I had an opportunity to chat with Bennett Thomas this past week. Bennett is vice president of Finance & Sustainability for Hersha Hospitality Group. Hersha Hospitality Group has over 80 hotels totaling nearly 11,000 rooms in its portfolio. Be sure to watch for a profile of Bennett soon on the Green Lodging News website. One of the most unique things about Hersha is its environmental program called EarthView. It was officially launched a little more than a year ago but was piloted starting in 2009. The initial goal of EarthView is to reduce the carbon, water and waste impact...

A new LEED Pilot Credit introduced in October as part of the LEED Pilot Credit Library is for the birds—literally. The Credit allows a LEED building project to earn one point if efforts are taken to deter bird collisions. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an estimated 1 billion birds die annually in the United States as a result of striking buildings, bridges, and other manmade structures. Many factors play a role, including lights, vegetation, and water. But glass is the main culprit. Because birds do not perceive conventionally formulated glass as a solid barrier, they fly...

In the words of Jeff Hanulec, director of engineering at the Sheraton Boston, “It was a no brainer to participate in the program.” What Jeff is referring to is an LED lamp giveaway program offered by Massachusetts utility NSTAR in partnership with Munro Distributing Company, Inc. The program, which began in the fall of 2011 and officially wrapped up at the end December, is expected to be continued in 2012. Boston area hotels are the first to participate in the program that is already generating huge chunks of savings in energy and dollars. The NSTAR/Munro program is proof that...

I have always kind of wondered why I hear more in our industry about the dangers of mercury in compact fluorescents than the danger of mercury produced by coal burning. Perhaps it is just one of those problems that is difficult to get one’s arms around? Or, we all just don’t want to admit that we contribute to the problem? Here in the United States, 50 tons of mercury is released into the air (and eventually the water, too) each year by coal-fired power plants. (Approximately 50 percent of our nation’s electricity needs are met by the burning of...

With just two columns remaining in 2011, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very safe, healthy and happy holiday season. This was a big year for my family as many of you know with the addition of our son Benjamin in August. He is doing great and, as they say, “growing like a weed.” That is Benjamin at the top of this column. Only 21 more years until he takes over as publisher and editor. Thank you for reading Green Lodging News this year. Your readership loyalty is one of the reasons Green...

This past week I updated the State & City Green Lodging Programs page on the Green Lodging News website. I removed several links to pages for programs that are obviously inactive. For example, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation continues to run a page for its Green Hotel Certification Pilot Program when in fact the program has been over for quite some time. Why confuse people? After scouring the Web for new programs, I found one. The Idaho Bed & Breakfast Association now has a Green Lodging Program. I spoke with Brian Scott, president of the association this past...

Just before Thanksgiving, Syracuse-based Woodbine Group informed me that its 58-room, boutique-style Hotel Skyler had earned LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). I spoke with two representatives of Woodbine this past week and posted an article about the property that was once Temple Adath Yeshurun, a building first constructed in 1921. (Click here for article.) Congratulations to the team at Woodbine Group for achieving a distinction shared by only two other hotels in the United States—the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., and the Bardessono in Yountville, Calif.USGBC’s rating system is points based with four levels:...

At the recent Green Lodging & Hospitality Conference in Orlando, I had an opportunity to see a presentation by Hema Patel, managing partner, Courtesy Management, Inc. Hema did a great job explaining all of the different green initiatives under way at her company’s five-story, 122-room Holiday Inn-Columbia Airport in Columbia, S.C. I will be posting an article about the Holiday Inn this coming week. Be sure to look for it. The property, which is expected to earn LEED Gold certification at the beginning of 2012, includes some very unique features. The hotel is the first property that I am aware...

Our industry’s two leading soap recovery and recycling organizations both had big news to share in the past two weeks. First, Global Soap was part of an announcement by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton revealed that it will invest $1.3 million in that organization over the next three years (see article). Second, Carlson announced an agreement between Carlson Hotels and Clean the World that will result in 607 Carlson properties participating in that organization’s recycling of soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and gels (see article). Hilton expects its investment in Global Soap to result in the donation of more than one million new...

I am in the middle of a two-week stretch without a break thanks to the Third Annual Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference which wrapped up this past week and the International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show taking place from November 12 to 15. As reported on Green Lodging News, the Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference drew 135 attendees (including exhibitors) from 16 states and had an excellent lineup of speakers. (See article.) The event was hosted by the University of Florida/TREEO Center. The American Green Lodging and Hospitality Assn. and the Green Meeting Industry Council’s Florida/Caribbean Chapter also were...