DALLAS—Motel 6’s newest property in Northlake, Texas, is the first economy hotel in the nation to attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the first hotel for parent company Accor to gain the distinction.
“With the brand’s ‘Phoenix’ prototype, we are setting the pace for the future of Motel 6, which, in line with our values, must be as energy-efficient as possible,” said Olivier Poirot, CEO of Accor North America, Motel 6 and Studio 6. “LEED’s high environmental standards lend a great deal of credence to our efforts, and we look forward to continuing on the path to greater sustainable practices in the future.”
According to the USGBC, LEED certification provides “third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.”
Advanced Energy Efficiency Features
Opened in October 2009, Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway adheres to Accor North America’s ongoing sustainable initiatives like the use of technologically-advanced heating and cooling systems, fluorescent light bulb and battery recycling program and water conservation measures, and also includes advanced energy efficiency features that further reduce its energy consumption compared to existing Motel 6 properties. Some of these advanced environmentally-friendly measures include:
• Energy efficiency—Thermal solar water heating; reflective cool roof; low e-glass tinted windows; low-energy lighting (compact fluorescent and LED); high-efficiency PTAC units with wireless occupancy-sensing thermostats; high-efficiency laundry equipment with computer-controlled dryers; environmentally sensitive laundry and cleaning products; and property designed to get minimal western sun exposure to keep the building cooler in hotter months.
• Water conservation—Native landscaping with water-efficient and drought-resistant plants; high-tech irrigation control; guestroom low-flow 1.1-gallon pressurized toilets; 0.5-gallon aerators in all sinks; and 1.75 gallon per minute showerheads.
• Building materials & recycling—Wood-effect flooring made of 80 percent pre-consumer recycled material which is longer-lasting and requires no vacuuming or steam-cleaning; use of certified sustainable lumber for construction; low-emitting construction material; and waste recycling during construction.
Since its introduction in March 2008, the award-winning Motel 6 “Phoenix” room design has been incorporated into more than 70 of Motel 6’s existing corporate-owned and franchised locations in more than 20 U.S. markets. Guestroom features include a modern, Euro-chic design by Priestmangoode of London, 32” flat-screen TVs, wood-effect flooring, granite bathroom countertops, and a comfortable settee area conducive for eating, working, or watching TV. The design won Travel + Leisure magazine’s 2010 Design Award for “Best Large Hotel.”
Go to the Motel 6 Northlake-Speedway.
