As an increasing number of cities (and states) adopt new building standards that require the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the writing on the wall just keeps on getting bigger. And what might that writing be? Plan to build green—to LEED standards—or your project will never get approved and off the ground.
This past week, Los Angeles became the largest U.S. city so far to pass green-building legislation. Under the regulations, new commercial and residential structures of more than 50,000 square feet will have to be LEED certified. The law also applies to major renovations. Earlier this month, San Francisco moved a step closer to imposing the United States’ most stringent green building codes. If approved, they would require new commercial buildings larger than 5,000 square feet and renovations on buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to meet LEED Silver building standards.
In light of legislation approved and offered in places such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, Starwood’s announcement this past week that it will build all future ELEMENT hotels to meet LEED standards is much more significant. Starwood’s vision of the future is clear; it sees the direction legislators in major markets are heading and it does not want its expansion efforts to be tripped up by new building codes. Of course that is not the only reason Starwood is designing and building green, but it is a very good one.
What Starwood is doing is helping to raise the industry bar for new hotel construction. As more hotel developers make similar commitments for new and existing brands, it will be that much more difficult not to build to green standards. In my opinion, that is a very good thing. Be sure to read Starwood’s ELEMENT announcement here at Green Lodging News.
Green Supplier Spotlight Scheduling
On April 11, Green Lodging News officially launched its Green Supplier Spotlight e-mail blast. Green Supplier Spotlight allows a vendor to reach Green Lodging News’ entire e-mail newsletter circulation list (8,000+) with an up to 250-word description and one or two corresponding images. Slots have already filled up through mid-July. Be sure to call (440) 243-2055 or e-mail me at editor@greenlodgingnews.com to get in the Green Supplier Spotlight.
GLN Welcomes Two New Product & Service Directory Partners
Green Lodging News welcomes Wascomat Laundry Equipment and American DG Energy as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Wascomat’s washers, dryers, and flatwork ironers are designed to minimize environmental impact in production, use, and disposal. Nearly all parts of Wascomat’s products are recyclable. The company’s equipment is accredited according to the ISO14001 Environmental Management System and ISO9001 Quality Management System.
Wascomat manufactures and distributes a complete line of precision-engineered commercial laundry equipment including washers, dryers, clean room barrier washers, ironers, and non-polluting wet cleaning equipment in 15- to 250-lb. capacities for hotels, motels, and B&Bs and Inns. Call (800) 645-2204, e-mail sales@wascomat.com, or go to www.wascomat.com.
Waltham, Mass.-based American DG Energy’s On-Site Utility provides clean energy in the form of electricity, heat, hot water and cooling at a guaranteed discount rate. The energy is produced with small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) equipment located at the property site, but owned and operated by American DG Energy. Hotels have no capital costs for the equipment. Turnkey installations are available. Call (781) 522-6000, e-mail info@americandg.com, or go to www.americandg.com.
YouTube Video of Marriott/Amazonas Announcement
Earlier this month, Marriott International and the state of Amazonas in Brazil signed an agreement to help protect 1.4 million acres of endangered rainforest. Marriott has committed $2 million to fund an environmental management plan administered by the newly created Amazonas Sustainable Foundation. To view a YouTube video of the announcement, click here.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
