have worked really well:

:recycle: We switched to refillable dispensers for soap and shampoo—guests often comment positively on this.
:bulb: Installed LED lighting and smart thermostats to reduce energy use.
:bike: Added a simple guide to nearby public transport and bike rentals—some guests have actually changed plans because of it!

I’ve found that just a little explanation goes a long way. When guests see that it’s easy and part of the experience, they really do join in.