WARRENTON, VA.—Airlie Conference Center has received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for its Pavilion. This significant milestone emphasizes a 50-plus year commitment to environmental initiatives that is central throughout all of Airlie’s operations.LEED certification is an internationally recognized mark of excellence developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. It provides independent, third-party verification that a building has been designed and built using strategies in order to achieve high performance in key areas of human and environmental health. Such areas include sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental air quality.The...

BOULDER, COLO.—As part of the effort to cut costs in the global recession, many commercial building owners and managers have installed building energy management systems (BEMS) to reduce energy use and operating expenses. While these new systems can provide significant efficiency gains, their sophistication can be beyond the capabilities and resource levels of a building’s operating or maintenance staff. Consequently, smart building managed services are growing in demand and popularity as a means of solving these and other building energy management market issues. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, worldwide spending...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM—Rezidor, a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has launched a group-wide energy-saving initiative called Think Planet that targets an energy consumption reduction of 25 percent by the year 2016 in all Rezidor hotels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The group is currently present in 70 countries where 330+ hotels of the brands Radisson Blu, Park Inn by Radisson and Hotel Missoni are operated, and 100 additional properties are under development.“Think Planet reinforces Rezidor’s position as one of the industry leaders in terms of sustainability,” said Inge Huijbrechts, director Responsible Business at Rezidor. “Many of...

NATIONAL REPORT—On Wednesday, September 19, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (EDT), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership (GPP) will host a webinar on “Addressing Barriers to Renewable Energy Procurement.” The use of clean energy is a key component of many organizations’ sustainability goals. However, the process of procuring renewable energy at a meaningful scale has proven to be difficult for corporations. This webinar will examine some of the common challenges including market access, deal terms, and risk management requirements that companies have encountered when trying to source clean energy for facilities or power portfolios, and present...

NEW YORK—New York City-based hoteliers looking to find a home for items ranging from furniture to unopened amenities can use the services of NYC WasteMatch. Created and funded by the NYC Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse & Recycling, WasteMatch facilitates the exchange of used and surplus goods with the approximately 4,000 nonprofits and businesses in NYC. For hotels there are many benefits: reduced waste hauling costs, reduced tax burden, increased green standing in the NYC community, and knowing that their efforts are having a positive impact on the environment.Adanna Roberts, NYC WasteMatch program manager, says WasteMatch...

NATIONAL REPORT—The NEWH Sustainable Hospitality Committee announced its Green Voice Webinar Series for September 26 & 27. On September 26 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. the topic will be, “Meta-Trends in Sustainability—Shaping Our Future.” On September 27 the topics will include: “Water: Beyond High Efficiency Fixtures,” 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.; “2030 Challenge for Products,” 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and “Implementing Change,” 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.“We are excited to offer our first of many Sustainable Webinars that are both a cost- and time-effective way to learn about the future of sustainability,” says Dina Belon, NEWH vice-president...

SAN DIEGO—The Department of Energy last week showcased the Marriott La Jolla, owned and operated by HEI Hotels & Resorts, during a tour of the facilities of its Better Buildings Challenge participants. As part of a three-day tour in California of participant facilities, the Department of Energy recognized and highlighted the energy-efficient and energy-saving practices and technologies implemented by the Marriott La Jolla.President Obama selected HEI Hotels & Resorts to participate in the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge in 2011, and as part of the initiative, HEI commits to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020. All...

DENHAM, U.K.—IHG has launched the IHG Corporate Responsibility (CR) Innovation Fund, an initiative that aims to identify and invest in partners innovating environmental and societal solutions that might positively impact the hotel industry.According to IHG, it is committed to improving the environmental sustainability of its operations around the world and having a positive impact on the local community, in turn, driving economic opportunity in and around its hotels. IHG’s Corporate Responsibility strategy is based on innovation, collaboration, environment and community and the IHG CR Innovation Fund is a pioneering program by IHG to bring these together.As part of the...

AVALON, N.J.—Anyone walking by the Concord Suites at street level would have no idea there is a 434-panel, 104 kW solar system on the property’s rooftop. The panels lie flat on the roof to take full advantage of the sun that shines down on the 90-suite hotel in Avalon, N.J. Since the $500,000 system was turned on late last December, it has performed great and with no problems, says Susan Cawley, general manager. In fact, from its turn-on date through June 30 of this year, the system generated all of the electricity the hotel needed. The expectation is that...

BETHESDA, MD.—Marriott International, Inc. recently released its second full comprehensive Sustainability Report, using guidelines set forth by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). In it, Marriott announced $2.5 million invested in its environmental portfolio over the past three years, and significant contributions to workforce development for disadvantaged youth around the world to help them gain skills and jobs. Through a global portfolio of partnerships called “World of Opportunity,” Marriott has been a catalyst for addressing rising youth unemployment with programs such as the Youth Career Initiative (YCI) in nine countries, SOS Children’s Villages and The Prince’s Trust in 24 European...