News for the Hospitality Executive |
The Element Hotel in Lexington, Massachusetts � the First
Starwood Hotel to
Earn Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building
Council�s Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program
.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - December 20, 2008 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces that its flagship Element hotel � Element Lexington � is the first Starwood hotel to earn Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council�s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and the first hotel in Massachusetts to achieve this prestigious rating. Element Lexington earned LEED Gold certification in recognition of its superior performance in areas including water and energy conservation and improved indoor environmental quality measures. The hotel, which opened its doors in July 2008, expects to recoup its investment in green building in less than five years, due to associated operational savings. Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is an internationally recognized, third-party certification for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. While meeting LEED standards, Element Lexington�s key green features are also cleverly designed to be as appealing aesthetically as they are eco-friendly, so travelers never compromise on style and comfort.
�Element Lexington�s LEED Gold status underscores Starwood�s history of innovation, as we continually adopt leading-edge technologies and practices,� said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Element Hotels. �Cost-efficient, environmentally friendly building construction and operations were at the core of the development of the Element hotel concept with the goal of creating a healthier, greener environment to benefit both guests and associates. We are actively transferring the learnings derived from this working laboratory of green development across our portfolio of nine world-class brands.� Element Lexington Earns Gold A LEED certified building is one which has demonstrated a whole-building approach to sustainability in five key areas of human health and environmental impact: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy performance and climate protection, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. To achieve LEED Gold status, Element Lexington worked closely with LEED consultants, YRG Sustainability, consulting engineers, Collective Design Associates and Synergy Engineering PLLC and general contractor, Tocci Building Company in Woburn, Massachusetts. The hotel earned high marks from USBGC for a variety of cost-effective measures to improve environmental sustainability, including the following: Reduced Water Consumption:Uniquely positioned in the industry to inspire widespread green development, Element consists of entirely new-build hotels showcasing the latest in green construction, design and operations. With 30 hotels in the pipeline, Element opened its first two hotels in 2008 and expects to open several more next year in key markets such as Houston, Baltimore and Denver. About Element Lexington
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Contact:
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
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