WASHINGTON, D.C.—Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City has been awarded Gold Certification by Green Seal, a premier environmental organization and the original “Green Seal of Approval,” under its GS-33 Environmental Leadership Standard for Lodging Properties.
In receiving this recognition, Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City becomes just the second hotel in California to achieve Gold level certification and only the fifth hotel nationwide. Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City was first certified by Green Seal in 2010.
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is one of the hotels in the LA Green Lodging program, a partnership between the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation, The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and Green Seal.
As a Gold certified property, Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City has met the highest levels of criteria under the GS-33 Standard for Lodgings and is recognized as a property that is raising the bar of leadership and practicing the top levels of sustainability.
Beyond the Core Requirements
In addition to meeting the core requirements of GS-33 (which include addressing waste minimization, reuse, and recycling; practicing energy efficiency and conservation; properly managing fresh water resources and waste water; safely handling hazardous substances and creating an environmentally sensitive purchasing policy) Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City has satisfied additional criteria enabling it to achieve Gold level certification.
The requirements for Gold level certification include achieving all requirements of the Silver level of certification and then:
• Having a plan in place for continuous improvement.
• Setting policies and procedures for energy reduction goals, including specific measurements and monitoring of energy use over time. To support these goals Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City utilizes LightStay, a Hilton Corp. proprietary system to measure, analyze, and report sustainability data.
• Putting in place a plan for effective management of resource use. This includes tracking energy and potable water consumption and waste collected for disposal/incineration and recycling.
• Monitoring water use and using EPA WaterSense fixtures and procedures, and providing evidence and documentation of metering and monitoring water consumption.
“Because of the demands of guests for safer, more sustainable lodging options, and due to a commitment of caring for guests and staff, hotels have truly been at the forefront of adopting practices that are more environmentally favorable and better for human health and safety,” says Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D., President and CEO of Green Seal. “It is from this dedication that some properties, such as Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, have taken their leadership mantle to a totally different level and now stand as prime examples of what true customer care and a devotion to quality should be.”
“We’ve come a long way since we first partnered with Green Seal back in 2009; without a doubt a period of learning, implementing, developing accountability and being persistent with our oversight,” says Stanley Rodriguez, Procurement-Sustainability & Special Projects Manager at Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City. “Having achieved Gold level certification is the result of the efforts and dedication from the entire hotel team. It fuels our passion and reinforces our commitment to continue improving our environmentally safe and sustainable business practices for years to come.”
For more information about Green Seal’s GS-33 Environmental Leadership Standard for Lodging Properties, as well as for information on other standards and the certification process, click here. Also go to the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City.
