Environmental Conservation
Going Green at the Homestead!
The Homestead Resort has been very proactive in creating a “greener” workplace through many programs and initiatives. Each department also recycles paper, plastic and aluminum.
In the pool area and at the Homestead Spa uses natural spring water in some of the outdoor hot tubs, thus promoting this renewable resource. We continue to remodel using energy efficient appliances, heating systems, windows and light bulbs. This year the Homestead sponsored a “property clean-up day”, held in April that included all employees taking a day off from their offices and guest service positions to rake, mow, and pick up trash from the property..
The Homestead understands the importance of doing our part in conserving this beautiful planet on which we live. Lastly, our banquet department manager came up with a flyer which was placed over light switches, air conditioners and heaters reminding everyone to turn them off when not in use or when we walk away from our offices. Each department has been challenged to save a percentage on all costs as well as come up with “greener” initiatives. A challenge everyone enjoys being a part of.
Specifically individual departments contribute to the resort green efforts through the following:
Utah Resort Golf Course
As a charter member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, the Homestead has dedicated 15 acres of open space and established new wetlands, with long-term plans to expand these natural spaces even further to include areas in front of tees and on borders. Continually showing its commitment to this preservation project, the Homestead has implemented course management awareness programs that will protect and sustain the course’s unspoiled setting. Being careful throughout any development process to keep wildlife corridors in place, the resort respects a 30-foot easement throughout the course and continues to protect any native habitat in and out of play areas, such as those found in prairie grass stands and tree snags.
In addition to wetland protection birdhouses have been added to attract birds and provide habitat. An inventory of the wildlife has been taken a plan has been developed provide space, food, cover, and water for them through modified chemical applications and the buffer between fairways and waterways to ensure water is kept clean. The Homestead has expanded natural areas to enhance habitat for wildlife and to conserve water and fuel. We have engaged golfers in our programs over the years by including bird watching comment cards. We feel strongly that getting outdoors and connecting with nature are among the top reasons why people play golf
Maintenance Department
The maintenance department has installed water saver shower heads, replaced old leaky faucets and installed motion sensors installed in all bathrooms. A new golf waterline was installed to improve water conservation when filling the pool areas. Photo eyes are installed to fixtures as the need is identified. Water saver toilet fill valves were recently installed. As light bulbs burn out the maintenance department is replacing them with compact florescent bulbs to improve energy efficiency resort-wide.
Human Resources and General Office
The business offices of the Homestead distribute reports via email instead of printing and distributing paper reports. Employees are issued plastic cups and mugs to re-use instead of Styrofoam cups on lunch line. Meeting minutes, memos and other internal correspondences is done via email in lieu of printed distribution.
Fanny's Grill and Simon's Restaurant
Throughout the resort we no longer use Styrofoam cups for to-go orders for drinks and shakes. Whenever possible the resort uses recycled or recyclable products. The restaurants and kitchens recycle all cardboard and plastic. Fanny’s Grill and Simon’s Restaurant combine in the Simon’s dining room to conserve energy through the use of 1 kitchen during the winter and spring seasons.
The Spa at Homestead
The Spa recycles all plastic (water bottles, empty product bottles, packaging, etc.) and cardboard. The spa has a sign that asks Spa guests to allow us to refill their water bottles and allow us to recycle them when they are finished. Many Spa employees bring their own plastic containers instead of the disposable plates in the lunch room. When they have an empty Spa product, they cut open the bottle and scrape every last drop of product out to ensure they are making full use of the products. The Spa uses ceramic tea cups and washes them after every use rather than using plastic or paper cups. The Spa is of the Aveda brand, which is one of the leading companies as far as being green.