WASHINGTON, D.C.—LEED-certified existing buildings are outpacing their newly built counterparts, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). As of last month, square footage of LEED-certified existing buildings surpassed LEED-certified new construction by 15 million square feet on a cumulative basis. “The U.S. is home to more than 60 billion square feet of existing commercial buildings, and we know that most of those buildings are energy guzzlers and water sieves,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Greening these buildings takes hands-on work, creating precious jobs especially for construction workers. Making these existing buildings energy and water efficient...

NEW YORK—ECPAT-USA recently announced that Wyndham Worldwide has become the latest major hospitality company to take a stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of children by signing the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct (The Code).The Code, an industry driven responsible tourism initiative in collaboration with ECPAT International, funded by UNICEF and supported by The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), specifically focuses on the protection of children from sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industries. While The Code has been signed by more than 1,000 travel industry members worldwide, Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, is only...

LAS VEGAS—Green Chips, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing Nevada’s identity as a sustainable destination, received a $50,000 grant from the Caesars Foundation to help launch its Convene For Green initiative website in 2012. The Convene for Green initiative was launched in March 2011 as a grassroots program to encourage renewable energy and conservation projects in Southern Nevada. The new website will serve as an educational platform, discussion forum and support center for businesses, nonprofits, residents and Las Vegas visitors. “As the founding sponsor of the outreach and online community programs for Convene for Green, the Caesars Foundation has been an...

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA—In a move designed to further enhance its sustainability program, Hilton Worldwide has launched a major environmental initiative at its three hotels in South Africa. More than 17,000 energy saving lights, including new replacement LED globes, are being introduced at Hilton Sandton, Hilton Durban and Hilton Cape Town, with considerable economic and environmental benefits. The move to the new lighting globes is expected to result in a drop of energy consumption of more than 2,600,000 kWh annually and a reduction of CO2 emissions by a significant 2,700 tons per year.“The demand for energy in South Africa is...

LAS VEGAS—Crystals Retail & Entertainment District at CityCenter has earned Gold sustainable design awards from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the global trade association of the shopping center industry. The awards were earned in ICSC’s annual U.S. Design and Development Awards competition. “Crystals is an integral part of CityCenter and was created with a vision to bring a new level of environmental consciousness to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International that co-developed CityCenter with Infinity World Development Corp. “As one of the world’s largest sustainable developments, CityCenter’s environmental responsibility...

BURLINGTON, VERMONT—Increasing recycling, implementing a food waste collection program for composting, and increasing green purchasing have allowed the 309-room  in Burlington, Vermont to reduce its environmental footprint, save money on disposal, and to be recognized as a Green Hotel through the Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State Program (also known as the Vermont Green Hotels Program).In April 2009, the Sheraton Hotel agreed to work with the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), the Vermont Green Hotels Program, and EPA New England to increase its overall recycling, initiate a food waste diversion program, and to increase and document its green purchasing...

CONCORD, CALIF.—The Hilton Concord Hotel, located in the East Bay of San Francisco, is incorporating environmental and sustainable systems into its multi-million dollar hotel renovation anticipated to be fully completed in early 2012. The hotel is owned and operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the largest U.S.-based global management company. “Reinvesting in a leading hotel such as the Hilton Concord ideally positions the Company to take full advantage of the anticipated recovery in the lodging segment,” said Jim Abrahamson, CEO of Interstate.In addition to a redesign, the Hilton Concord is a leading example on how to successfully integrate sustainable...

BOSTON—The Lenox Hotel, a global hospitality leader in eco initiatives, announced recently that it will sponsor and host Boston’s first commercial curbside charging station for electric cars on Exeter Street. The Lenox Hotel recently unveiled the electronic vehicle charging stations in a special ceremony. The move, in conjunction with Voltrek, is intended to create a new guest incentive while also generating eco awareness for passersby on the high-traffic corner where the hotel is perched. “We’re hoping to lead the charge by inspiring more electric vehicles to hit the road,” said Lenox’s brand ambassador Scott Grigelevich. Guests with EVs will receive complimentary valet...

BOSTON—Through a program that includes electric and gas utility NSTAR and electrical supplies distributor Munro Distributing Company, Inc., Boston area hotels are benefiting from LED lamps at no cost to them. The program began this fall and bulbs must be installed by the end of 2011. According to Jeffrey Pollock, manager energy efficient marketing for NSTAR, the LED program most likely will be continued in 2012.NSTAR customers are funding the program. NSTAR currently transmits and delivers electricity and gas to 1.1 million customers in Massachusetts, and gas to nearly 300,000 in that state. Munro Distributing is supplying the bulbs...

LONDON—Premier Inn, the United Kingdom’s largest budget hotel chain, is celebrating a hat-trick of breakthroughs in its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from its business operations and provide its customers with more sustainable choices. In 2010 Whitbread, the owners of Premier Inn, committed to a target of reducing its carbon emissions by 26 percent by 2020 (relative to a 2009 baseline). Premier Inn is announcing three significant achievements in its drive to reduce CO2 emissions and raise standards of sustainability across its 46,000 bedrooms. These are: 1. Achieving an “excellent” sustainability rating for its Burgess Hill Premier Inn and Beefeater...