Putting WaterSense® to Work
Olympic National Park Hotel
Reaches Out and Saves
look for
Sector: Hotels; Focus: Education and Outreach
Project Summary
On a coastal strip of Olympic National Park in Forks, Washington,
Kalaloch Lodge has worked to protect the surrounding ecosystem and
reduce water and sewer costs by giving guests and employees a direct
role in its water conservation efforts. Known for its lush vegetation and
proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Kalaloch Lodge has faced high and
variable water costs, ranging between 20 and 35 cents per cubic foot.
The lodge is owned by the U.S. National Park Service and has a
concession contract that includes water-reduction metrics. Between
2011 and 2014, Kalaloch Lodge reduced its water consumption by
more than 46 percent, reaching its goal of 40 percent reduction in
water use by 2020. This achievement was seven years ahead of
schedule, due in part to a concerted effort with employee and guest
education.
Kalaloch Lodge achieved these water savings by: replacing restroom
and kitchen fixtures with high-efficiency models; implementing towel
and linen reuse programs; serving water only upon request; and
informing guests and employees how to do their part to save water. By
involving guests and employees in its water conservation strategy,
Kalaloch Lodge saved more than 1.37 million gallons of water annually
Engaging and Encouraging Guests
Kalaloch Lodge's in-room guest literature features the lodge's "Water is
Vital. Please Conserve" messaging, which it adapted for guests,
associates, and National Park Service visitors. An educational tri-fold
brochure in guest rooms highlights water conservation, Kalaloch Lodge
water savings goals, and what guests can do to reduce water use
during their stay. In guest bathrooms, a tag hanging from shower doors
encourages guests to help reduce laundry water use by participating in
the lodge's towel reuse program and provides helpful hints for saving
water when brushing teeth or bathing, A card on the vanity reminds
guests to report leaks, and a linen reuse card on guest beds includes
information about reusing linens.
Educating Employees Improves Efforts
At Kalaloch Lodge, employees undergo both general and department-
specific environmental training. Targeting kitchen and housekeeping
staff, these trainings: encourage employees to report leaks and be
Case Study Highlights
•	Hotel: Kalaloch Lodge
•	Location: Olympic National Park
in Forks, Washington
•	Number of employees:
Approximately 40 in the winter
and fall and 80 in June, July, and
August
•	Number of guest rooms:
64 guest rooms, with
approximately 16,000 room
nights per year and 40,000
overnight guests
•	Water savings: Reduced water
consumption by 40 percent
between 2011 and 2014, saving
1.4 million gallons of water
annually
•	Cost savings: Approximately
$47,000 in annual water and
sewer costs
This brochure informed guests of Kalaloch
Lodge's water use reduction goals.
PHONE (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) WEBSITE www.epa.gov/watersenseElviAlLwatersense@epa.gov
A rnA EPA-832-F-14-002-N
jF\ November 2014

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conscious of when they're running water; provide an overview of Kalaloch Lodge's
water savings goals; and emphasize how employees can help. This includes education
about the lodge's high-efficiency fixtures, linen reuse program, and water served on
request only, which reduced the amount of water served by approximately 50 percent.
To improve communication with employees, who respresent a diverse range of
languages and literacy levels, Kalaloch Lodge uses a large number of graphics in its
messaging. The lodge provides updates on water and cost savings, along with
accomplishments by department, which are a source of pride among employees.
Shortening Showers and Saving
Kalaloch Lodge offers
water-saving tips.
Shower Challenge
Guests and employees save water
through the five-minute shower
challenge.
Connecting With Guests
Online and Off
Because Kalaloch Lodge's website
and blogs are often the first point of
contact with guests, the lodge uses
these venues to highlight its
environmental management system
and ways that guests can help to save
water. On Facebook, the lodge posts
a "Sustainable Sunday" feature every
week, and has monthly blog posts to
educate guests and "Kalaloch fans"
about its efforts to green the lodge.
Acknowledgements
WaterSense acknowledges Kalaloch
Lodge Environmental, Health, Safety,
and Interpretive Manager Alec
Bartolai for providing information for
this case study.
Learn More
In both guest cabins and employee housing, Kalaloch Lodge replaced all of
its showerheads with WaterSense labeled models, bringing the flow rate
down from 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) to 1.5 gpm. Understanding that
saving water in the shower is largely driven by the user, Kalaloch Lodge
encourages everyone on its property to reduce their personal water use
through the five-minute shower challenge. All rooms have a simple egg timer
that counts out five minutes, along with an informational card challenging
guests or employees living on the property to shower in five minutes or less.
The cards also note that guests who meet the five-minute challenge use 60
percent less water than the average person. Some Kalaloch Lodge guests
have even approached its front desk about purchasing the in-room timers, in
hopes of bringing the challenge to their homes.
Figure 1. Kalaloch Lodge Water Consumption by Season
160,000
_J 40,000
•2 120,000
O
3 100,000
it
$ 80,000
3
a> 60,000
13
S 40,000
7. L
2011/2012
2012/2013
2013/2014
20,000
Fall Winter Spring
Season
Summer
Figure 1 shows Kalaloch Lodge's water consumption by quarter, with
water consumption decreasing between 2011 and 2014.
To learn more about water efficiency in commercial and institutional buildings, visit the WaterSense website at
www.epa.gov/watersense/commercial to access WaterSense at Work best management practices, tools, case
studies, and more.
Reduce flushes and turn faucets
off while cleaning
Linen and Towel-Reuse Program
Maintain Water Conservation Messaging
Use Water Like you're Camping
Report Leaks
Serve water upon request only
Do not thaw meat in water
Shorten Showers

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