BOSTON—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2009, the newest version of the U.S. Green Building Council's building certification program has passed a member ballot and will be rolled out next year.
The next generation of the LEED rating system for commercial buildings, LEED 2009 includes a series of major technical advancements focused on improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and addressing other environmental and human health concerns. The new version of LEED, which is based on eight years of market and user feedback, also incorporates regional credits in the form of extra points that have been identified as priorities within a project's location. LEED 2009 also features re-weighted credits and an altered allocation of points to reflect climate change and energy efficiency.
USGBC
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Carlson Hotels Launches Sustainability Program
(Carlson Hotels) - Entitled "Practical Guide to Greening Your Hotel," the green guide is part of Carlson Hotels’ global initiative to develop programs, policies and partnerships based on responsible business practices.
The new guide and strategy were announced at the American Hotel & Lodging Association Fall Conference taking place here this week. Carlson Hotel brands include Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts’ Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn.
"Carlson Hotels is focusing on specific issues such as reducing, recycling and reusing solid waste, reducing the use of harmful chemicals, conserving energy and water and improving indoor air quality that can have immediate impact on the environment and the communities where our hotels operate," said Carmen Baker, vice president of Responsible Business for Carlson Hotels Worldwide. "As we look at all facets of our operations, this educational tool provides the information our hotels need to enhance their efforts and employ additional actionable opportunities. These efforts serve to balance business goals with the impact the company makes on society and the natural environment," Baker added.
"Travelers increasingly recognize the value of patronizing environmentally friendly hotels and many are modifying their travel habits. According to a 2008 Deloitte survey, more than one-third of travelers are keenly concerned about ‘green’ travel. Carlson is committed to addressing this issue as a cornerstone of its responsible business practices."
Carlson Hotels recently conducted its own guest survey, which found:
* Overall, guests feel they are "very engaged" in environmental issues and 58 percent said they would be willing to book a hotel room that is environmentally friendly.
* Guests expressed a high degree of willingness to "do their part" at home and while on the road.
* Fifty-six percent said they actively seek environmentally friendly products and services with 52 percent saying they would participate in programs to help reduce or offset the hotel’s carbon emissions.
* When it comes to their willingness to change behavior, most guests seek choice - such as the choice to have their linen or towels changed or not changed.
In addition to its development of the green guide, Carlson Hotels is engaged in a pilot program of environmental audits and related research at selected hotel properties and corporate facilities. The audits provide a comprehensive baseline of a property’s efficiency, energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Property managers will next review potential improvement strategies, making a determination of return on investment (ROI) and the general feasibility of implementing the projects.
Carlson Hotels
About Carlson Hotels
Carlson Hotels Worldwide includes more than 995 locations in 74 countries. Specific brands include: Regent Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson; and Park Inn hotels. Carlson Hotels Worldwide is one of the major operating groups of Carlson, a global leader in providing corporate solutions and consumer services in the marketing, travel and hospitality industries.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
AH&LA Proposes Guidelines for Green Hotels
New York, November 11, 2008 — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) launched its green strategy at its board of directors meeting, Sunday, November 9. The strategy focuses largely on minimum environmental guidelines, which are culled from a total of 88 overall guidelines targeting effective energy, water and waste management. The guidelines will be continuously added and built upon, with the next set focusing on design and construction, materials and resources, chemicals and cleaning, and indoor air quality.
Each of the minimum guidelines includes case studies, business cases, and resources for general managers to implement. In addition, the AH&LA board of directors will discuss the program mechanics, including how to recognize hotels that successfully implement the minimum guidelines. The completed guidelines and supporting materials will be launched via the AH&LA Website by the end of December.
In addition to extensively surveying members, the association’s overall green strategy was crafted largely by the AH&LA Green Task Force, which convened in August and is comprised of the environmental point persons for a dozen of the hotel companies as well as AH&LA’s green consultant, Pat Maher, formerly of Marriott International. The group created an environmental policy statement, recommended AH&LA track state and national legislation, and advocated the need for supporting educational materials. The Task Force is an extension of the AH&LA Environmental & Engineering Council, which has made a green strategy for the lodging industry a priority over the past 13 months. In that time, nearly two dozen certification programs were researched in the hopes of partnering with a third-party to offer AH&LA members a certification program.
When no program was readily available or affordable, the Green Task Force recommended identifying the most important pillars – including energy, water, waste – and have hotels report on progress against the pillars in terms of benchmarks and baseline numbers. The guidelines were created based on the criteria of existing state and national certifications.
“We’ve exhaustively researched this important topic to determine the best way the association can assist our members who want to create an environmentally-friendly and sustainable hotel,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph McInerney, CHA. “With so many certifications already out there – many of which are through the property’s state and a necessity for government business – the biggest feedback we received was the need for guidance on how to green properties effectively in various areas. Not all hotels will be able to achieve these guidelines, but we want to make sure we set a bar and goals now so hoteliers receive direction for immediate action. These guidelines – which address back-of-the-house and interfacing with guests – will be continuously added to in our ongoing effort to provide green resources in a broad spectrum of areas.”
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute has integrated environmental information into its popular housekeeping operations textbook and Certified Hotel Administrator certification. EI is also showcasing a new resource at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show – High Performance Hospitality: Sustainable Hotel Case Studies – in both print and CD. Content is being updated to its front office, leadership and management, and resort development and management textbooks, in addition to the creation of other educational resources around the AH&LA environmental guidelines.
Other green environmental priorities of the association include working with the U.S. Green Building Council via a Hospitality Advisory Group to create a LEED lodging sector standard for new and existing construction. That standard is expected to be complete by June of 2009. And, AH&LA is working closely with two meeting planning organizations, including the Convention Industry Council, to create eco-savvy standards for green meetings that are ASTM-certified. The standards are set to be released in May of 2009.
AH&LA also served on the steering committee of the United Nations Foundations Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria program, which is adopting universal sustainable tourism principles.
The association launched a Green Webpage in January, which serves as an online resource offering cost-effective and eco-savvy tips and strategies, information on certifications and government funded programs, suppliers producing environmentally-friendly products, as well as a RSS feed from Green Lodging News. In addition, a new component is coming later this week – Ask AH&LA’s Green Guru – through which Pat Maher will answer members’ questions to all things green.
Each of the minimum guidelines includes case studies, business cases, and resources for general managers to implement. In addition, the AH&LA board of directors will discuss the program mechanics, including how to recognize hotels that successfully implement the minimum guidelines. The completed guidelines and supporting materials will be launched via the AH&LA Website by the end of December.
In addition to extensively surveying members, the association’s overall green strategy was crafted largely by the AH&LA Green Task Force, which convened in August and is comprised of the environmental point persons for a dozen of the hotel companies as well as AH&LA’s green consultant, Pat Maher, formerly of Marriott International. The group created an environmental policy statement, recommended AH&LA track state and national legislation, and advocated the need for supporting educational materials. The Task Force is an extension of the AH&LA Environmental & Engineering Council, which has made a green strategy for the lodging industry a priority over the past 13 months. In that time, nearly two dozen certification programs were researched in the hopes of partnering with a third-party to offer AH&LA members a certification program.
When no program was readily available or affordable, the Green Task Force recommended identifying the most important pillars – including energy, water, waste – and have hotels report on progress against the pillars in terms of benchmarks and baseline numbers. The guidelines were created based on the criteria of existing state and national certifications.
“We’ve exhaustively researched this important topic to determine the best way the association can assist our members who want to create an environmentally-friendly and sustainable hotel,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph McInerney, CHA. “With so many certifications already out there – many of which are through the property’s state and a necessity for government business – the biggest feedback we received was the need for guidance on how to green properties effectively in various areas. Not all hotels will be able to achieve these guidelines, but we want to make sure we set a bar and goals now so hoteliers receive direction for immediate action. These guidelines – which address back-of-the-house and interfacing with guests – will be continuously added to in our ongoing effort to provide green resources in a broad spectrum of areas.”
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute has integrated environmental information into its popular housekeeping operations textbook and Certified Hotel Administrator certification. EI is also showcasing a new resource at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show – High Performance Hospitality: Sustainable Hotel Case Studies – in both print and CD. Content is being updated to its front office, leadership and management, and resort development and management textbooks, in addition to the creation of other educational resources around the AH&LA environmental guidelines.
Other green environmental priorities of the association include working with the U.S. Green Building Council via a Hospitality Advisory Group to create a LEED lodging sector standard for new and existing construction. That standard is expected to be complete by June of 2009. And, AH&LA is working closely with two meeting planning organizations, including the Convention Industry Council, to create eco-savvy standards for green meetings that are ASTM-certified. The standards are set to be released in May of 2009.
AH&LA also served on the steering committee of the United Nations Foundations Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria program, which is adopting universal sustainable tourism principles.
The association launched a Green Webpage in January, which serves as an online resource offering cost-effective and eco-savvy tips and strategies, information on certifications and government funded programs, suppliers producing environmentally-friendly products, as well as a RSS feed from Green Lodging News. In addition, a new component is coming later this week – Ask AH&LA’s Green Guru – through which Pat Maher will answer members’ questions to all things green.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Waikiki focuses on Green Hotel Initiatives
More hotels in Waikiki are finding reasons to go green as a way to cut back on energy costs in addition to standing out among their peer properties. As travelers are beginning to inquire about hotel's green initiatives, including events planners who ask about whether a hotel has the U.S. Energy Star rating.
At the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, energy-efficient LED lights are used in public areas, candelabras, swimming pool, and elevators, reducing the hotel's overall electricity costs. At a green hotel forum hosted by the state, hotel employees got a rundown on recycling providers, how to apply for the U.S. Energy Star label and solar technology.
A small tent card in the hotel rooms requests that visitors leave their beverage containers out of the wastebasket. Housekeeping staff will then collect the recyclables, which go into a large bin downstairs. Twice a week, the Hotel has an arrangement with Reynolds Recycling to pick up the recyclables, and Reynold's donates half the proceeds to nonprofit Parents and Children Together.
Four months after its inception, more than 42,000 aluminum cans and plastic bottles have been recycled from the Ohana Waikiki East. The general manager has said the housekeeping staff is on board, and has not found it to be too much of a hassle to set aside the bottles.
For years, many hotels in Waikiki have been throwing out recyclables, including beverage containers, paper and newspapers. Hundreds of newspapers, which are usually complimentary for guests, go straight into the trash. But that is starting to change, as hotels partner up with providers that can take care of their recycling needs.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki hosted a green hotel forum, and shared tips on LED lighting that can result in long-term energy savings. The Hyatt has a recycling program - for cardboard, paper, bottles, and food waste - which is handled by Honolulu Recovery Systems. Its goal is to become a full recycling facility by 2009.
Honolulu Recovery Systems spokeswoman Rachel Secretario estimated the Hyatt saved about $16,540 in tonnage fees at the landfill from recycling last year. That includes 140 tons, or about 60 football fields, of cardboard, and about 40 tons of glass from ending up in the landfill.
Aqua Hotels & Resorts, which owns 12 boutique hotels, is also starting recycling programs at its properties. At the forum, hotel employees also got a rundown on how to apply for the U.S. Energy Star label (which more events planners inquire about) and how to obtain financing for solar technology.
The green hotel forums are offered regularly as part of the Hawaii Green Business Program by the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the state Department of Health, and the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. DBEDT offers a green business standards checklist, and certifies and recognizes hotels as a Hawaii Green Business, which is valid for one year.
Several neighbor island hotels, including the Mauna Lani Resort, have invested in solar photovoltaic panels, but none in Waikiki, thus far, have adopted the technology.
Some challenges include finding enough roof space on buildings that were built tall, but thin, obtaining loans for the initial investment, and uncertainty about solar's future regulation in the state.
Hawaii Green Business Program
For More Information on Green Hotels, Go To Greenlodge.Org
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