DEFINITION OF MITIGATION

The USAID (2008) defined mitigation as “the implementation of measures designed to reduce the
undesirable effects of a proposed action on the environment”.

USAID categorized mitigation measures into three:

(1) Prevention and control measures- fully or partially prevent an impact or risk by changing the means
or technique, changing the site, or specifying operating practices.

(2) Compensatory measures- offset the adverse impacts in one area with improvements in another
area.

(3) Remediation measures- to repair or restore the environment after damage is done.

MINIMIZING CARBON FOOTPRINT

• According to a study by the TUI Group (n.d.), the tourism industry contributes about 5% of global
carbon emissions. Half of this footprint is caused by the aviation sector.

• A number of alternative fuels are available. Alternative fuels emit less carbon because they are
cleaner burning than diesel or gasoline.

• Biodiesel is produced by vegetable oils and animals fats. Biodiesel can be used in diesel engines
with no need for major modifications. Ethanol is made from plant materials. Gasoline can be blended
with between 10% and 85% ethanol. Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a by-product of
natural gas processing and crude oil refining.

• Other renewable sources of energy are wind and sunlight. Windfarm or wind park uses several wind
turbines in the same location to produce electricity. Bangui Wind Farm in Ilocos Norte is the first
power-generating windfarm in Southeast Asia.

AIR POLLUTION MITIGATION

When a place succeeds as a tourist destination, it is inevitable that there will be increased vehicular traffic.
Vehicles emit air pollutants. Two ways to mitigate this problem are

1. To set as far back facilities away from the road

2. To plant trees which will serve as buffer between the tourism facilities and the road. The trees will
not block away air pollution but noise.

WASTEWATER-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES

• Tourism is a water intensive industry, particularly in the context of golf course and luxury hotels that
have bathtubs installed as standard hotel amenities.

• A low-flush toilet (or low-flow toilet or high-efficiency toilet) uses only 6 liters or less per flush
compared to 13.2 liters for previous toilets.

SOLID WASTE REDUCTION

• According to the UNEP and GTZ (2003), accommodation establishments generate these types of
solid waste: newspapers and magazines, cleansing agent containers used by housekeeping and
laundry services, flowers in guestroom and public areas, plastic shampoo and cosmetic soap bottles,
old towels, linens, bedsheets, furniture, paint, varnishes, used fittings, fixtures and plumbing
supplies, refrigerators, and other bulk items.

• The first step in waste minimization is to prevent its production in the first place. Waste prevention
could be in the form of sorting/recycling of glass, aluminum, paper and plastics from guest rooms;
providing bulk dispensers for soap, shampoo, and lotion; returning laundered clothes to guests in
reusable cloth bags/baskets; offering rarely used items such as sewing kits by request only;
instructing housekeeping not to replace half-used rolls of toilet paper/tissue boxes; and leaving
replacements for guests to use if required.
 • For food and beverage service, purchasing guidelines can be established to encourage the use of
durable equipment and high-quality, reusable linens, utensils, dishes, and tableware.

• Cloth roll towels or hand dryers could be installed to lessen the use of paper products.

• For administrative offices, bulletin boards and e-mail could be utilized to send memos to employees.

• Flowers from guest rooms should be collected for composting if needed, or donated to local hospitals,
schools, or charitable organization.

• If prevention is not possible, the next step is recycling. Recycling turns used materials into valuable
resources and diverts waste from landfills, besides saving energy and water and reducing air
pollution.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING DESIGN

Many of the aforementioned environmental issues could be prevented by designing buildings in a

sustainable manner.

1. Optimized site potential – proper site selection, orientation, and landscaping; consideration of the
reuse or rehabilitation of existing buildings and future expansion.

2. Optimized energy use- to reduce energy load, increase efficiency; and maximized the use of
renewable energy sources to significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuel9derived energy.

3. Protection and conservation of water - to use water efficiency; reduce, reuse, or recycle water for
on-site use. .

4. Optimized building space and material use - the integrated and intelligent use of materials to maximize
their value, prevent upstream pollution, and conserve resources; use and reuse materials in the most
productive and sustainable way over the building’s life cycle.

5. Enhances Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) - impacts occupant health, comfort, and
productivity.

6. Optimized operational and maintenance practices - specifying materials and systems that
simplify and reduce maintenance requirements; require less water, energy, and toxic chemicals and
cleaners to maintain; and are cost-effective and reduce life-cycle costs.

MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE NOISE

• According to the World Health Organization, ambient sound levels should not exceed 30 dBA for
sound sleep. However, in places close to airports, the noise from aircraft taking off and landing
exceeds 100 dBA. NASA, together with aircraft engine manufacturers, has designed engines with
larger fans, which turn at a slower top speed, reducing noise levels and fuel consumption.

• To minimize problems related to noise, zoning is very important, Two zones adjacent to each other
must have compatible uses. Buffer areas for non-noise sensitive use between two zones can reduce
noise impacts to the residents. A buffer may be a park or a parking building. Another way to deal
structure that may encounter or produce noise. For example, schools, which require silent
surroundings, may be relocated in non-populated areas.