The United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) has awarded the Environment Management System ISO 14001: 2004 Certification to the Emirates Palace in recognition of its organisation's Quality System in the Hospitality and Restaurant Services.
The British quality assurance agency said the Emirates Palace has translated tackling the environment issue from conceptual to real action by actively engaging across a spectrum of subjects from energy conservation to pollution control, from the avoidance of hazardous chemical use to waste salvage. Commenting on this remarkable achievement, General Manager of the Emirates Palace Hotel Mr. Hanz Olberts said : '' We have taken a proactive stance on environment issues and achieved ISO 14001: 2004 certification. ''This International Standard certifies that the Emirates Palace has established, implemented and maintain an environmental management system that meet International Standards,'' he indicated. The Hotel's environmental management system lends proper attention to energy conservation. Mr Olberts stated that: ''We continue to make major progress in reducing energy consumption. Year to date up to end July 2009, we have reduced electricity consumption by 6% amounting to a reduction of 4.5 million kilowatt hours (kwh). LP Gas consumption was reduced by 19% amounting to a saving of 138,370 liters. Considering that our total electricity and gas costs in the year 2008 were in excess AED 16 million, this is a commendable achievement. As for product purchase, the Emirates Palace purchases goods and services worth millions of dirhams annually. An informed Purchase Program with environmentally conscious purchasing procedures in place, have made a real contribution. On waste management, Mr Olberts explained : ''Introducing reduction, reuse and recycling programs has enabled better waste management practices. On air quality, he said: ''We have improved the air we breathe inside the Palace building with high efficiency air filtration systems. External air pollution has been considerably reduced by improving efficiencies of fossil fuel burning equipment such as steam boilers, and completely eliminating equipment operating with CFC's. On the Hotel's policy of using pesticides and herbicides, the General Manager of the Hotel added: '' Our policies and management practices provide for the safest possible choice for the use of this, both internally and externally. On hazardous materials, he affirmed the Hotel is making every attempt to minimize this in the hotel operations. Realistically, some are essential so their use, storage, labeling and disposal are monitored extensively. ''Clearly we have embarked on a campaign with no end. We believe that we have taken the first steps in a most important journey not just for hotel business, but for the whole community,'' he concluded.
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