NATIONAL REPORT—Humans strive to make life easy. It’s this desire to do less labor that, over our existence, has driven our imagination to invent more efficient ways of completing various tasks ranging from eating to traveling to communicating. Yet our advancement is a double-edged sword. As of recently, especially within the last 100 years, we’ve...
CHICAGO—A year and a half ago, Great Wolf Resorts announced it would replace plastic straws at all 17 of its indoor water park resorts with more environmentally friendly paper straws. That step completed by the end of 2018 stopped more than 5 million plastic straws from entering local landfills annually. Bob Holesko, Corporate Director of...
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Department of Energy announced a decision to roll back rules that would have required lightbulbs to be more efficient, a decision that could cost consumers up to $100/year per household starting in 2025, according to estimates by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). David Friedman, Vice President of Advocacy for Consumer Reports, and...
SPD-SmartGlass NATIONAL REPORT—Critical to the energy efficiency of any building is the quality of the window itself—its ability to insulate from infrared heat, potentially harmful UV rays, visible light, and cold air. Joseph Harary, President and CEO, Director, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary for Research Frontiers, says 18 to 20 percent of a building’s energy footprint...
EUGENE, ORE.—The University of Oregon (UO) published a new white paper, “The Impact of Lighting and Views in the Workplace of the Future.”* The paper concludes that daylit spaces with controlled lighting and views can improve occupant well-being, workplace productivity, and satisfaction by positively influencing various physiological and psychological processes. Lighting and views also impact...
ENCINITAS, CALIF.—The Inn at Moonlight Beach announced that it has been awarded WELL Certification at the Platinum level by the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Going a step further than LEED certification, the prestigious distinction was awarded through IWBI’s WELL Building Standard (WELL), which is the premier building standard...
MACAO—The Parisian Macao has earned a LEED Silver certification for the entirety of its operation, in the building design and construction (BD+C) category for new construction projects—making it the first integrated resort in Macao to do so. LEED is an industry-leading environmental sustainability rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Its stringent...
LOS ANGELES—1 Hotels has opened its fourth property and West Coast flagship, 1 West Hollywood. Formerly The Jeremy, the property has undergone a total transformation, taking its cues from the raw natural beauty of the Southern California landscape. The property will continue to be operated by SH Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Starwood Capital...
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA—Last week, Element by Westin, part of Marriott International, announced the opening of Element Melbourne Richmond. Owned and developed by TRC (Aust), the hotel marks the debut of the Element brand in Australia and with it, the longer-stay brand’s signature eco-conscious ethos and commitment to helping healthy, active guests maintain a balanced lifestyle while...
NATIONAL REPORT—Rechargeable, “flameless” LED candles have been around for quite some time but technological advances, design improvements and environmental and economic awareness have made them the preferred choice for thousands of hoteliers and restaurateurs. The environmental impact of the burning and disposing of wax candles is significant. According to The Amazing Flameless Candle, a 48-table...