Accor North America has made green initiatives a company-wide priority since 1998 when it introduced its original Environmental Charter. Seven years later, Accor revised and expanded its original green initiatives to reduce each brand’s collective environmental footprint at the property level. This revision made green retrofits an integral part of Red Roof Inn’s (RRI) 2005-2006 renovation process.

RRI was able to make basic changes to increase energy efficiency and water conservation. The changes included installing fluorescent light bulbs, low-flow showerheads and low-flow aerators in faucets. RRI is also installing rain sensors on properties with irrigation systems to avoid unnecessary watering.

“Often it’s the simplest solution that produces the most results,” said Dan Gilligan, vice president of utilities and administrative services for Accor North America, RRI parent company. “We have cut energy costs and conserved water by changing light bulbs and showerheads used in our properties.”

More substantially, RRI has also installed PTAC heat pumps during renovation for more energy-efficient air conditioning. Heat pumps PTACs allow each unit to save as much as three times the energy of the previous models.

Accor North America has installed LED lighting in all of its brands’ external signage, including the renovated RRI properties. This type of lighting is cost-efficient as well as energy-efficient because it has a longer service life than other types of lighting. LED lighting also needs less maintenance, produces less waste, and it does not cause heat build-up. In addition, other exterior site lighting has been replaced with higher efficiency and higher lumen output lamps.

These renovations have also given RRI the opportunity to use more recycled and natural materials. Renovated properties feature carpet made from recycled content — a new trend that helps eliminate waste. These properties have also replaced cultured marble countertops with natural products such as granite, which helps maintain sustainable development.

These retrofits have yielded a significant decrease in energy and water consumption for these properties. For RRI, it has been the easiest changes that have made the biggest differences in the company goal of reducing the environmental impact of its renovated properties.

About Accor North America

Headquartered in Dallas (Carrollton), Texas, Accor North America operates more than 1,200 upscale and economy properties including nationwide economy leaders Red Roof Inn, Studio 6 and Motel 6 and the upscale Sofitel and mid-scale Novotel and Ibis hotel locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.accor-na.com.