Mr. Hill

Eco-Friendly Practices

Five New Must-have Green Trends

By Roger G. Hill , Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, The Gettys Group Inc.

Today’s world finds a growing trend with hospitality designers to commit to, and educate themselves as LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professionals. As leaders in the industry, sustainable design practices are becoming common place in pursuing Green Design; creating value, reducing risk and solving problems for their clients as each of them become aware of their social and environmental responsibility. The collective goal is to promote the well being and business success through a comprehensive and collaborative approach, generating distinctive style and driving long term investment returns. The ultimate aspiration of green design is for each project and development site to reasonably sustain itself while neither depleting nor contaminating natural resources or their environmental footprint while striving to give back to the community by providing local support. In pursuit of these goals the expectation is to be seamless execution with the maximum rewards.

Globally, the hospitality industry is at the threshold of an amazing opportunity; breaking ground by offering owners and consumers more environmentally sensitive hotel and resort options while truly maintaining brand identity. The time has come for developers, owners and property managers to implement responsible sustainable practices in managing and measuring performances. These options, vary whether renovation or new construction and are dependent on what region of the globe, are being implemented and provided at a substantially lower cost than the original perception; a nominal 5%-10% increase in initial investment. With demand comes supply!

The new trends for green design reflect the ongoing challenges being addressed by architects, designers, engineers, developers and hoteliers alike throughout the hospitality and lodging industries.

• We must have green design as the norm NOT the exception; sustainability is no longer just an option but it is fast becoming the standard for which buildings are designed.
  
  With the increase of green-educated owners, clients, guests and communities, an escalated level of consciousness is expected from all design professionals. This holds true for all development types resulting in overall cost savings during construction, operations and ultimately the life span of the project. The crowning goal is an increasing awareness and conservation of the environment.

• We must have biomimicry; the use of nature as a guide and mentor to advance design.
  
  It is the increasing model for which all sustainable designs are being developed. We look to nature to lead us while designing. This is being accomplished by creating more efficient manmade systems, enhancing the chemical properties of new products and materials and producing a more cyclical, self-sustaining process of building. To date there are numerous examples that exist in the marketplace or are underdevelopment. For instance nano-technology is the science by which we change the chemical properties of materials at the atomic and molecular level. Some successes are self cleaning paints, photo sensitive and thermal glass and inherently moisture, stain and bacterial repellant textiles.

• We must have reduction in consumption; both in water and energy.
  
  New advancements in the technology of individual buildings’ mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems have made this possible. The net result is maximum efficiencies, cost savings, both during construction as well as once the property is operational, and a decreased environmental impact to every project. Monitoring sensors are one of the most significant features used today. They contribute to controlling air flow, ventilation and water utilization depending on the application or building system. Concerning plumbing systems we have temperature, water flow rate and volume controls at both the building and end-user levels. Regarding electrical management, controlling power consumption is greatly affected by both overall building examination and monitoring as well as individual area controls, with the specific use of low-cost efficient LED & CFL lamping in conjunction with the advanced controls in regulating natural and electronic light.

• We must have alternative materials and resources; stemming from recycled, natural and rapidly renewable products.
  
  Great advancements have been made in the area of textiles. We find that new fibers are being developed from natural bamboo and hemp, becoming as prevalent as cottons, wools and linens, materials which are more commonly known and used since the inception of applied design. Reclaimed and recycled materials such a wood, glass and natural stone are successfully being utilized as interior finish materials. Many building products and interior finishes such as structural steel, porcelain tile and carpet are being designed to have a continual life-cycle. At the end of their use cycle, they are regenerated into new product and are consequently being selected, specified and installed on new projects. Paper and plastic products, although many are already made from wood bi-products or post consumer recycled materials, are also being produced from vegetables like corn and potato, all of which are bio-degradable.

• We must have local sourcing; regionally grown and produced products and services.
  
  Renewed interest in regional businesses such as fabricators, installers, entrepreneurial artisans and craftsmen results in a boost to the local economy and infrastructure. Most notably, restauranteurs are increasingly incorporating indigenous meats, vegetables, fruits and condiments into their cuisine, resulting in tastier, fresher, more creative and interesting fare. In addition, local sourcing minimizes transportation efforts and costs, benefiting both services and consumers.

A recent example of successful Green Design is the Hotel Felix, designed by Gettys - the global interior design firm specializing in hospitality. The Hotel Felix is credited as the first successful LEED Silver hotel in the city of Chicago; located in the heart of the North River neighborhood, it is an eighty year old historic Beaux Arts property ignored for more than fifty years. It has been transformed into an upscale two hundred and twenty five guest room boutique hotel. Considered the ultimate in recycling, the building itself maintains its original terra cotta and brick façade while the luxurious interiors are complimentary with its crisp, clean and renewed aesthetic. The eco-friendly renovation included the modernization of the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Guest rooms, public spaces and back of house areas are all on motion and occupancy sensors greatly contributing to the total automation and efficiency of the property. Evident from the buildings approach and continuing into the welcoming lobby, reception and up to the finely appointed guest suites the use of recycled glass tile, bamboo floors, low VOC finishes and FSC certified wood maximize the importance of being environmentally sensitive. A continuing contribution to the community by the hotel’s management and operations team is the implementation of a successful ‘recycle program’ practiced by all staff and guests alike. What can be recycled is recycled! Although The Felix Hotel renovation presented many complex design and implementation challenges, the Gettys design, development and procurement team accomplished its goal; a successful project which embodies the essence of Green Design.

As evident with the success of the Hotel Felix renovation, green design can be implemented with the same level of quality and durability, if not better than the more conventional, non-sustainable design of the past. Interior spaces can successfully feature beautiful materials and high-end design without sacrificing quality. As sustainability confronts the mainstream through media, consumers are demanding more environmentally friendly, reduced impact, travel destination choices. It is through the perpetual education and global understanding by all of us, as consumers, that will promote what it is to be truly green from a construction perspective as well as an operational and design perspective.

Green design is sexy. Green design is smart. It translates into luxurious design, be it ultra contemporary, high style or traditional and no longer means compromise. It transcends all styles and does not have to be raw, unrefined or primitive. It is about the careful, selective process and application of sustainable practices, concepts and materials, achieving sophisticated designs that are beneficial to the client, the community, and the environment.

Nearly 25 years ago, Roger Hill co-founded Gettys, a Top 10 hospitality interior design, procurement and development firm. Under his leadership, Gettys has grown to a global team of business-minded professionals who specialize in hotels, resorts, spas, casinos and mixed-used developments the world over. A respected industry veteran, he is frequently called upon by hospitality and business media outlets to provide insight into the redevelopment, renovation, and repositioning of hotels. A graduate of Cornell University, Roger has served as an appointed delegate for the White House Conference on Small Business, and is a member of ULI, YPO and ISHC. Mr. Hill can be contacted at 312-836-1111 or info@gettys.com Extended Bio...

HotelExecutive.com retains the copyright to the articles published in the Hotel Business Review. Articles cannot be republished without prior written consent by HotelExecutive.com.