Chicago Leads Nation with Five Green Seal Certified Hotels

City Recognizes Environmental Leadership of Hotels

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. October 22, 2008

OCTOBER 16, 2008. Mayor Richard M. Daley acknowledged today the efforts of twenty-five Chicago hotels that are currently striving for an environmental designation. The Green Hotels Initiative challenges hotels to obtain Green Seal certification, anenvironmental lodging standard with requirements in waste minimization, energy efficiency, water conservation, waste water management and green procurement. The program also offers resources, best practices and recognitionto the hotels going green.

"Whether you are working to install energy efficient equipment in your kitchens and laundry facilities, installing water-saving plumbing fixtures, or planning for a green roof, like the one we have on top of City Hall, your efforts not only serve as a model for others, but you are also helping Chicago achieve its goal of having the most Green Seal certified hotels in the nation," said Mayor Daley during a breakfast at the Hotel Monaco, 225 N. Wabash, one of the hotels taking part in the initiative.

During the event, the City also announced that the Hotel Monaco Chicago, Hotel Burnham, Hotel Allegro Chicago, InterContinental Chicago, and the Talbott Hotel received their Green Seal certification, making Chicago the city with the most Green Seal Certified hotels in the nation.

Research data from the Chicago Climate Action Plan shows that 71 percent of green house gas emissions in Chicago result from buildings. With its 24 hour operations, the hotel industry can be carbon intensive. As a result, hotels can play an important role in helping reduce emissions and providing tourists and visitors with world-class accommodations that are also environmentally friendly.

The twenty additional hotels that have been audited now have the baseline requirements to become Green Seal certified. In order to receive certification, the hotels need to implement a host of environmental practices including:

---| Install energy efficient equipment in the office, kitchen, and laundry facilities;

---| Install water conserving devices such as 2.2 gallons per minute faucets, 2.5 gallons per minute showerheads, and 1.6 gallons per flush toilets;

---| Implement a successful recycling program that is monitored on a monthly basis for waste reduction targets;

---| Use non-phosphate, nontoxic, biodegradable cleaning products and detergents;

---| Offer guest a towel/linen reuse option;

---| Use 30 percent post consumer recycled paper;

---| Establish a purchasing policy that incorporates environmental goals and preferences; and

---| Minimize use of chlorine.

Green Seal certified hotels may find that they can have a less harmful impact on the environment while saving money. For example, a 300-room hotel switching to a bath tissue with 100 percent post-consumer content would save approximately 4 tons of virgin paper, 48 trees, 16,400 kwh of electricity, 28,000 gallons of water and 240 pounds of air pollutants annually. After the hotels receive Green Seal certification, the City will encourage hotels to pursue other environmental certifications such as the EPA's Energy Star program and the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership for Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) certification.

Chicago Green Seal Audited Hotels include:

Drake Hotel

Essex Inn

Fairmont

Four Points Hotel

Four Seasons

Hard Rock Hotel

Hilton Chicago

Hotel Allegro

Hotel Burnham

Hotel Monaco

Hyatt Regency

Intercontinental

Marriott Courtyard

Park Hyatt

Peninsula Hotel

Renaissance

Residence Inn

Ritz Carlton

Sheraton Hotel & Tower

Silversmith

Sofitel

Swissotel

The Talbott

Westin Michigan Avenue

Westin River North

Founded in 1989, Green Seal is a nonprofit organization based in Washington,DC that provides science-based environmental certification standards that arecredible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Their industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life.