EcoGreenHotel

Is that possible? Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque, New Mexico, claims they’ve done just that. Reopening after a $30 million remodel, the Andaluz reduced their water use by 78% with their water savings program.

The Andaluz, which previously existed as the La Posada hotel, was extensively remodeled according to LEED standards. In order to cut water use, the Andaluz developers implemented numerous water and energy saving conservation measures, including:

1. “Oxygen-assisted” low-flow shower heads
2. Rainwater collection system for irrigation (in process)
3. Efficient low-flow toilets
4. Solar panels to heat about 60% of the hotel’s hot water (which will cut energy use by 20%)
5. Guestroom controls
6. Fluorescent and LED lighting

The result, in May 2004 the La Posada used 1.2 million gallons of water. In May 2005, the last year of operation before remodel, La Posada used 730,000 gallons in a month. After remodel, in May 2010, the Andaluz significantly reduced usage to 300,000 gallons of water. Although this is one month, it doesn’t dictate what the new hotel will average through the months to come, especially considering it’s a new hotel. Looking at eight different months of usage over the years, the new hotel averaged 770,000 gallons less than its predecessor La Posada.

Lets put that into perspective. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates a hotel to average around 200 gallons per room per day. Assuming these numbers, Andaluz, in its best month, used 300,000 gallons in a month, which is 10,000 gallons each day – and with 107 rooms and suites, it averages around 93 gallons each day per room. That is better than the low average.

Andaluz took on aggressive green measures, including energy efficiency, in its remodel and operations that the hotel is applying for LEED gold status (it had previously aimed for silver). Once certified, it will be one of the first historically renovated gold LEED hotels in the U.S. -

Visit Green Hotel Directory for more green hotels.

EcoGreenHotel encourages the hospitality industry to participate in Earth Hour 2009, at 8.30pm on Saturday the 28th of March. There are several areas within a hotel or resort that lights and power can be minimized or eliminated for one hour. For more information on Earth Hour and to sign up to be counted as a participating hotel or resort please visit www.earthhour.org.
The hospitality industry can make a huge impact in environmental awareness by implementing green initiatives into their everyday business and Earth Hour is an excellent launch of an ongoing environmentally friendly program for your property.
The following steps should be taken to properly plan for a safe and successful Earth Hour:
• Promote associate involvement by creating a “Green Hotel Team” with a “Green Leader” from your management team and at least one associate from each department.
• The “Green Hotel Team” should meet weekly starting the week of March 2nd 2009 to come up with a list of lights, equipment and machinery that can be powered down for one hour on March 28th without jeopardizing the security or safety of your guests or associates.
• Involve the sales and marketing department to create an event around the night and promote to the local community through reaching out to your top accounts and possibly a press release.
• Earth Hour falls on a Saturday evening which may allow your restaurant to create a promotion around the event to bring in local clientele.
• Properly staff your property the night of the event to insure safety and security.

Send an email to info@EcoGreenHotel.com about your initiatives for Earth Hour and you will be included on www.EcoGreenHotel.com as well as included in further press releases supporting Earth Hour.

For tips and tools for energy reduction to support Earth Hour visit www.EcoGreenHotel.com.