appendix a: advantages of high performance hotel design, construction, and operations 183
Environmental Advantage #1
Social Advantage #1
Lower energy and resource use, and fewer vehicle miles traveled, reduce overall CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions as a result of access to public transportation and locally sourced materials.
Sustainable hotel design, construction, and operations can benefit the community through economic revitalization and by retaining local business.
Environmental Advantage #2
• Utilizing locally manufactured and extracted materials minimizes vehicle emissions, reduces transportation energy consumption and dependence on foreign oil, and retains financial profits within the community.
Redevelopment of existing land (infill development) reduces the demand on greenfields and takes advantage of current transportation and stormwater infrastructures.
Environmental Advantage #3 Sustainable construction methods can reduce the amount of material in landfills and minimize site disturbance.
• Hotel infill development prevents resources from leaving communities and economically revitalizes the area.
Social Advantage #2 Sustainable hotel design, construction, and operations can benefit staff and guests through improved comfort, health and productivity.
The demand on natural resources can be reduced by selecting materials and products that have recycled content, are recyclable, and/or are rapidly renewable.
• Improved indoor ventilation and individual temperature control, increased use of daylighting, and a commitment to the use of low (or no) volatile organic compounds and green cleaning supplies can result in the improved health, productivity and morale of workers, as well as an enhanced guest experience.
Environmental Advantage #5
Social Advantage #3
Natural stormwater filtration techniques improve water quality and the flow of natural hydrology systems.
Sustainable hotel design, construction, and operations increases environmental awareness and encouragess stakeholders to change their lifestyles.
Environmental Advantage #4
• Hotel press releases, interior signage, and guided tours educate hotel guests, staff, and other stakeholders. The knowledge these individuals gain about a hotel’s environmentally friendly practices can be applied to their personal, “at-home” lifestyles. • Hotel developers, architects, contractors, management companies, owners, and other partners can share innovative practices with other portfolio facilities for implementation in future development and operations. This report specifically emphasizes the financial advantages of high performance hotel design, construction, and operation. Our intent is to focus on the very real business opportunities that exist, without diminishing the importance of the environmental and social benefits that are realized as well.