More hotels look for sustainable options

on Tuesday,November 16,2010 19:11

As global warming becomes a growing concern, more companies are looking to sustainable practices to do their part to help the environment. Hotels have specifically made a big effort to reduce their carbon footprints, according to Hotel Interactive, an industry news site.

Approximately 61 lodging groups have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for their green practices from the U.S. Green Building Council. More importantly, nearly 562 other lodging projects are working toward receiving LEED certification, showing a move toward more sustainable architecture.

Mark Laport, the president and chief executive officer of Concord Hospitality Enterprises, manages more than 75 hotels. LEED designed a Marriott Courtyard for the company in Pittsburgh.

"The design produces significant development efficiencies, which effectively reduces the cost to about $350,000 and substantially lowers design time, producing a projected payback to owners in approximately six years," Laport told the news source.

Architecture jobs are projected to increase by 16 percent over the next eight years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sustainability is becoming a priority for designers as environmental concerns grow in the industry.