Black Meetings & Tourism - Hyatt Regency Atlanta Sets A New Standard For Eco-Friendly Hotels

Greening of Hospitality Industry
Hyatt Regency Atlanta Sets A New Standard For Eco-Friendly Hotels
Landmark Hotel Receives Accolades From Hyatt Hotels Corp., Tripadvisor For Advanced Green Initiatives Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta's premier hotel on Peachtree Street, recently announced a number of new recognitions for its leading-edge environmental practices. Hyatt Hotels Corp. has named Senior Director of Engineering Randy Childers "Engineering Director of the Year in 2013" for his leading edge sustainability practices within the 1,260 room hotel. The hotel also has been named aGreenLeader-Platinum Level property by TripAdvisor, the highest green ranking from the leading hotel review website. TripAdvisor recognized Hyatt Regency Atlanta for its recycling programs, efficient ventilation systems, Energy Star appliances and low chemical gardening. Hyatt Regency Atlanta completed an historic $65 million transformation in 2012, including significant improvements to its electrical, HVAC and other systems to make them more efficient and eco-friendly. The hotel's progress can be broken down into three categories: waste prevention and reduction, water conservation and energy conservation. Waste Prevention and Reduction Hyatt Regency Atlanta recycles a range of reusable materials, including office paper, newspapers, cans and bottles, construction waste, carpeting, cardboard, used bulbs and batteries, electronics, pallets and soap. In the kitchen, leftover consumable food is donated to the Atlanta Food Bank; food waste is collected and sent out for composting and cooking oils are recycled into bio-diesel. In 2012, the hotel recycled more than 1 million pounds of material. In honor of these efforts, Hyatt Regency Atlanta became the first qualified hotel for the Green Foodservice Alliance's Zero Waste Zone and was featured on CNN for its participation, leadership and early adoption of this standard. Water Conservation Since 2000, Hyatt Regency Atlanta has reduced water consumption on property by 35 percent, saving 36 million gallons in 2013 alone. Contributing to these savings include the use of sensor faucets, ultra-low flow toilets and waterless urinals in public restrooms. In all of its newly renovated guestrooms, the hotel utilizes low-flow faucets and showerheads to reduce water waste. Linens are replaced every third day (and upon checkout), and the hotel requests that guests reuse towels to avoid daily laundering. Drought tolerant outdoor landscaping and mulch are used to reduce irrigation, and reclaimed air conditioning condensate is used in the HVAC systems, saving up to 2 million gallons of water each year. On the roof, the hotel manages a vegetable garden irrigated with collected rainwater. Energy Conservation Over the last 13 years, Hyatt Regency Atlanta has reduced energy consumption by 34 percent, saving 55 million BTUs in 2013 and reducing CO2 emissions by 19 percent since 2006.In addition to using high-efficiency electrical motors throughout the hotel, all guestrooms are equipped with high-efficiency air conditioning systems and occupancy sensor thermostats that manage room temperature based on occupancy. The hotel also uses a state-of-the-art Energy Management System to control mechanical systems, air handlers and lighting. Compact fluorescent, LED lighting and Low-E, insulated glass are further reducing energy consumption. In the kitchens, appliances have been replaced with Energy Star compliant equipment. New boilers and chillers to heat and cool the hotel more efficiently were installed in 2013. "We are proud to be recognized for our ongoing sustainability improvements and environmental best practices," said Peter McMahon, general manager of Hyatt Regency Atlanta. "Our hotel has been an industry leader in implementing smart technology and innovative systems to make our property more efficient, significantly reducing our water and energy consumption and our impact on the environment." The recognitions announced today follow a number of recent environmental honors for the hotel, including: · Ranked 7th for energy consumption per square foot among U.S. hotels in Energy Star's National Buildings Challenge (October 2013) Awarded "Top Water Saver" by the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (July 2013) Named one of the first Atlanta buildings to reduce water use by 20 percent by 2020 by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (July 2013) Received the inaugural Better Buildings Challenge Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Energy and Central Atlanta Progress (November 2012) Awarded Global Hyatt's inaugural Thrive Leadership Award for Environmental Sustainability (April 2012) "Plans to further improve the sustainability of the hotel include storing rainwater for cooling towers and irrigation and pursuing higher Energy Star ratings and LEED-Existing Building, Operations and Maintenance certification," said Randy Childers, senior director of Engineering and a LEED Green Associate. "We look forward to continuing to set the bar for hotel sustainability practices." For more information about Hyatt Regency Atlanta's sustainability practices, please visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HyattRegencyAtlanta .

Greening of Hospitality Industry

Hyatt Regency Atlanta Sets A New Standard For Eco-Friendly Hotels

Landmark Hotel Receives Accolades From Hyatt Hotels Corp., Tripadvisor For
Advanced Green Initiatives

Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta's premier hotel on Peachtree Street, recently announced a number of new recognitions for its leading-edge environmental practices.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. has named Senior Director of Engineering Randy Childers "Engineering Director of the Year in 2013" for his leading edge sustainability practices within the 1,260 room hotel.

The hotel also has been named aGreenLeader-Platinum Level property by TripAdvisor, the highest green ranking from the leading hotel review website. TripAdvisor recognized Hyatt Regency Atlanta for its recycling programs, efficient ventilation systems, Energy Star appliances and low chemical gardening.

Hyatt Regency Atlanta completed an historic $65 million transformation in 2012, including significant improvements to its electrical, HVAC and other systems to make them more efficient and eco-friendly. The hotel's progress can be broken down into three categories: waste prevention and reduction, water conservation and energy conservation.

Waste Prevention and Reduction

Hyatt Regency Atlanta recycles a range of reusable materials, including office paper, newspapers, cans and bottles, construction waste, carpeting, cardboard, used bulbs and batteries, electronics, pallets and soap. In the kitchen, leftover consumable food is donated to the Atlanta Food Bank; food waste is collected and sent out for composting and cooking oils are recycled into bio-diesel.

In 2012, the hotel recycled more than 1 million pounds of material. In honor of these efforts, Hyatt Regency Atlanta became the first qualified hotel for the Green Foodservice Alliance's Zero Waste Zone and was featured on CNN for its participation, leadership and early adoption of this standard.

Water Conservation

Since 2000, Hyatt Regency Atlanta has reduced water consumption on property by 35 percent, saving 36 million gallons in 2013 alone. Contributing to these savings include the use of sensor faucets, ultra-low flow toilets and waterless urinals in public restrooms.

In all of its newly renovated guestrooms, the hotel utilizes low-flow faucets and showerheads to reduce water waste. Linens are replaced every third day (and upon checkout), and the hotel requests that guests reuse towels to avoid daily laundering. Drought tolerant outdoor landscaping and mulch are used to reduce irrigation, and reclaimed air conditioning condensate is used in the HVAC systems, saving up to 2 million gallons of water each year. On the roof, the hotel manages a vegetable garden irrigated with collected rainwater.

Energy Conservation

Over the last 13 years, Hyatt Regency Atlanta has reduced energy consumption by 34 percent, saving 55 million BTUs in 2013 and reducing CO2 emissions by 19 percent since 2006.In addition to using high-efficiency electrical motors throughout the hotel, all guestrooms are equipped with high-efficiency air conditioning systems and occupancy sensor thermostats that manage room temperature based on occupancy.

The hotel also uses a state-of-the-art Energy Management System to control mechanical systems, air handlers and lighting. Compact fluorescent, LED lighting and Low-E, insulated glass are further reducing energy consumption. In the kitchens, appliances have been replaced with Energy Star compliant equipment. New boilers and chillers to heat and cool the hotel more efficiently were installed in 2013.

"We are proud to be recognized for our ongoing sustainability improvements and environmental best practices," said Peter McMahon, general manager of Hyatt Regency Atlanta. "Our hotel has been an industry leader in implementing smart technology and innovative systems to make our property more efficient, significantly reducing our water and energy consumption and our impact on the environment."

The recognitions announced today follow a number of recent environmental honors for the hotel, including:

· Ranked 7th for energy consumption per square foot among U.S. hotels in Energy Star's National Buildings Challenge (October 2013)

Awarded "Top Water Saver" by the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (July 2013)

Named one of the first Atlanta buildings to reduce water use by 20 percent by 2020 by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (July 2013)

Received the inaugural Better Buildings Challenge Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Energy and Central Atlanta Progress (November 2012)

Awarded Global Hyatt's inaugural Thrive Leadership Award for Environmental Sustainability (April 2012)

"Plans to further improve the sustainability of the hotel include storing rainwater for cooling towers and irrigation and pursuing higher Energy Star ratings and LEED-Existing Building, Operations and Maintenance certification," said Randy Childers, senior director of Engineering and a LEED Green Associate. "We look forward to continuing to set the bar for hotel sustainability practices."

For more information about Hyatt Regency Atlanta's sustainability practices, please visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HyattRegencyAtlanta .