* What: Saltwater pool
* Company: DoubleTree Hotel on Chestnut Street in downtown Chattanooga
* How is it green: Converting the pool to saltwater cuts down on having to dump shock (added chlorine used to rid water of organic compounds that irritate the skin) and other chemicals into the pool.
Saltwater vs. chlorinated pool* Saltwater pools have lower chlorine levels.* Chlorine pools need algaecides to kill algae and baking soda while saltwater pools don't, according to poolplaza.com* Saltwater helps eliminate irritation on skin through the use of less chemicals.
* When: October 2009
* Why do it this way? "It works well from a healthy perspective. When you go into a pool area, your eyes burn some when there is chlorine, it irritates the skin some. This doesn't," said DoubleTree General Manager Bill Mish said.
* Plans for expanding in the future: "We're coming up with things every day. Everyd ay we challenge something, correct it and fix it. It's a way of thinking as opposed to just accepting the norm."
* Any suggestions for others considering green initiatives? Track all your successes, especially when it comes to utility cost to measure progress, Mr. Mish said.
* Is this an essential part of the business and why? "Sustainability is a new way of doing business -- it's a business model," he said, especially in a lean economy. "There's so much opportunity out there to cut your costs and do something good for the environment."