PORTLAND, ORE.—The Green Building Initiative (GBI) announced the approval of ANSI/GBI 01-2021: Green Globes Assessment Protocol for Design, New Construction, and Major Renovations by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Following ANSI approval, GBI’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve and publish ANSI-GBI 01-2021, also known as Green Globes for New Construction 2021. “With the completion of this updated Standard, GBI is standing true to its vision and commitment to support sustainable, healthy, and resilient buildings for all,” says Brenda Steinhauer, Chair of the GBI Standards Committee and quality manager of W.A. Richardson Builders, LLC. The standard references hundreds...

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...

ST. PAUL, MINN.—Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and vital resources, has again been recognized for its corporate sustainability leadership by global environmental non-profit CDP, earning inclusion on CDP’s prestigious A List for tackling water security. This is the third consecutive year Ecolab has been recognized on the Water A List. Ecolab also earned an A- ranking on CDP’s climate list. “Proactive water management and stewardship are critical to addressing our world’s environmental challenges. Our inclusion on CDP’s water security A List reflects the work we do every day...

BANGKOK—To reinterpret the regal ambiance of a bygone era dating back 700 years, 14th-century Six Senses Fort Barwara has been sensitively transformed into a 48-suite resort, including five specialty suites, in a conservation effort that has taken more than a decade to complete. It offers a resting point during a busy touring itinerary of Rajasthan. It is within easy striking distance of Ranthambore National Park for guests looking to take a walk on the wild side with the local tiger population. Reinterpreting Royal India Originally owned by a Rajasthani Royal Family, Six Senses Fort Barwara incorporates two original palaces and two temples...

CINCINNATI—Hydro Systems, a world leader in delivering chemical dispensing and dosing solutions, introduced the Multi-Washer 3000 Series with EvoClean for reliable chemical dispensing for on-premise laundries. One system can support up to three washers and dose up to eight products and offers detailed reporting and cost-saving opportunities. “The Multi-Washer 3000 Series is a single venturi-based dispensing system that provides reliable and accurate dosing across all the washers operating in a laundry facility. This helps our customers reduce water, energy and rewash costs,” said John Goetz, Global Product Manager, Hydro Systems. Featuring PCB-based control, the system uses the EvoClean’s venturi dosing technology to...

NATIONAL REPORT—For hotel and lodge owners, plumbing and waste management are always a concern. Hotels alone produce 289,700 tons of waste each year, 79,000 of which is food waste. That's not only detrimental to the environment, but it’s incredibly costly as well. That is why it's highly beneficial for lodge and hotel owners to preserve as much as possible. Luckily, there are many ways that lodges and hotels can reduce waste and water usage. Read on to learn some about the top tips for waste reduction and sustainable plumbing. Limiting Food Waste Food waste is costly and damaging to the environment. In...

RIYADH—The Red Sea Development Co. (TRSDC), the developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with Blue Planet Ecosystems (BPE). Signed by John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC and Paul Schmitzberger, CEO of BPE, the first MoU sees the entities pledging to investigate the implementation of a viable solution for Sustainable High Tech, CO2 Negative Fish Production. The Blue Planet Ecosystems’ solution proposed will provide sustainable production of seafood and algae production in a desert environment. “In response to growing consumer demand for sustainable protein and to further contribute to the long-term protection and enhancement of...

ORLANDO, FLA.—Clean the World Foundation, a leader in global health dedicated to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and global sustainability, in partnership with Las Vegas Sands, has selected the University of Saint Joseph Macao (USJ), Institute of Science and Environment as a 2021 recipient for the Drop By Drop Project. The Drop by Drop Project, a collaboration between Clean the World Foundation and Sands, reinvests capital from Sands’ water stewardship savings into innovative projects supporting water champions in its local regions. The University of Saint Joseph Macao, a returning Drop by Drop Project recipient, will continue its investigation into enhancing local water quality using...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and the Global Finance Committee (GFC) are preparing for the Fall 2022 release of the 12th Revised edition of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). Prior to publishing the newest edition, HFTP and the GFC have recruited a group of leading industry stakeholders to participate in the review of exposure drafts, requesting comments for consideration ahead of the 12th edition publication. The first exposure draft is for a new section titled: “Energy, Water, and Waste.” “This is the first of many steps as environmental, social and governance objectives and measures will continue to change with the...

PLAINFIELD, ILL.—Was your hotel built before 1993? If so, chances are you’re losing money each time a guest flushes one of the hotel’s toilets. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that hotels use about 15 percent of the total water consumed by commercial and institutional facilities in the United States. Actual usage varies by guest, of course, but most studies indicate hotels use between 100 to 200 gallons of fresh water per occupied guestroom per day. Water in the United States ranges from three to five dollars per 1,000 gallons. Simple math shows how efforts to reduce water use can potentially lower hotel operating...