Third-party certifications provide assurance that a product, process or service conforms to specified requirements. These pledges ensure transparency and accountability to sustainable principles. Recently, I participated in the semi-annual NEWH Leadership Conference in San Diego. From observations and conversations, it is clear that there is both a desire to better understand green principles and a need for more education around the value of certifications. Using green standards as guidelines will help in creating a more sustainable and more cost-effective design process. Typically, standard development follows a consensus process. In the green arena, sound science and existing knowledge provide decision-making tools that...

Retro-commissioning (retro Cx) is a building tune-up and more that can decrease the energy consumption of your building while potentially increasing indoor air quality, employee productivity and property value. It’s more than an energy audit because it doesn’t just simply tell you something is wrong; it tells you exactly what is wrong and what should be done. The right commissioning provider can show you ways to enhance your system beyond its original design intent. Commissioning is a quality process that is used during new construction and renovations. Retro-commissioning is a similar quality process done post-construction, whether it’s one or 10...

Hotel operators have long known the value of incorporating green practices into their operations. As more hotels begin to make claims about their green policies, however, some hotel operators have begun to seek certification to add a level of credibility only possible through a reputable third-party verifier. While programs specialized for hotel operations such as Green Seal have the benefit of being customized for hotels, the LEED for Existing Buildings certification has an advantage of being internationally recognized across all industries and buildings types. The LEED rating system was initially created by the US Green Building Council to certify new...

Dubai has become an unlikely oasis for the world’s design and construction industries. One of the seven United Arab Emirates, Dubai is situated in a desert where the temperatures commonly soar past 100 degrees and the humidity is not far behind. Until recently, concrete has been the building material of choice. It doesn’t sound like a picture postcard playground but, as they say, that was then, this is now. Today, Dubai boasts the largest construction growth in the world, escalating at a rate of 35 percent a year. The landscape includes such worldwide distinctions as the two tallest hotels (Burj...

By going green from the ground up with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) construction, hotel owners and operators have the potential to increase their properties’ customer base and provide a good return on investment. One property of such construction is the Best Western Burlington Inn in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, built in 2003. The three-story, 59-room hotel includes conference rooms and an indoor pool area, yet its utility costs are similar to a nearby hotel with fewer rooms and no indoor pool space. Owner Amrat Patel estimates that his hotel has been able to save nearly 20 percent of annual utility costs...

The U.S. Travel Data Center estimates that 43 million U.S. travelers are “ecologically concerned,” and AAA has found that 34 percent of their travelers want a green hotel; one that implements water conservation, recycles, and has a water-wise landscaping program. With these numbers growing, building green lodging is quickly becoming essential for those in the hospitality industry to stay competitive. Green building encompasses energy efficiency, recyclable materials, renewable resources and materials, low impact on the environment with a minimal waste stream, and good indoor air quality (IAQ). While there are a number of aspects to consider when building green, indoor...

As sustainable business practices continue to become the norm, pressure is building in many industries where natural resource consumption is high, and where technology has created viable alternative options. There are few such areas where this is more evident than in the direct mail industry. According to a study earlier this year by The Winterberry Group, direct mail spending in the United States totaled $58.4 billion in 2007. A staple of direct marketing for decades, hoteliers and other hospitality industry businesses rely on direct mail marketing to reach both prospects and existing customers alike, and to keep a funnel...

At a time of rising energy costs and widespread concern about the effects of climate change, a number of state and local governments across the country are taking bold steps to adopt policies that leverage the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star tools for improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Much of this legislation requires the public disclosure of commercial building energy performance, a growing trend that is expected to increase in the near future. As the drive toward disclosure continues, demand will increase for properties that can demonstrate that they are measuring, tracking, and improving their energy performance. Hotel owners...

Now is definitely a time of economic uncertainty, or at least that is how many people feel. I believe that although the current economic climate may seem uncertain, there are so many things you as a hotelier or a CVB can do to influence the consumers who are still traveling to your area. And if you are a green or environmentally friendly establishment, you have even more opportunities to tout your green credentials in the right way to consumers who really care. I’m going to make this a two-part series since there are so many strategies and tactics you...

Can older hotels become energy efficient in a simple and cost-effective way? Yes, and it starts in the guestroom with some easily installed equipment that has a fast payback. Using the guestroom keycard to send the room into occupied or unoccupied mode gives the guest the control they expect, while saving properties money in empty rooms. There are a number of ways a 15- or 20-year-old hotel can see increases in the bottom line without major renovations or loss of available room nights. We all know that simple fixes like changing a light bulb can have a noticeable decrease in...