Some of the biggest strides toward a greener hotel industry are beginning at the property level. Global innovators share their ideas for taking green to the bottom line.

Lights On At Radisson SAS. Of all the environmental initiatives at the Radisson SAS Edinburgh, energy-efficient lighting had the most impressive return. “We changed 455 lights in the guestroom corridors at a cost of US$2,307. Electricity savings in the first year are US$27,889,” says Pia Heidenmark-Cook, Rezidor Hotels Group’s corporate director of environmental and social affairs. Personnel sensors (available for about U$101 prevent lights from being left on in toilets and corridors, resulting in a 40% savings. Non-electric “eCubes” for US$50 installed over the temperature probe within a cold room, refrigerator or freezer will save the Radisson SAS Portman and Stansted hotels in England US$7,010 and US$23,629 respectively in the first two years.

No Excess At Hilton. A changeover to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) saves the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, Portland, Oregon, US$1,600 a month. “We were spending US$4,000 a month on traditional incandescent light bulbs alone. That cost should decrease dramatically since CFLs last 10 times as long,” says Tracy Marks, general manager. The hotel reduces kitchen waste and the need for disposal by donating excess food to be distributed to city food banks. A rigorous composting program kept 72 tons of material out of landfills—a figure Marks expects to double within six months.

Drinking Up Savings In Madrid. Installation of water-saving devices in the bath, shower, washbasin and sink taps decreased water consumption 8% at WORLDHOTELS’ member Gran Hotel Conde Duque, Madrid, says sales manager Paloma Cabranes (As a first step, aerators cost about US$1 apiece).

IHG Answers Blowing In The Wind. The new US$15 million Staybridge Suites Wilmington-Brandywine in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, is 100% wind-powered through the purchase of energy credits. The InterContinental Thalasso Spa, Bora Bora, has the world’s deepest underwater pipeline, feeding cold sea water to an eco-friendly air-conditioning system, saving 90% of the hotel’s electricity consumption for air-conditioning, or 660,430 gallons (2.5 million liters) of fuel oil per year. “We are introducing a new-build Holiday Inn prototype for construction in Europe, Middle East and Africa region that will use 30% less materials, require less energy to run and reduce per room building costs an average 28%,” says David Jerome, IHG’s senior vice president, social responsibility. “The goal is to continue to grow, but to do so in a sustainable and responsible manner—to understand how our initial investments impact the hotels’ operating costs.

Accor Taps The Sun. By 2010, 200 of Accor’s hotels in France will have solar panels. Integration of photovoltaic cells at the Ibis Porte de Clichy cost US$109,623 for installation (excluding taxes) and US$38,000 for engineering (excluding taxes). The 807 sq. ft. (75 sq. m) of polycrystalline cells should generate 5% of the electricity used for lighting. “The visibility and popularity of the hotel is helping to promote the brand and create an extremely positive image for the hotel,” says Philippe Adam, Accor’s executive vice president strategy and development. Small changes add up. A detergent-free laundry system at the Sofitel Athens Airport reduces water consumption 40% and energy consumption 70%. Improvements in system efficiency and insulation are lowering costs in Asian hotels, where air conditioning accounts for 50% of energy costs.

Marriott Enlists Guests. Designed to be 37% more efficient than comparable buildings, the Inn & Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland allows guests to participate in its environmental initiatives by giving them the option of using low or high water volumes in the bathroom. “In the past year, we conducted an energy, water and water reduction contest among our international hotels and saw reductions in excess of 30% at some properties as a result,” says Gary Hurst Sr., Marriott International’s senior vice president—international engineering.

Banyan Tree On Cutting Edge. Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts recently launched the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab, Vabbinfaru, the first lab of its kind to be funded and run by a private resort in the Maldives. “It acts as a focal point for both the Banyan Tree and its sister hotel, the Angsana Maldives Ihuru’s environmental and community support projects,” says Claire Chiang, executive director, retail operations, Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd., Singapore. As part of its Green Imperative Fund, Banyan Tree invites guests to help with an opt-in contribution of US$2 per room night at Banyan Tree hotels and US$1per room night at Angsana hotels—a contribution the company matches dollar for dollar.

Hilton Goes High-Tech, Low-Tech. A commercial fuel cell power system, one of the cleanest power generating technologies, provides power and domestic hot water for operations at the Hilton New York at a rate three times more efficient than the electric grid. A retrofit aimed at reducing environmental impact and energy consumption even further at the Green Seal-designated Doubletree Portland Lloyd Center, Portland, Oregon, includes high-efficiency condensing boilers, high efficiency centrifugal chillers, demand-based ventilation system controls, dry-bulb economizers on air handling units, hydronic economizer for off-season cooling and a decoupled chilled water pumping system. On the low tech front, placing a plastic water bottle in every toilet cistern saves 0.26 gallons (1 liter) of water. The Hilton Madagascar weighs waste from the team member restaurant daily to help team members be more environmentally aware. Providing the numbers has cut waste by 50%. “These programs are not just good for the environment and the community, they are good for business. We Care! has helped us avoid US$6 million in costs,” says Wolfgang Neumann, Hilton Hotels Corp.’s area president for Europe.