Names: Kate Wilson Title: Senior Director of Sustainability Company: Vail Resorts Years with Vail Resorts: Almost three years Primary Responsibility: “I am lucky to run Commitment to Zero. We own and operate 37 resorts globally. We made a bold sustainability commitment to have a zero-net impact by 2030. I work on the strategy and implement these goals.” Organization’s most significant accomplishment in global corporate responsibility: “We reached our 50 percent waste diversion goal nine months ahead of schedule.” Organization’s most significant challenge moving forward in global corporate responsibility: “Waste is still a huge challenge for us because of where these resorts are located. Two towns...

SINGAPORE—Ascott Residence Trust (ART) has obtained a S$50 million five-year green loan from DBS Bank Ltd (DBS), making ART the first hospitality trust in Singapore to secure a green loan. Proceeds from the green loan will be used to finance ART’s maiden development project and coliving property, lyf one-north Singapore. lyf one-north Singapore is one of ART’s 15 properties that attained green certifications in 2020, bringing the total number of ART’s green properties to 21. This is about four times more green-certified properties compared to 2019. lyf one-north Singapore achieved the Green Mark GoldPLUS award by Building and Construction Authority...

SportsArt Clean Energy Fitness Solutions As the green fitness company, SportsArt believes movement is energy and that our human energy can make the planet more sustainable—one workout at a time. Our mission is to create superior fitness equipment that helps people find their best selves while being as environmentally friendly as possible. The heart of SportsArt’s brand comes together in our ECO-POWRTM line of cardio equipment that captures 74% of the energy generated during a workout and feeds it back into the facility’s grid, offsetting consumption and providing meaningfulness to guests’ workouts. Call (425) 481-6250, or e-mail info@gosportsart.com for more information. SportsArt...

To lead a more sustainable lifestyle is quickly becoming a pledge on the top of everybody’s bucket list. The year 2020 has been freighting for many reasons, especially due to the alarming facts related to climate change and the environment. This last decade was the hottest on record and these climbing temperatures show no signs of slowing down. Therefore, we must make a conscious decision to protect the environment we live in and lead more sustainable lifestyles. Here are three ways that you can do so. Use Renewable Energy Renewable energy, also known as green energy, can come from many...

HOUSTON—Texans’ daily schedules and electricity needs changed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and customers now rely on their electricity providers more than ever and need even greater flexibility and personalization. That is why in 2021, Reliant is once again empowering customers to “Pick Your Free.” In addition to offering the popular Reliant Truly Free Weekends and Truly Free Nights, the company is introducing its newest plan that provides flexibility every week for schedules that are ever-changing with “Reliant Truly Free Flex Days.” “We put customers at the center of all that we do and are committed to meeting...

LAS VEGAS—Las Vegas Sands has again been recognized by global environmental nonprofit CDP, on its Climate and Water A Lists. This marks the sixth consecutive year the company has appeared on the Climate A List, and the third straight appearance on the Water A List. Being named to the Climate A List highlights the company’s work towards cutting emissions, mitigating climate risks and building Integrated Resorts responsibly, while the Water A List designation recognizes Sands’ accomplishments in promoting water efficiency and conservation. Sands is one of only 64 companies to be named to both the Climate and Water A Lists. “Our...

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.—Zen Ecosystems’ Zen Air was recognized as the winner of Best Innovation in Energy Efficiency by the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC). The Zen Air product and initial software applications offer immediate energy savings of up to 30 percent. “These people, projects and programs represent the best in residential, industrial, commercial and government efficiency and demand response in Australia. We at the EEC are always excited to be recognizing world-class energy efficiency projects through the National Energy Efficiency Awards,” said Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council. Zen Air, launched in August of 2019, turns a compatible smartphone into...

LIBERTYVILLE, ILL.—Despite a global pandemic, EVBox has reached another milestone of its base of installed charge ports. In November 2019, the charging solutions provider announced that it had installed 100,000 charge ports worldwide and marked this turning point by setting up the OneChargerOneTree initiative with a pledge to plant one tree for every new charge port placed. Since then, 100,000 trees have been planted, and a total of 200,000 charge ports have been placed. At the end of last year, EVBox Group announced plans to become a public company via a business combination with TPG Pace Beneficial Finance, and is expected...

BALTIMORE, MD.—SOL VISTA, the leading provider of cross-brand, hotel energy analytics and benchmarking services, announced a new partnership with EcoGreen Energy Solutions, a provider of energy-efficient lighting, energy management systems, and on-site services. The partnership brings SOL VISTA’s Skywalk platform to EcoGreen’s efficiency efforts and provides advanced analytics to EcoGreen’s customers. With the continued concerns facing commercial real estate and hospitality industries stemming from COVID-19, businesses are looking to reduce utility and operating costs. These cost reductions require a comprehensive approach including adjusting operations, procuring cheaper energy, retrofitting onsite equipment, as well as advanced data analytics designed to help those businesses find the most energy-...

In next week’s column I will be highlighting the 10 most read Green Lodging News articles of 2020. It will be interesting to see how many had to do with COVID-19. While the article I just posted on Hotel Marcel may not make it because of its posting late in the year, it certainly deserves consideration as one of the most important hotel stories of both this year and 2021. Be sure to read the article. Hotel Marcel is the project of architect Bruce Becker, Founder and Director of Becker + Becker, Westport, Conn. Becker purchased the New Haven, Conn. building...