Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront Awarded EPA's Energy Star Certification
Oakland, CA - June 7, 2011 - The Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront is doing its part to be part of the solution. It is only the second hotel in Oakland to earn the Energy Star certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This is the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Operated by Kupuna Hospitality Management, hotel recently engaged EcoGreenHotel, a hotel energy solution based firm, to perform an energy efficiency analysis and outline a sustainability plan that included an Energy Star Benchmarking.
Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically and making cost-effective improvements to its building. The hotel property scored 43 points higher than the average hotel and 18 points higher than the Energy Star requirements. This achievement ranks the green hotel in the top 7 percent of similar buildings. Additionally, with this score, the Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront has even exceeded the energy efficiency pre requisite for the US Green Building Council's LEED Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance (EBOM) certification.
The Homewood Suites implemented occupancy based energy management systems in all 132-guest rooms. All HVAC and refrigeration equipment is maintained for optimal efficiency through Kupuna Hospitality's Preventative Maintenance Planner. The entire building is outfitted with high efficiency lighting. Storage rooms and other areas that are infrequently occupied have timers or occupancy sensors to control lighting when rooms are not in use. With the assistance of EcoGreenHotel, the Homewood Suites is reviewing additional energy conservation measures that include window film to reduce the solar thermal gain, ozone laundry technology as well as a boiler management system to reduce the natural gas usage for the property. As part of the E2A Program (Energy Efficiency Analysis), the property is also evaluating renewable energy options including solar PV, solar thermal and cogeneration.
“We are always looking for ways to reduce energy use by upgrading inefficient equipment and finding ways for existing equipment to run more efficiently,” said Rick Gabrielsen, President and CEO of Kupuna Hospitality.“Through monthly energy monitoring, reporting and comparisons to historical data, we will ensure that the Homewood Suites operates at high energy efficiency and is eligible to earn the Energy Star label each year.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging people to travel green while on the road this summer, and choosing hotels that have earned EPA's Energy Star is a great place to start. Energy Star labeled hotels are independently verified to meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by EPA. Green hotels that have earned the Energy Star perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nation wide, use at least 35 percent less energy and emit at least 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint) than their peers - making an environmentally friendly lodging choice a snap when planning a summer vacation.
“Hotel's have historically been huge consumers of natural resources. That's why it's important for us [general managers] to recognize the opportunities for conservation and energy savings. Not only are travelers expecting a great experience, but they're also looking to minimize their carbon footprint,” said the Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront's General Manager, Jason Olivares.“The Energy Star label for our hotel is just the first reflection of our efforts. Our green team is constantly looking for ways to lesson our impact on the bay area's resources.”
The green lodging industry spends more than $7.5 billion on energy each year. Reducing energy use by 10 percent across the industry could save $750 million and help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 6 million tons annually. Energy Star partners, such as EcoGreenHotel Energy Solutions,work with hundreds of owners and managers of hotels across the country to help strategically manage energy performance, cut energy use, lower utility bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.²
For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.
About Homewood Suites Oakland Waterfront
The Homewood Suites by Hilton® Oakland-Waterfront sustainable hotel is located on the Estuary and Marina in Oakland, CA. 60% of the suites and studios in this lovely three-story designed hotel offer views of the marina. This Green Certified Hotel is located conveniently off I-880, providing excellent access to San Francisco and San Jose at 1103 Embarcadero, Oakland, California. To make hotel reservation, visit http://oaklandgreenhotels.com or call 510-663-2700.
About Kupuna Hospitality
Kupuna Hospitality offers complete management services to hotel owners, providing competitive fees with balance in operational quality to enhance profitability. Financial performance of the properties is the barometer for our success. Owners understand that consistently providing guests with an excellent product and exceptional service at a premium price is essential to being profitable.In addition to property management, Kupuna Hospitality provides hotel owners and investors a full complement of hospitality and business services.
About EcoGreenHotel
EcoGreenHotel (Robbinsville, NJ), is a privately held company specializing solely in the hospitality industry by providing solutions for a broad spectrum of sustainability issues from energy efficiency to online marketing and green hotel products on www.EcoGreenHotel.com. The company provides information, tools, checklists, current news and trends to the hospitality industry through its website, www.EcoGreenHotel.com. EcoGreenHotel also provides customized consulting services tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry in the areas of energy efficiency and certifications, including LEED, Green Seal and Energy Star. For further information, email [email protected] or call 888-229-0213.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
