GARDEN GROVE, CALIF.—Hyatt Regency Orange County, a recently renovated hotel near the Disneyland Park, includes “green thumb” on its list of eco-friendly hotel initiatives. High above the hotel’s 653 guestrooms and 65,000 square feet of meeting space rests an organic garden on the 17th story rooftop. Fresh-picked garden bounty, including basil, thyme, Italian parsley, tomatoes and sweet peppers, is used in many of the gourmet dishes served at TusCA, the hotel’s signature Italian restaurant. “We are proud to offer a unique experience for our guests by providing fresh, organic herbs picked daily for the TusCA restaurant right from our own rooftop garden,” says Sayed Moalemi, executive chef at Hyatt Regency Orange County. “Not only is it a great conversation piece for diners, but also eco-conscious, efficient and convenient for our restaurant.”
In addition to the rooftop garden, Hyatt Regency Orange County recently announced its membership in the California Green Lodging Program, and its rating as a 4-Key hotel by the Green Key Eco-Rating Program. The 4-Key rating defines a hotel that has shown national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through wide ranging policies and practices. Hyatt Regency Orange County was also recently the only hotel in Southern California accepted into California’s Continuous Energy Improvement Project. The project was designed by Southern California Edison (SCE) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) to help qualifying customers implement strategic and ongoing energy management practices.
Other conservation efforts at Hyatt Regency Orange County include installing tinted windows in 2010 to 30,000 square feet of glass in the atrium lobby to reduce solar heat load by 63 percent, participation in Southern California Edison’s Demand Bidding Program to reduce energy consumption, automated lights and air-conditioning, compact fluorescent lights in guestrooms, and T8 fluorescent bulbs in hotel offices and service areas. The hotel’s Green Team committee meets regularly to ensure that Hyatt Regency Orange County is fulfilling its duties as a model green hotel by reducing waste and conserving energy to the fullest of its ability. As of May 2011, Hyatt Regency Orange County had recycled 53,594 pounds of materials. The hotel recycled more than 128,000 pounds of reusable materials in 2010.
Hyatt Regency Orange County also makes it easy for guests to be eco-friendly. Recycling bins are provided in all guestrooms and public spaces throughout the hotel, and guests staying at least three nights can opt to have their linens and towels changed every three days. Additionally, guestrooms are equipped with environmentally friendly low-flow toilets, showerheads, faucets, and a digital thermostat set to seasonal temperatures.
Go to the Hyatt Regency Orange County.
