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Two Boston Hotel Leaders Earn EPA Environmental Merit Awards

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BOSTON—Thirteen Massachusetts citizens and fourteen Massachusetts groups were honored on Earth Day in Boston’s Faneuil Hall as EPA presented its annual Environmental Merit Awards for 2009. Recognizing significant contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving, the Massachusetts awardees included five lifetime achievement awards, six individual merit awards (including a director of engineering and director of rooms and environmental programs from two Boston hotels), three business/industry/ professional organization recipients, eight environmental/community/academia/ nonprofit organization winners, and three awards for efforts by local, state or federal governments.

Given out by EPA since 1970, the merit awards honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region’s environment. This year’s competition drew 49 nominations from across New England.

The winners from Massachusetts were among 31 from across New England. Awards were given in the categories of individual; business (including professional organizations); local, state or federal government; and environmental, community, academia or nonprofit organization. Also, each year EPA may present lifetime achievement awards for individuals. Individual Environmental Merit Award winners included:

Jeff Hanulec, director of engineering, Westin Copley Place. Jeff Hanulec was recognized for his extraordinary results in the achievement of greening three Boston hotels, and for influencing other hoteliers to green their facilities as well. Beginning seven years ago when Jurys Hotel Boston opened, he persuaded the owners to fund an extensive energy efficiency retrofit that eventually led the hotel to receive an Energy Star label. Jeff then went on to work for the Westin Waltham Hotel as their director in engineering, where he again persuaded the owners to invest in energy efficiency projects. In less than a year he moved the facility’s Energy Star score from 26 to 51. Jeff also initiated a broad scale recycling program and installed equipment that reduced the hotel’s water consumption.

In the summer of 2007, Jeff stepped up to his current position with Westin Copley Place, where he quickly helped secure an EPA WasteWise grant to start the facility’s recycling program. In 2008, the hotel recycled 114 tons of material, including 27 tons of organic waste. Under his guidance, the annual electricity use was reduced by 1.1 million kilowatts, gas by 125,000 therms and water by 22.5 million gallons. He also implemented many different kinds of energy efficient technologies in the hotel. Jeff’s influence also extends beyond these three hotels. He has been a presenter on an EPA Energy Star webinar on benchmarking hotels, helped Keyspan Energy on a study of the efficacy of ozone laundry equipment, is a member of Starwood’s Corporate Sustainability Council, and has been a key leader within Boston Green Tourism.

Matthew Moore, director of rooms and environmental programs, Seaport Hotel. In 2005, Matt Moore developed an environmental program for his hotel named Seaport Saves. This program enabled Seaport Hotel to increase sustainable practices throughout the organization. Under Matt’s leadership, the hotel reduced electricity use by 1.3 million kilowatts, purchased RECs for guestroom electricity use and achieved a 43 percent recycling rate. The Seaport’s Green Team encourages their guests, team members and vendors to embrace and practice environmentally-friendly lifestyles as well.

Since 2005, the Seaport Saves program has undertaken two dozen green initiatives—many of which are groundbreaking for regional and U.S. hotels—and received numerous awards and recognition. Matt’s dedication to the environmental movement goes beyond being the eco-ambassador for Seaport. He also is an important member of Boston Green Tourism, serves on the Advisory Board for PhilaGreen Hospitality Assn., and has helped many hoteliers across the country to green their facilities.

Click here for more information on the Environmental Merit Awards.

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