Tips for Making Hosting More Sustainable

[Gregory781]

Hi everyone,

I’m Gregory, and I recently joined the Community Center. I’d love to hear your best tips on how to make hosting more sustainable. This month I’m focusing on reducing single-use plastics and encouraging my guests to experience local eco-friendly activities.

What are some small (or big!) changes you’ve made that guests have appreciated?

Looking forward to learning from your experiences.

Gregory

[Rosemary-C0]

I invested in solar panels which ended up being a money maker in and of themselves because in Massachusetts they encourage homeowners and property owners to install sewer panels so they buy you extra energy for a 10 year. I made over $2000 a year without having any electric bills on top of that. I replace my hot water heaters with On Demand hot water heaters that only use electricity when they’re heating the water for your use. Traditional hot water heaters keep the water hot all the time and they’re constantly using electricity. I also installed Mitsubishi splits for AC in additional heat. They are very energy efficient.

Rosemary

[Alex]

Hi @Rosemary-C0!

Thank you for participating in the conversation! It's great to see how, little by little, hosts are starting to introduce sustainable practices. Is there anything new that you are thinking of introducing in the future? ♻️

[Alex]

Hi @Gregory781!

What a good question to ask! It's great to read that hosts are interested in sustainable practices, as this helps everyone. Recently, we celebrated the Festival of Sustainability in the Community Center! I'm leaving the link here so you can get more information about it: 🍃Festival of Sustainability 2025 Lineup🍃

I'm going to tag some members to see what they can recommend you add! @Doan39, @Margaret491, @Casa-De-La-Tierra0, @Jeanna27 and @Anton7298, do you have any suggestions for @Gregory781? 

[Jeanna27]

Hi @Alex  - Thank you for reaching out.  While not massive like some of the others.  I do have in my 'HOUSE RULES' asking my guests to conserve energy, etc.  Here in Texas we are prone to having 'brownouts', so every little bit does add up, and helps on a larger scale.  I use a programmable thermostat to help in this area.  I also encourage my guests to recycle.   

[Alex]

Hi @Jeanna27! 

It's amazing that inside your house rules you include some of them that are done to save energy. Have you always included this thermostat in your listing? ♻️

[Jeanna27]

Yes, I have - and the reason is that most people do not even give it a second thought.  I literally have had people check-in and turn the HVAC down super low, only to leave right away - it's just so wasteful.

[Doan39]

Hi @Gregory781, welcome to the Community 🌱

It’s great that you’re already focusing on reducing single-use plastics and encouraging eco-friendly activities — those small changes really do stand out to guests. A few things I’ve found effective in my own hosting:

▪︎ Reusable alternatives: Provide filtered water in glass pitchers or refillable bottles instead of plastic bottles. Guests often appreciate this thoughtful touch.

▪︎ Local eco-experiences: Partner with nearby farmers’ markets, cycling tours, or nature walks — many guests love feeling connected to the community and environment.

▪︎ Energy savings: Simple upgrades like LED lighting, motion-sensor outdoor lights, or a smart thermostat can cut energy use while keeping the guest experience comfortable.

▪︎ Guest engagement: A little “green guide” in your welcome book can show guests how they can contribute (e.g., recycling, reusing towels). When framed as a way to “travel like a local,” most guests are happy to participate.

Even small steps, when consistent, can leave a positive impression and often lead to better reviews. 🌍✨

Curious — have you thought about adding any eco-certifications or “green stay” badges to your listing in the future? Guests increasingly search for them.

[Stacey583]

Hi Gregory - welcome to the community. Two things we have consistently done are  we use LED lighting with a smart device that turns the lights on at sunset and off automatically at 11pm. We have also installed an Ecobee smart thermostat to help regulate energy use and it's great that we can control it from afar in case guests forget to turn the thermostat up or down (depending on weather) when they leave the house. 

Stacey