Almost every day I receive a request for the current list of LEED certified/registered hotels. I just put in a request to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the most recent list. Be sure to check back here for it soon. In the meantime, you may be interested in some recent news from USGBC in regard to the top 10 states for LEED certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita, based on the U.S. 2010 Census information. Keep in mind that this list includes more than hotels. The District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED certified space per person in 2011, with Colorado being the leading state, with 2.74 square feet per person in 2011. Other top states include Illinois, Virginia and Washington, with 2.69, 2.42 and 2.18 square feet of LEED certified space per person, respectively. These states are followed by Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, California, New York and Minnesota. One of the most notable newly certified projects in 2011 is the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C.

Other notable recently certified projects include the LEED Platinum Casey Middle School in Boulder, Colo.; the iconic Wrigley Building in Chicago; Frito-Lay in Lynchburg, Va., which earned LEED Gold for the operations and maintenance of an existing building; the LEED Silver Hard Rock Café in Seattle; Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Md.; Yawkey Distribution Center of The Greater Boston Food Bank in Mass.; the LEED Gold Austin Convention Center in Texas; SFO's LEED Gold Terminal 2 in San Francisco; the LEED Platinum Hotel Skyler in Syracuse, N.Y.; and the LEED Platinum Marquette Plaza in Minneapolis.

In December 2011, USGBC announced that LEED certified existing buildings outpaced their newly built counterparts by 15 million square feet on a cumulative basis. For the full list of LEED certified projects visit usgbc.org/press.

As detailed in my column this past week, I am in the process of collecting information for an article on amenity dispensers. My goal is to chat with as many vendors as possible and also get some input from those actually using the products. What have I learned so far? First of all, there is a lot of competition among vendors and not agreement by any means as far as what is the best dispenser for your property. As with anything else, you need to shop around and test, test, test. Do you purchase a dispenser that allows the guest to see the level of product remaining? Or, is a solid (opaque) exterior a more favorable option? What do you think? One of the leading vendors that has been around for years sells more translucent dispensers than opaque ones yet another vendor who has also been selling dispensers for almost as many years prefers opaque ones. (Translucent dispensers need to be filled more often to give the guest the impression that nobody else has used the dispenser.)

Different vendors offer different dispenser security mechanisms but as one vendor told me, there is no 100 percent tamper proof system. There is also nothing stopping someone from messing with the small amenity bottles, if they are really determined to do so. Some amenity dispensers are more eco-friendly than others in regard to their plastics or metal composition. One vendor told me that a major brand had just changed its dispenser standard and is going to require that a dispenser fluid insert be switched out after every guest. Kind of defeating the eco-friendliness of the dispenser, don't you think?

Used correctly, dispensers can eliminate a huge amount of waste and save a property lots of money. Do you just eliminate the amenity bottles and bar soap entirely? Many are saying that is not such a great idea--at least at first. A transition period away from the small bottles and soap may make sense. Or, some are just offering hand lotion and a bar of soap (or just a bar of soap) at the bathroom vanity, still giving the guest the impression that he is getting something to take home (while offering shampoo, conditioner, body wash in shower dispenser).

I never imagined there would be so many things to consider with dispensers. Be sure to watch for my article soon. And, if you have anything you would like to add about dispensers, leave your comments here or write to editor@greenlodgingnews.com.     

We have all seen nutrition labels on the food that we buy. Did you know that as of January 1 of this year there are also "nutrition" labels on standard-base LEDs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and incandescents? According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), the newly required information allows consumers to see key bulb characteristics to determine each bulb's brightness, longevity and efficiency. Regardless of where the light bulbs are sold--whether a home center, lighting showroom, supermarket or online--any general service bulb with a medium base is required to have the new label. It does not matter if the bulb is made in the United States or is imported from another country; the Lighting Facts label is mandatory. In a press release about the new label, ALA included a sample label from a CFL with the following information: Brightness, 870 lumens; Estimated Yearly Energy Cost $1.57 (based on 3 hours/day at 11 cents per kWh); Life 5.5 years; Energy Used 13 watts; and Contains Mercury.

ALA says labeling is critical with the other changes taking place this year--namely the transition away from higher wattage incandescents. Consumers familiar with lumens can compare and contrast bulb brightness easier thanks to the label. Martha Delgado, product marketing manager for Bulbrite, says, “Wattage was traditionally the best way to make your buying decisions when it came to selecting light bulbs in the past. However, now that more efficient bulbs can produce similar light levels while consuming less energy, the old theory that ‘The higher the wattage, the brighter the lamp’ isn’t true anymore.” To help consumers compare brightness from one bulb to the next, Delgado offers the following guide (watts are for incandescents; watts would be lower for CFLs, LEDs, etc., but lumens would be the same):

•    100 watts (listed on previous light bulb packages) = 1490-2600 lumens
•    75 watts = 1050-1489 lumens
•    60 watts = 750-1049 lumens
•    40 watts = 310-749 lumens
•    25 watts = 150-309 lumens.

“I tell people that the most important information is listed at the top, so while calories is usually the first thing people look at when buying food, brightness is the first piece of information they should consider when purchasing a bulb,” Delgado states.

In the lodging industry of course brightness is not the only consideration but color as well. For more information on lighting, visit the ALA's website and the Lighting section of Green Lodging News.

Echoing what has been found in other surveys it has done, "local" and "sustainable" will be the hot buzzwords in restaurants in 2012, according to the National Restaurant Association (NRA). The association surveyed nearly 1,800 professional chefs--all members of the American Culinary Federation--as part of its “What’s Hot in 2012” survey. The top 10 menu trends for this year will be: 1. Locally sourced meats and seafood; 2. Locally grown produce; 3. Healthful kids’ meals; 4. Hyper-local items; 5. Sustainability as a culinary theme; 6. Children’s nutrition as a culinary theme; 7. Gluten-free/food allergy-conscious items; 8. Locally produced wine and beer; 9. Sustainable seafood; and 10. Whole grain items in kids’ meals. “The top menu trends we’re seeing in our What’s Hot in 2012 survey reflect the macro-trends we have seen grow over the last several years,” said Joy Dubost, Ph.D, R.D., director of Nutrition & Healthy Living for the NRA.

“Local sourcing of everything--from meat and fish, to produce, to alcoholic beverages--is another big trend for 2012,” Dubost added. “Local farms and food producers have become an important source of ingredients for chefs and restaurateurs wishing to support the members of their business community and highlight seasonal ingredients on menus.”

It is great to see the interest in local foods continue. They are of course not only fresher but tend to be more nutritious as well. And, the carbon impact is less given the shorter transportation distance.

When asked whether the tableservice restaurant where they work has a garden, one-third said that it does, one in five said they don’t have space for a garden, and nearly half said they don’t have a garden and rely on suppliers for all their produce needs. The NRA surveyed 1,791 American Culinary Federation member chefs in October-November 2011, asking them to rate 223 individual food items, beverages, cuisines and culinary themes as a “hot trend,” “yesterday’s news,” or “perennial favorite” on restaurant menus in 2012. These and many other restaurant industry trends will be showcased at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, to be held on its new dates May 5 to 8 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Those who have been in our industry for a while are quite familiar with Starwood's success in putting its Westin name on products found in its Westin hotels. The Westin Heavenly Bed is one example that comes to mind. But have any hotel brands been successful in branding "green" products that are used in their hotels? I suspect there have been some hotel brands that have put their logo on amenities considered to be eco-friendly. I recently wrote an article on water dispensing/purification systems. Vendors offering these systems offer the opportunity to private label the purified water that is contained in their uniquely designed bottles. At an International Hotel/Motel + Restaurant Show a couple of years ago I remember a gentleman trying to sell organic chocolate that could be private labeled. I don't think he had much success. It seems to me there would be huge opportunity for hotel companies to put their label on eco-friendly items--mattresses, sheets, pillow cases, pillows, towels, duvets, T-shirts and yes, even chocolates.

I just posted a news article yesterday about Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and its introduction of its own Mövenpick Fairtrade Coffee. A great idea! According to the company, it expects to serve more than six million cups of its Mövenpick Fairtrade Coffee this year. “At Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts we are constantly adding new initiatives such as actively reducing our dependence on products made from fossil fuels and helping coffee farmers around the world secure a regular and steady income,” said Ola Ivarsson, the company’s COO for Europe. The introduction of the unique branded blend of Mövenpick Fairtrade Coffee is a first for the hotel company. The special blend is designed not just to tempt the palate with a combination of select Arabica and Robusta beans but also provide sustainable income for coffee farmers around the world. Coffee is vulnerable to extreme changes in market prices that can often lead to farmers being forced to deliver their harvested coffee beans at a loss. However, by partnering with the international nonprofit organization Fairtrade, prices are fixed to ensure guaranteed incomes and any profits are poured into beneficial community projects. Guests can enjoy a taste of this coffee for free when they reserve a “Winter Savings” package.

Are you familiar with other examples of "green" products being hotel company branded? I would love to hear from you. Leave your comments here or write to editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

The nonprofit group Ethical Traveler has announced its 2012 list of the Top 10 Ethical Destinations. Every year Ethical Traveler conducts a study of developing nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. The research team first identifies the best tourism destinations in the developing world. Next, using publicly available data, countries are rated in the areas of environmental protection, social welfare, and human rights. The 10 countries were chosen from a list of 30 finalists. This year's winners include: Argentina, The Bahamas, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Latvia, Mauritius, Palau, Serbia, and Uruguay. New on the list for 2012 were Serbia, Palau and the Bahamas. Ethical Traveler noted some surprises in 2012. According to Ethical Traveler executive director Jeff Greenwald, “The steady trend we’re seeing toward green practices and support for sustainable tourism—by governments and travelers alike—is a fantastic development, and shows a real coming-of-age in the international tourism community.”

Greenwald adds, “One thing that was interesting this year—and unfortunate—was that some otherwise excellent countries in Latin America and Africa didn’t make the list because of their draconian anti-gay laws.” Report co-author Natalie Lefevre says, “I hope that the countries that didn’t make it onto 2012 year’s list will feel motivated to work harder on their environmental, social and human rights records, so they might be reconsidered in 2013.”

In evaluating each country’s level of responsible environmental protection, Ethical Traveler looked at clear indicators of environmental health, preservation of resources, and cultivation of beneficial, sustainable practices. The main resource was the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) Environmental Performance Index (EPI), a joint initiative between the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Columbia University’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network. The index uses indicators focused on reducing environmental stresses on human health and promoting ecosystem vitality and sound natural resource management, allowing Ethical Traveler to measure the countries against 25 separate indicators of environmental responsibility.

Latin America countries continue to be top scorers in environmental protection. Costa Rica scored exceedingly high in the Environmental Policy Index (EPI), the only developing country—and indeed one of only three countries in the world—to make it into the top “100-85″ scorer category. Chile also scored high, particularly in sustainable fishery and forestry. Dominica is working on an impressive renewable energy policy, with plans to be carbon-negative by 2020.

Click here for more information on the Ethical Traveler study.

Should continuous improvement be a requirement for carrying on a green certification from one term to the next? What do you think? In the coming weeks I will be contacting the various national green lodging certification organizations to find out whether or not they require that a lodging establishment show progress or improvement prior to recertification. In other words, is doing what one has been doing during the first certification period good enough to be recertified? Or, should one have to elevate one's commitment to environmental practices--e.g., going beyond towel and linen programs, compact fluorescents, etc.--prior to recertification? At the moment I am not sure where all of the organizations stand on this but I intend to find out.

On my list to contact: Green Seal, Energy Star, Green Key, Green Globe, Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program, EcoRooms & EcoSuites, Green Suites Certified Green Hotel Program, Sustainable Travel International, and the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system.

When pursuing recertification I believe lodging establishments should be required to do more then the first time around and then be honored for their continuous improvement. Why should things be different the second or third time around? There are several important reasons. Motivation is one. How do you keep your staff motivated if you tell them that next year all they have to do is match the goals they reached this year? Raising the bar is also good for the environment and your bottom line. Instead of reducing energy consumption by 20 percent, why not 30 percent? Instead of being satisfied with eliminating Styrofoam from your breakfast area, why not eliminate all non-compostables? Technology and products are also constantly changing. Should a hotel be held to a standard for energy consumption in a CFL world when an LED world will change how achievement is measured?

Just as lodging establishments should be held to a higher standard once they recertify, so too should the certification programs themselves be held to a higher standard every year or at least every two years. I would argue that if a certification program is not evolving it does not deserve your business. Watch Green Lodging News for the results of my research and be sure to leave any of your comments here.

As an increasing number of hotels implement renewable energy technologies (see our list here), so too is the United States as a country. According to the most recent issue of the "Monthly Energy Review" by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through September 30, 2011, renewable energy sources continue to expand rapidly while substantially outpacing the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power. For the first nine months of 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, wind) provided 11.95 percent of domestic U.S. energy production. That compares to 10.85 percent for the same period in 2010 and 10.33 percent in 2009. While growth in renewable energy over the past couple of years may appear small, it is significant. Nuclear power provided just 10.62 percent of the nation's energy production in the first three quarters of 2011--11.10 percent less than renewables.

Looking at all energy sectors (e.g., electricity, transportation, thermal), renewable energy output, including hydropower, grew by 14.44 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. Among the renewable energy sources, conventional hydropower provided 4.35 percent of domestic energy production during the first nine months of 2011, followed by biomass (3.15 percent), biofuels (2.57 percent), wind (1.45 percent), geothermal (0.29 percent), and solar (0.15 percent). (On the consumption side, which includes oil and other energy imports, renewable sources accounted for 9.35 percent of total U.S. energy use during the first nine months of 2011.)

Looking at just the electricity sector, according to the latest issue of EIA’s "Electric Power Monthly," with data through September 30, 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, water wind) provided 12.73 percent of net U.S. electrical generation. This represents an increase of 24.73 percent compared to the same nine-month period in 2010. By comparison, electrical generation from coal dropped by 4.2 percent while nuclear output declined by 2.8 percent. Natural gas electrical generation rose by 1.6 percent. Conventional hydropower accounted for 8.21 percent of net electrical generation during the first nine months of 2011--an increase of 29.6 percent compared to 2010. Non-hydro renewables accounted for 4.52 percent of net electrical generation (wind--2.73 percent, biomass--1.34 percent, geothermal--0.40 percent, solar--0.05 percent). Compared to the first three quarters of 2010, solar-generated electricity expanded in 2011 by 46.5 percent; wind by 27.1 percent, geothermal by 9.4 percent, and biomass by 1.3 percent.

It is encouraging to see our nation transition more toward renewable energy, albeit slowly. Are you currently considering solar (for electricity or water heating), wind, or geothermal for your property? I would love to hear from you. I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. You may also leave your comments here.

The 2012 event season will soon begin. Many of our industry's conferences and trade shows will either focus entirely on "green" or at least offer some educational sessions with a focus on sustainability. Be sure to visit our Events calendar on a frequent basis to stay up to date on 2012 meeting opportunities. So far the dates for any green lodging conferences have not been announced. Will the West Coast Green Lodging conference in South Lake Tahoe return in 2012? Attendance was down at 2011's event. What about the Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando? Attendance was pretty strong at this year's conference. The GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference will be held in Montreal this year from April 22 to 25. I am planning to attend this event. The selection of speakers is always very strong at this event.

This year's Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles next month will not have a single session focused on green building or operations. Disappointing. In March the Hotel Association of Canada's conference will feature David Suzuki as a speaker. He is founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, an organization whose mission is to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for the future. Also in March is the High Performance Building Conference in San Diego. In early May the NRA Show in Chicago will feature a Conserve Solutions Center, a Specialty Pavilion that showcases sustainability-related products and services. Also in May, the annual HD Expo & Conference will bring back its Green Day with its focus on sustainable hospitality design.

Greenbuild in 2012 will be held in November in San Francisco. The event will immediately follow the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show in New York that always has at least a couple of green-focused seminars. If you are aware of an industry event that is either green-focused or has at least one green-related session, please be sure to e-mail me at editor@greenlodgingnews.com or call (440) 243-2055. Have a safe and productive 2012 travel year.     

The knuckleheads in Washington are at it again. This time a deal was made last week as part of a massive spending deal to delay enforcement of the phase-out of 100-watt incandescents. A law was supposed to go into effect on January 1 that would ensure enforcement of the law originally signed in 2007 by President George W. Bush. What planet are some of these lawmakers living on? Ignoring the fact that millions of thrifty Americans--and most businesses in our industry--have already embraced incandescent alternatives, lawmakers delayed enforcement of the light bulb law until at least next fall. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, called the light-bulb provision "an early Christmas present for all Americans" and said it strikes a blow against expensive fluorescents that he said are not as reliable as the old-style incandescents.

Where exactly is Mr. Barton shopping? Compact fluorescents (CFLs) are certainly not expensive where I live. "This means Americans can continue to flip the switch on an affordable and reliable product, instead of turning to one that costs five times more and may not live up to manufacturers' promises," said Barton. Again, where is this guy shopping and has he really looked into the quality of CFLs on the market today? What will this guy do when inexpensive, quality LEDs hit the market?

A group representing light bulb manufacturers spoke out against the delay, which applies only to 100-watt bulbs. Tighter standards for 75-watt bulbs take effect in 2013, and lower wattage bulbs must be more efficient by 2014. "American manufacturers have invested millions of dollars in energy-efficient light bulbs," said Joseph Higbee, a spokesman for the National Electric Manufacturers Association, which represents 95 percent U.S. light bulb makers. Delaying enforcement of the standards "undermines those investments and creates regulatory uncertainty and consumer confusion," he said, adding that a lack of federal enforcement "allows bad actors to sell noncompliant products" to consumers who may be unable to tell the difference between an energy-efficient bulb and one that isn't.

Don't our lawmakers have something better to do with their time than delay implementation of a technology that is not only already here but on the verge of being replaced by LEDs? Some knuckleheads just don't get it, do they?