Greetings HAB #HostAdvisoryBoard ,
Great to get this conversation going about the potential value of a sustainability logo. Hopefully, we can find common ground to bring to the Executive Board. @Mary996 understands my objective. I want to see an international logo that any Airbnb host could potentially qualify for that would have substantial meaning, in the same way that a superhost logo has meaning. I bet there are numerous hosts who already have solar panels, wind turbines, water filtration systems, and geothermal system on their property, but have not promoted these sustainable infrastructure attributes on their Airbnb site. Case in point @Mary996 has a whole house water filter filtration system that she has until now not thought to add this to her description. A logo would change that for hundreds if not thousands of hosts.
Moreover, it would encourage other hosts to add such infrastructure to their own properties, thereby spreading the wealth. Airbnb can come part of the clean energy solution.
Regarding @Anna1403 question about recycling, yes I have instructions in my listing and different bins available. There is a role for recycling, and if the consensus was to include it as part of the criteria, I would not object. However, we're not going to recycle our way out of environmental degradation. There is much mythology surrounding the power of recycling, which has been evaluated in numerous reports and documentaries. That being said, as long as points awarded for recycling were minimal compared to points received for having wind turbines, solar panels or a water filtration system on your property, that would be fine.
My thinking is that a host should obtain a certain number of points before reaching the logo status.
I agree @Laurelle3 compost bins, pollinator gardens rain water barrels could all count.
We would need a list of sustainable property assets. Certain assets would be worth more points than others. Clean energy infrastructure would require the largest investment for a host and would have the biggest impact, so these assets should receive the largest number of points toward the logo.
My objective is largely to encourage the promotion of distributed energy, ie, clean energy infrastructure on one's property. That being said, without doubt, compost bins and pollinator gardens certain also play a role in sustainability.
In all our deliberations, my hope is that we'll give guests more beneficial reasons to book stays.
