Three of the largest U.S.-based hotel companies --
Hilton Hotels Corp.,
Wyndham Worldwide and
Marriott International -- are now walking their green talk at their headquarters by making their home offices more eco-friendly.
Hilton just relocated its headquarters from Beverly Hills, Calif.,
to a LEED-Gold certified building in the Tysons Corner area of McLean,
Va. Wyndham, which opened its headquarters in Parsippany, N.J., earlier this year, is pursuing LEED certification for Commercial
Interiors for the new structure. Marriott International is seeking a LEED rating for Existing Buildings:
Operations & Maintenance for its home offices in Bethesda, Md.
“The opening of our new global headquarters marks the beginning of a
new and exciting chapter in our company’s rich history,” said
Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO of
Hilton Hotels Corp., in a
release about
his company's move.
Hilton’s headquarters building is owned by the B.F. Saul Real Estate
Investment Trust. The
building received its LEED-Gold designation just two months ago, according a representative for the company.
What makes Hilton’s building LEED-worthy? It includes a reflective roof,
low-flow plumbing fixtures that allow it to use 40 percent less water
than a comparable non-LEED building, a 10,000-gallon cistern to capture rainwater and air conditioner condensate, sustainable wood in
doors and lobby millwork, highly energy efficient windows, special
parking for low-emitting vehicles, and showers for those who wish to
bicycle to work. During construction of the 11-story,
323,000-square-foot building, 97 percent of waste from the project was
diverted from the landfill.
Wyndham’s Headquarters Complex
Wyndham Worldwide’s headquarters also includes a reflective roof, and during its construction, about 80 percent of the waste was
diverted from the local landfill.
Numerous elements contribute to the efficiency of the building. Heating and cooling systems are zoned,
energy efficient lighting and motion sensor systems are complemented by large
windows that maximize natural light, low-flow
toilets and faucets help curb water consumption down, well water is used for
irrigation, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, carpeting and
furniture is used throughout, and cubicle walls consist of recycled
steel and aluminum and 100 percent recycled particleboard.
To encourage employees to drive less, the site includes a gym, green
dry cleaner (Green Apple Organic Dry Cleaning), credit union, café and
cafeteria, and a gift shop that stocks necessities such as milk and eggs. Bike racks and convenient
access to public mass transit encourage alternate transportation.
According to Faith Taylor, vice president of sustainability and
innovation for Wyndham Worldwide, such amenities and the excitement of working in a new, healthy building, have greatly
boosted employee morale.
Wyndham is seeing a 10- to 30 percent improvement in efficiency at its
headquarters. It was recently recognized as a “Green Pioneer” by
ConEdison Solutions for its commitment to environmental preservation
and for purchasing renewable energy. Wyndham’s headquarters is 100
percent powered by wind through ConEdison. (Hilton’s headquarters is 70
percent powered by green power.) Wyndham
expects to earn a LEED-Silver
rating for its headquarters building by early 2010.
Marriott Aims to Reduce Waste
Marriott Headquarters
 |
As part of its efforts to green its headquarters, Marriott International
is diverting 64 percent of its total waste from the landfill through
recycling. The total waste stream has been reduced by 203 tons since
2006. Marriott headquarters is poised to save $65,000 over the next
three years with the elimination of all disposables from the cafeteria.
Marriott is shifting to biodegradable disposable containers in its
cafeteria, and then ultimately migrating to all permanent-ware.
Automatic, low-flow faucets and toilets have reduced Marriott’s total
water consumption by 17 percent.
Energy efficient lighting has yielded $155,000 in electricity
savings. Sustainable products, including paper and cleaning products,
have eliminated in excess of 20 tons of waste annually. A building-wide program sends waste from perishables and other appropriate matter to a compost farm rather than
a landfill. Through a partnership with Hertz Green Collection, Marriott
has three hybrid cars parked in its lots for employees to use for
meetings and appointments. Last year, Marriott announced its
environmental strategy to address climate change, which it calls its
“Spirit To Preserve.” Part of that plan calls for greening its $10
billion supply chain. Marriott expects to earn LEED certification for its headquarters by
the end of this year. The company's
growing portfolio of sustainable buildings includes some 30 that are under construction, being developed or being designed.
Glenn Hasek is the publisher and editor Green Lodging News, where this post originally appeared. Glenn can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com
Top image courtesy of the Hilton Hotels Corporation.
