VILNIUS, LITHUANIA—KPMG recently released a report on “How AI is helping to improve energy efficiency and management in real estate.” It says that traditional retrofits are too slow and costly to deliver the scale of cuts required to reach net-zero goals of 2050 and instead points out that artificial intelligence is a faster route, but only together with the Strategic Energy Management (SEM) framework. Exergio, a company that developed an AI-based tool for energy efficiency in commercial buildings, says that findings reflect what is already visible in real-world cases. “AI is already helping buildings cut waste by 20 to 30 percent in...

In the hospitality industry, uptime is everything. From small inns to sprawling Vegas hotels, an unexpected power outage can result in lost revenue, frustrated guests, and reputational damage. These concerns explain why so many hotels across the United States install onsite generators to provide backup power. In the event of a grid failure, these tried and trusted pieces of equipment come online within seconds, keeping the lights on and ensuring operational continuity. Because backup generators operate under different conditions than primary equipment, they must maintain peak readiness while spending most of their time on standby. Therefore, it’s important to know what...

SAN DIEGO—The Holiday Inn Express San Diego South—Chula Vista is a contemporary 3-star hotel with 88 spacious guestrooms across four floors. The property offers easy access to downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego Zoo, beaches, and the Convention Center—making it a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers. Amenities include a year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, fitness center, business facilities, and free parking. Competing in one of the nation’s most demanding hospitality markets, the hotel is constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and service. To meet these challenges, General Manager Victor M. Carrera recently introduced...

MONTREAL—INNhotels and SOFIAC are joining forces to launch an ambitious decarbonization project spanning the family-owned hotel chain’s eight properties across Alberta and British Columbia. This $5.9 million investment—fully financed by SOFIAC—will reduce the hotels’ energy consumption by nearly 30 percent while delivering long-term improvements to guest comfort. Now led by the second generation, INNhotels is on a mission to inspire travelers to embrace responsible tourism. The company was eager to put its decarbonization plan into action but also needed to prioritize other strategic investments to sustain its growth. With its unique financing model—with no impact on debt ratios—and tailored support, SOFIAC...

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA—KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has played a key role in supporting Cape Town’s Hotel Verde—widely recognized as Africa’s greenest hotel—with innovative elevator technology that contributes to significant energy savings and environmental performance. Installed as part of the hotel’s original development, KONE’s solutions have helped Hotel Verde become one of the few hotels worldwide to achieve LEED Platinum certification for both design and operation, as well as earn a 6-star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa. KONE equipped the hotel with three MonoSpace elevators powered by the KONE regenerative drive system, which recovers energy during elevator use...

“We now live on a planet where the cheapest way to produce energy is to point a sheet of glass at the sun. This isn’t ‘alternative energy’ anymore—it’s the common sense obvious path.”—Bill Mckibben Let’s hear it for the sun. It will get “star” treatment on September 21—Sun Day. And yes, even though there are still those who categorize solar as “stupidity,” it is a proven clean, affordable technology that has been embraced around the U.S. and the world for a long time—much more so in recent years. One need look no further than a report from the U.S. Federal Energy...

WAUSAU, WIS.—Kolbe Windows & Doors officially launched its latest performance glass solutions, integrating vacuum insulating glass (VIG) options from LuxWall, Inc. into selected window and door products. This milestone reinforces Kolbe’s commitment to delivering high-performance, energy-efficient solutions to the market. “Innovative and adaptable solutions like the VIG from LuxWall reflect Kolbe’s ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance and design,” said Jeff De Lonay, President of Kolbe Windows & Doors. “Our partnership with LuxWall empowers architects and builders to meet energy goals while maintaining aesthetic and functional flexibility.” Unlike standard insulated glass units that use air, argon or krypton, VIG...

NATIONAL REPORT—The lodging industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation as sustainability becomes a top priority for businesses. Among the key innovations driving this trend is solar energy. Solar energy has reshaped the lodging industry by reducing the carbon footprint of hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfast establishments. Hotels and other lodging alternatives use substantial energy to serve their guests, from lighting spacious lobbies to providing temperature-controlled rooms to operating in-house restaurants. Solar energy offers a clean, renewable alternative to traditional energy that burns fuels and harms ecosystems. Solar panel systems harness sunlight efficiently to provide hotels with reliable, independent energy sources....

CAM RANH, VIETNAM—Thirty-hectare beachfront Alma Resort Cam Ranh is set to complete what it believes is Vietnam’s most profound hotel solar power project by the end of this year. Alma is currently installing 4,476 solar panels totaling 23,290 square meters on the roofs of its 196 pavilions, two V-shaped towers housing 384 suites, lobby lounge, and utility building. With a capacity of 2,462 kilowatts peak—the rate at which it generates energy at its peak performance on a sunny day—the solar power system will fuel between a quarter to almost 30 percent of Alma’s energy needs, depending on occupancy determined by the...

OSLO, NORWAY—Radisson Hotel Group announces the opening of Radisson RED Oslo City Centre, A Verified Net Zero Hotel. The hotel is one of the first two hotels globally to achieve Verified Net Zero status. The hotel offers 118 reimagined guestrooms, vibrant social spaces, flexible meeting facilities, and a playful twist on Scandinavian minimalism. Marking a major milestone in sustainable hospitality, the property reflects Radisson Hotel Group’s commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050, with the property already meeting the 2040 requirements of the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels—as verified by independent third party TÜV Rheinland. Fresh from a full transformation of the...