Cities such as Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C., are requiring some new construction projects to satisfy Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. Other municipalities are offering incentives to developers who incorporate sustainable design elements into their projects. In response to these changes in standards, developers must learn how to make prototypical hotels more sustainable, according to LEED guidelines or other green building programs, while remaining cost-effective and accommodating to guests. Here are 10 steps developers can take to incorporate sustainable concepts into their hotel prototype.
1. Select a sustainable site — The hotel’s location impacts its sustainability potential. Developers will benefit from locating projects in urban locations and brownfield sites, which will yield smaller carbon footprints while connecting to existing infrastructure and public transportation.
2. Improve the HVAC system — Upgrade the prototypical PTAC unit in each guestroom to a water-source heat pump to help optimize energy performance and reduce operational costs. This system should work in conjunction with a high-efficiency boiler, a cooling tower with variable frequency drive, and an energy recovery unit that provides not only efficiency in operating cost, but also improves indoor air quality.
3. Install key card lighting and HVAC controls — Used frequently outside of the United States, this keycard system controls how energy is managed. The room keycard activates lighting and the HVAC environmental system only when the room is occupied.
4. Improve exterior envelope — Decrease the U-value in window glazing and increase the R-value insulation in walls to improve energy efficiency and reduce the energy used to heat and cool the building.
5. Reduce water use in guestrooms — Use low-flow water closets (1.28 gpf), faucets (.5 gpm) and showers (1.5 gpm). Communicate sustainable efforts to guests so they can understand the benefits.
6. Build with recycled and renewable resources — Specify materials that contain recycled content. Use recycled steel products, high-volume fly ash concrete products and concrete masonry units, as well as FSC-certified wood and built-in furniture and doors made of wheat board and agrifiber products.
7. Improve indoor air quality — Use low-VOC paints and adhesives as well as Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label Plus carpets and low-emitting certified products. Prohibit smoking on premises.
8. Reduce the roof’s heat island — Reduce the heat island potential of the hotel roof by installing a high-emissivity, ENERGY STAR or green roof system.
9. Implement green housekeeping — Many hotels already ask guests to be conscious of their sheet and towel usage. Use eco-friendly detergents and cleaners that improve indoor air quality. High-efficiency commercial washers and dryers also contribute to green housekeeping efforts.
10. Promote waste management — Divert building materials from landfills during construction and provide opportunities throughout the hotel to recycle waste. The Construction Waste Management Database created by the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Environmental Strategies and Safety Division promotes responsible waste disposal and provides information on companies that haul, collect and process recyclable debris from construction projects. Visit
www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php.
