PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, has achieved an 8 percent reduction in energy use in the first full year of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Challenge.
The government program, launched in 2011 by President Obama, calls on commercial businesses and industrial facilities to reduce their energy intensity by 20 percent by 2020. This program aligns with the company’s goals to reduce carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2017 and by 20 percent by 2020. Additionally as of 2012, Wyndham Worldwide has reduced its global footprint in over 40 countries of its owned, managed and leased assets by 11.7 percent based on carbon per square footage.
“We are continuously developing eco-friendly efforts across our hospitality portfolio, and this latest achievement of meaningfully reducing our energy use further demonstrates our commitment to advancing environmental sustainability best practices, which is a pillar of our strategic priorities,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide. “Through our Wyndham Green program, we are committed to exploring and adopting innovative environmental practices, as it reduces costs, fosters the efficient use of resources, and ultimately supports both near- and long-term profitability.”
Wyndham Worldwide reduced its energy through:
• the Wyndham Green Toolbox, a proprietary state-of-the-art eco-software program that tracks and measures environmental impact;
• an environmental certification program for the company’s participating 190 timeshare properties, a first for the hospitality industry;
• and the implementation of sustainability best practices across the 10 million square feet of Wyndham Worldwide-controlled assets participating in the U.S. DOE Better Buildings Challenge.
“Our work in sustainability is a tremendous collaboration across all key stakeholders—shareholders, employees, customers, franchisees, suppliers and community partners—who not only develop ideas with incredible potential, but also transform them into tangible results and drive leadership in the industry,” said Faith Taylor, senior vice president sustainability and innovation, Wyndham Worldwide.
To improve energy efficiency and implement sustainable practices, Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO), the company’s timeshare business unit, created the WVO Green Certification Program, one of the first for the industry. The certification tracks 27 requirements in categories such as energy use, water use, waste reduction, indoor air quality, and education.
Total of 160 Properties Should be Certified This Year
Adopted company-wide, the program requires a minimum basic certification for all Wyndham timeshare properties. Mandatory requirements are low or no-cost operational measures, or measures which have a payback of less than two years. Many of the “advanced” certification items are more capital intensive, and can be earned at the Silver, Gold and Crystal levels. In 2012, 63 percent of WVO resorts (133 properties) earned the prestigious “Basic”, “Silver”, “Gold” or “Crystal” achievement levels. In 2013, WVO anticipates 160 properties will be certified.
Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company, continues to demonstrate a lasting commitment to sustainability through the Wyndham Hotel Group Green Council, which is led by Wyndham Green. The group establishes meaningful guidelines for franchisees, across all of its brands, to reference as they implement green practices.
Guided by those core measures, the Super 8 Ukiah, a proven leader among its peers, demonstrates excellence in the adoption of sustainable systems by:
• installing an electric vehicle charging station, the first for hotel guests in Ukiah/Mendocino County;
• updating their rooms and building insulation systems with eco-friendly materials.
• using green cleaning supplies.
• switching to Energy Star appliances and using CFLs for all interior lighting; and
• changing all building exterior lights to high-efficiency bulbs.
As a result of the energy efficiency measures implemented, the Energy Star score for the property was raised from a 56 in 2006 to an 85 in 2011, and the property received the Energy Star Label in 2012. The esteemed ranking is awarded to buildings that score 75 or above, indicating they are in the top 25 percent of buildings across the nation. In addition, the property is pursuing both LEED Certification and Green Key Certification, prominent rating systems that recognize green buildings.
Additionally, the Super 8 Ukiah is a member of the Green Franchisee Advisory Board, which is comprised of Wyndham Hotel Group hotel owners who share best practices, industry innovations, and provide counsel to their peers on the implementation and execution of green initiatives.
For more information on Wyndham Worldwide’s showcase initiatives, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge website.
