ALBUQUERQUE -- July 20, 2010 - In keeping with its commitment of being one of the most eco conscious hotels in the country, the Historic Hotel Andaluz - formerly La Posada de Albuquerque in downtown Albuquerque - used a mere 300,000 gallons of water for the entire month of May this year. That, compared with 1.2 million gallons of water that the La Posada used in May 2004 and 730,000 gallons in May 2005 - the last two years it was open.

Since the Historic Hotel Andaluz opened in October 2009, the Hotel is consuming an average of 770,000 gallons of water less per month than its predecessor, the La Posada. In fact, when comparing both hotels, water usage for the same eight month period (October 2003/2009 through May 2004/2010), Hotel Andaluz used 78 percent less water than La Posada.

“When you consider how much water the La Posada used compared to Hotel Andaluz, the reduction in usage is remarkable,” said Darin Sand, LEED AP of the Goodman Realty Group. “We are very proud of this accomplishment, while at the same time, still providing top notch service for our guests.” 

Hotel Andaluz accomplished this feat, in part, with the use of:

• Oxygen Assisted Shower Heads - low flow shower heads, which takes oxygen and mixes with water for the feel of more water;
• Dual Flush Toilets - standard toilets were replaced with low-flow, dual-flush technology which reduces water use by more than 45 percent annually and;
• Captured Rainwater for Landscape Irrigation - the Hotel is in the process of implementing a rainwater capture system to serve as irrigation for exterior and interior landscape.

On top of its low water efforts, Hotel Andaluz has also utilized: state-of-the-art building energy control systems; LED and compact fluorescent interior lighting; guest room furnishings using bamboo, which is a rapidly renewable material; and utilization of solar energy through a 73 panel solar thermal system that provides 60 percent of the domestic hot water for the Hotel. 

In June 2010, Hotel Andaluz, Goodman Realty and Darin Sand received “The Most Innovative Recycling Project of the Year “ Award from the New Mexico Recycling Coalition, www.nmrecycle.org.  Sand received the award for his construction and demolition waste management efforts during the Hotel’s renovation. The award recognizes individuals, businesses, municipalities and educational facilities for their outstanding work to promote recycling and composting throughout New Mexico.  

The Hotel underwent a massive $30 million renovation and a complete upgrade of every system on the property.  The Hotel is also applying for LEED Gold status and, when awarded, will be one of the first historically renovated LEED Gold Hotels in the nation - a unique distinction for a property on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Hotel Andaluz is located at 125 2nd St NW in downtown Albuquerque. For more information on the historic Hotel Andaluz visit www.hotelandaluz.com or call 877-987-9090.

About Hotel Andaluz
The original hotel opened as the Albuquerque Hilton in 1939 by native New Mexican Conrad Hilton and was Hilton’s fourth built hotel. Gary Goodman purchased the hotel in 2005, completely renovated it and today; it is being recognized for both its historic significance and environmentally responsible design.