Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is changing its roof top landscape by adding six wind turbines to the 25-story all-suite resort located across from the Atlantic Ocean on AIA in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 374-suite resort has been committed to saving energy since opening in 2007 and was the first hotel in Fort Lauderdale beach to be awarded a Florida green lodging designation. Continuing the commitment of going above and beyond environmental regulations and voluntarily implementing hotel conservation programs, the hotel has begun installation of the six wind turbines that will help reduce energy consumption that will eventually provide a cost savings.
“We are committed to implementing innovative programs and making continual improvements to our overall sustainability results each year,” states
Andreas Ioannou, general manager, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort.
The wind turbines stand approximately 52 ft. tall and will be strategically positioned on each corner and center of the hotel’s rooftop providing maximum wind velocity. The wind turbines will produce 24,000 KWH ultimately assisting in reducing the amount of energy being used in guestrooms and on property. Installation has begun and is estimated to take several weeks to complete, with an anticipated completion date of mid-September. The primary function of the turbines will help reduce the amount of alternative energy needed, lowering the power sources that deplete natural resources, such as gas and oil.
“We are proud of this renewable energy initiative as well as other eco-friendly programs to implement sustainable practices that will help future generations,” Ioannou added. Hilton Fort Lauderdale launched a “Green Team” to spearhead and oversee the resort’s environmental efforts and to implement programs for waste reduction, resource conservation and energy efficiency.
The property exterior glass has been manufactured not only to withstand hurricane-force winds but also to control heat from sunlight entering the building, which reduces energy consumption. Each year the hotel participates in Earth Hour, encouraging hotel guests to join as well by shutting off lights for one hour. Recycling all paper, florescent bulbs, lighting and batteries as well as the installing automatic water flush meters in all public restrooms are some of the programs the resort has initiated. Currently, the hotel is installing food composter machine which assists with composting food waste into nutrient rich water – ultimately keeping this waste out of landfills and helping the resort save money on transportation fees.
As a member of the
Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort utilizes
"LightStay" a proprietary system that analyzes and reports sustainability performance. Hilton Worldwide is the first major multi-brand hospitality company to make sustainability measurement a brand standard. Adopting numerous green practices that conserve energy, reduce water consumption and protect air quality and limit waste is part of Hilton Worldwide’ s five-year reduction commitment. In 2010 alone, the company saved more than $74 million in utility costs through a 6.6 percent reduction of energy use; 7.8 percent reduction of carbon output; 19 percent reduction of waste output; and 3.8 percent reduction of water use. There is more information about this at
www.hiltonworldwide.com/corporate-responsibility/