BOSTON—The Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston has just received official Energy Star status in recognition of its energy conservation and efficiency efforts. The hotel, built in 1963, has just completed a year-long effort to achieve this status. To that end, building automation systems were used to efficiently control the building’s energy consumption, coordinating HVAC, boilers, chillers and common area lighting. The guestroom energy management system manages heating and cooling when guests are not in their rooms and guestrooms are now lit by compact fluorescent lighting.
“The overall guiding principle in decision making for all projects over the last year has been with an eye toward our efficiency and attaining that Energy Star status for a building built long before that was even a consideration,” says Brian Fitzgerald, general manager at the hotel. “Under the guidance of Boston Green Tourism and other local agencies, we have reached that goal.”
Minimizing energy usage is just one part of the property’s environmental strategy. Some of the hotel’s other initiatives include:
• To reduce water consumption, low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets were installed. Guests have the option of reusing their bed linens and towels.
• In the hotel’s food and beverage operation, organic, local and sustainable food products are used whenever possible. A composting program is being developed, removing all food waste from the waste stream and sending it to a local compost farm.
• Glass, paper, cans and cardboard are recycled. The hotel has a maid-driven recycling program for the daily newspaper delivery.
• Becoming an active member in several local groups including Boston Green Tourism, The Cambridge Energy Alliance, the Cambridge Climate Leaders Program and the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency. The hotel hosts an annual Earth Day neighborhood cleanup and has been an annual sponsor of the Charles River Cleanup Boat.
In the coming year, the hotel plans to do even more to reduce energy consumption.
“Initiatives in the works include identifying cleaning products that do not include hazardous chemicals for use in the housekeeping department,” says Joe O’Toole, the hotel’s director of engineering. “The hotel is also exploring cogeneration, or using the heat generated by various equipment already in use and redirecting that energy elsewhere.”
Go to the Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston.
