SARANAC LAKE, N.Y.—Saranac Waterfront Lodge announced that it has been awarded LEED Silver, becoming the first and only hotel in New York’s Adirondacks to achieve a certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable.
Saranac Waterfront Lodge, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at supporting the environment. In addition to its eco-conscious infrastructure, the hotel employs green initiatives across the property, including:
- Green cleaning products;
- Bicycle racks & electric car chargers;
- Environmental remediation such as lakefront cleanup;
- Farm-to-table relationships with local farmers, ranchers, and food purveyors;
- Completely Styrofoam and plastic free;
- Eco-friendly bath amenities;
- Water conservation through efficient water fixtures & metering; and
- Energy efficient appliances, LED lights on property, and motion censored guestroom lights.
“Saranac Waterfront Lodge recognizes the importance of doing its part to protect and preserve the natural environment,” said Anura Dewapura, Managing Director of Saranac Waterfront Lodge. “Here in Saranac Lake, we are surrounded by exceptional landscape—from the mountains to the waterfront and beyond. This is a place people come to be immersed in the natural beauty of the region and, while our resort is here to provide those visitors with a home base, we know our presence also comes with a great responsibility. Albert Einstein, who used to frequent Saranac Lake in the summers, said, ‘Once we accept the limits, we go beyond them.’ Saranac Waterfront Lodge is proud to raise the bar in our area with sustainable practices that will help protect those limits and our environment. We are honored to be recognized by the USGBC for that effort.”
Many Benefits to LEED Certification
“The work of innovative building projects like Saranac Waterfront Lodge is a fundamental driving force in transforming the way our buildings are built, designed and operated,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC. “Buildings that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, reducing operating costs, and conserving resources while prioritizing sustainable practices and human health. Because of Saranac Waterfront Lodge, we are increasing the number of green buildings and getting closer to USGBC’s goal to outpace conventional buildings, while being environmentally and socially responsible and improving quality of life for generations to come.”
Certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the space is constructed and operated to the highest level of sustainability. More than 100,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, in all 50 states and more than 180 countries and territories.
