In the early days of Green Lodging News there was quite a bit of discussion about the need for just one nationwide green lodging certification/rating program—perhaps even one that could be run by the American Hotel & Lodging Assn. Some of the thought was that there were just too many programs to choose from—confusing for the industry and confusing for travelers.
Well, here we are many years later and quite a bit of shuffling has taken place among the various programs. There are still quite a few to choose from but one that has truly blossomed and grown is the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. In fact, there are now four primary LEED rating systems to choose from: LEED for Building Design and Construction, LEED for Interior Design and Construction, LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance, and LEED for Neighborhood Development. Under LEED for Building Design and Construction, there is a LEED BD+C: Hospitality category. LEED rewards a project for many things with points categories focusing on everything from project siting to water efficiency to innovation. A project earns one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. I recently reported on one project pursuing Platinum.
Every year or so I like to check in with USGBC to see how many projects have been registered and/or certified. They most recently told me that as of December 16, 2020, there were 2,132 projects either registered or certified. The list is not entirely complete because some projects have opted to remain confidential.
Where Most LEED Projects Are
By far, and not surprisingly given USGBC’s home here in the United States, the most LEED projects are in the United States—1,253. The country with the next highest number of hotel projects is China (includes Hong Kong) with 186. Other countries with a significant number of LEED hotel projects: United Arab Emirates (65); India (64); Mexico (35); and United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (65).
Within the United States, California leads the country with 209 LEED hotel projects followed by Florida with 101, New York with 88, Texas with 71, Virginia with 54, Maryland with 53, Pennsylvania with 48, Washington, D.C. with 47, Massachusetts with 45, North Carolina with 39, Washington with 35, Nevada and Georgia with 34, Colorado with 32, and Illinois with 31.
LEED is ever evolving. A couple of years ago LEED Zero certifications were introduced. This past summer USGBC released four new Safety First Pilot Credits in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The credits outline sustainable best practices that align with public health and industry guidelines related to cleaning and disinfecting, workplace re-occupancy, HVAC, and plumbing operations. The credits can be used by LEED projects that are certified or are undergoing certification.
To learn more about LEED, go to USGBC. Search on “LEED” on Green Lodging News and you will find approximately 500 articles.
To obtain the above mentioned list of registered or certified hotels, write to greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 24,749 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 24,749. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,788 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 981 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
