I spoke with Tom Rand for an article on his new Toronto-based Planet Traveler hostel this past week and am convinced our industry needs more outspoken entrepreneurs like him. Rand and his co-developer on the three-story, 114-bed project, Anthony Aarts, have incorporated geothermal, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, and heat capture technologies in their project. (See article.) Planet Traveler was previously an abandoned building in downtown Toronto before it was converted into a low-carbon hostel. The developers’ goal was to reduce Planet Traveler’s carbon emissions—when compared to a similar “non green” building its size—by 75 percent. This is substantially beyond what is required to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification. They were successful in reaching their goal.
Hitting the 75 percent carbon emission reduction target cost the developers $200,000—not too bad for a $4 million building. In fact the building will be so efficient that the dollars the energy savings will bring will outweigh the loan payment on the $200,000. In other words, they will be making money from day one on their renewable energy investment.
One of the phrases mentioned often when referring to green hotels is “low hanging fruit.” What is usually meant by that is those items or action steps that can be implemented in a hotel to reduce waste, and energy and water consumption at minimal cost. Falling into this category: compact fluorescents, towel and linen reuse programs, faucet aerators, etc. Rand believes geothermal, solar thermal and the other technologies he is using in his hostel are all low hanging fruit.
Strong Words Regarding LEED
“You can lower carbon and lower it 75 percent easily,” Rand says. “It has turned out that you can do it profitably.” For those in our industry who believe LEED provides the best guidelines for green building, Rand has some strong words. “I am not interested in LEED,” he says. “It is a dangerous distraction. I am showing you can hit the 75 percent mark easily without pursuing LEED. [LEED] does not go far enough when it comes to energy.” Rand adds: “If a building is not reducing carbon 50 percent to 75 percent, it’s greenwash.”
I love Rand’s enthusiasm and hope he gets invited to speak at conferences in our industry. We do need to reach higher when it comes to green building. The technology exists to make much larger buildings as efficient as the Planet Traveler. Rand calls the “work horse” of his building the geothermal heating and cooling system. To complete the hostel’s system, eight 400-foot holes were drilled and a mile of pipe was installed in a tight-fitting space (a laneway) adjacent to the building. If Rand and Aarts can pull off installing a geothermal system in an alley, any hotel developer should be able to find the space for the technology. Why do most developers in our industry ignore geothermal?
I am a strong supporter of LEED and other certification programs. I believe they are good for our industry and go a long way in reducing energy consumption and related emissions. By no means, however, should we totally depend on the U.S. Green Building Council and others like it to determine what is possible or impossible. To the Tom Rands of the world, here’s to ya!
See You in New York?
I will be attending the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show in New York City. The event will be held from November 13 to 16 at the Javits Center. If you plan to attend or exhibit at the show, be sure to let me know. Approximately 700 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees are expected.
Off the show floor, seminars will address everything from adapting to new consumer attitudes and online customer interaction, to powering up profits and developing winning sales strategies. Be sure to catch “Green Certified Demystified” on Sunday, November 14, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., featuring AH&LA green consultant Pat Maher. This program will address the process and criteria for the top green certification programs, including LEED, Energy Star and Green Key Global.
For more information about the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show, click here.
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