CHICAGO—The Talbott Hotel, a luxury boutique in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast, has been bestowed the distinction of being one of the first Green Seal Certified hotels in the United States. Striving to meet the city of Chicago’s Green Hotels Initiative, the hotel worked diligently for months and at great expense to meet the environmental lodging standard, which brings with it requirements in waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste water management and green procurement.
The Talbott operates on a platform of “Sustainability without Compromise” as staff there insist that green initiatives only enhance the already high standards for guest comfort and convenience. The 149-room property achieved the Green Seal feat in a rigorous nine months compared to the other hotels vying for the recognition that took twelve. Illustrating the difficulty for certification, only five out of 25 hotel applicants were awarded certification.
According to the Chicago Climate Action Plan, 71 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the city result from buildings, with hotels being a considerable contributing factor as a result of their 24-hour operations. The Talbott Hotel is committed to reducing its carbon footprint while meeting expectations for a luxury hotel.
Guest Experience Not Compromised
“The Talbott Hotel has been a venerable part of Chicago for 80 years and we are doing all we can to be a responsible member of the community for 80 more,” said general manager Troy Strand. “We have been very diligent to ensure the guest experience is not detracted from, but only heightened as a result of our efficiency.”
In order to be Green Seal certified, the hotel must adhere to stringent guidelines set out by Green Seal, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that provides environmental certification standards. Operationally, the hotel staff has established and maintains recycling programs, uses recyclable consumer paper products, uses non-phosphate and biodegradable supplies, ensures guestroom amenities such as soaps and shampoo are the smallest practical size and even donates the partially used amenities to a charity that recycles them for the needy. Other technical components include installing energy efficient equipment and lighting, water conserving fixtures and automatic sensors for lighting and AC/heating in low traffic areas.
The Talbott’s green initiative lets guests decide whether or not they’d like to join the effort by activating the “eco-mode” on specially designed thermostats in their rooms. The simple one-touch button alerts the staff, through a wireless network, that the guest has chosen to have the bed and bath linens replaced every other day. It also allows the room temperature to adjust within 8 degrees while guests are out of the room. To reward guests’ responsible practices and illustrate that it is indeed a partnership between the two, The Talbott purchases a one-month carbon offset for each guest to erase their electrical carbon footprint at home, continuing their green participation long after they check out.
In addition to the operational enhancements and guest participation, The Talbott continues to set the standard of social and eco-responsibility within the hospitality industry by purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100 percent of the property’s carbon footprint. “As evidenced by our service and other operational areas, we put 110 percent into everything we do,” added Strand. “We are fully committed to the sustainability of our city and are thrilled we have been recognized for doing so.”
Go to The Talbott.
