ERA | Boutique Hotel SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2014
A MESSAGE FROM ERA Throughout the past few decades, the hospitality industry has grown exponentially and experienced vast changes due to globalization and technological advancement. Unfortunately, some of this growth has come at the expense of our environment, and regrettably, our industry has become one of the primary contributors to waste and resource exhaustion. At ERA, we want to take advantage of our industry’s scale and position to address these issues. Our team has developed a holistic approach to sustainability through our hotel wide initiative, GreenLEEF™. Our goal is to play an active role in sustainable development and plan for a greener future by reducing our impact encouraging our guests, employees and community to participate as well.
We pride ourselves in running an efficient and sustainable operation without undermining our guest or business needs. We are committed to sustainability in all aspects of our design, operation and services, engaging our guests, employees and local community. Through inspired leadership, effective communication and incentives, we are able to raise awareness on sustainability and be a role model for those around us. We have assessed all the areas of possible environmental impact and have found what we believe to be the best solutions for both our hotel and our stakeholders. Although we are making significant progress, achieving full sustainability is an extensive challenge. We hope that with GreenLEEF™, ERA can push the hospitality industry in a new direction. We’re ready for the challenge!
Camila Ramirez Gonzalez
Andrea Fernandez-‐Salvador
Manthan Trivedi
Chief Sustainability Officer
Executive Assistant Manager
Chief Financial Officer
GreenLEEF™ AT A GLANCE Our Mission
We are committed to running a low-‐impact operation that is socially and environmentally responsible, catering to the wellbeing of our guests and the environment. Our Vision
Our vision is to be recognized for our sustainable practices in our services and operations, which will contribute to our environment, community and profitability.
BUILDING & SITE In our eyes, a truly successful operation is one that takes a holistic approach towards sustainability. Beginning from the initial planning phase, we have incorporated environmentally preferable design elements, construction methods and materials.
Sustainable Design Natural Light & Ventilation •
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By incorporating floor-‐to-‐ceiling windows, skylights and cool colors, we are able to maximize natural light within the building. Window films and glass tinting will reduce the amount of heat entering the building and improve weather protection. Retractable windows and walls in our public spaces and restaurant allow us to remove barriers to the exterior, letting in a flow of natural air during the summer months. Partial-‐open windows in all guestrooms will increase natural ventilation in these areas. The use of open spaces in our lobby, meeting rooms, restaurants and common areas not only enhance light and airflow, but also provide a healthier environment for our guests and employees.
Green Spaces •
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Green spaces throughout the hotel will provide a natural atmosphere, while also promoting environmental awareness and offsetting our environmental footprint. Green roofs on all building structures will consist of indigenous plant landscaping that will require less maintenance and adapt to all seasons. Our rooftop terrace will feature a vertical garden of herbs used for on-‐site restaurants, reducing carbon emissions, waste and negative health effects from otherwise purchased produce. We will reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and water in our landscaping through the use of natural fertilizers, rainwater harvesting, irrigation from recycled greywater and indigenous plants.
Building Design
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Along with the green spaces, the building is designed in order to blend in with the landscape and have the least impact on the local community. The low height of the property will not block views of any potential neighbors and the building façade will match the historic look of nearby properties. South facing overhands will block the sun’s heat from the building during the summer, keeping it cool, while allow heat in during the winter, naturally warming the building. We will work closely with the City of Chicago and other organizations in order implement proper infrastructure in the area that is pedestrian and bicycle friendly (e.g. cross walks, bicycle lanes, DIVVY station, vehicle sharing, etc.).
Construction Prefabricated Building • •
The processing of many products in the construction phase of any building contributes to pollution and waste. By opting for a prefabricated building, our property will reduce carbon emissions from shipments and will cut construction waste down by 90%.
Materials •
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Whenever possible, building materials will be made from recycled materials and come from local suppliers to both reduce our impact and support our local community. Green Seal certified, non-‐toxic and VOC-‐Free materials, paints, adhesives and equipment will be used for all stages of construction.
ENERGY Energy Efficiency •
ENERGY STAR appliances will be used throughout the hotel’s service and public areas. Appliances include: -‐
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ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager will be the primary tracking tool to document energy usage data. A waste heat recovery system will be implemented to redistribute excess heat from refrigeration, air conditioning and air compressors to other sections of the building that require heating. LED lighting will reduce energy usage and minimizing waste because of the longer lifespan. We will promote the use of energy-‐efficient vehicles and provide EV charging stations and designated parking for such vehicles.
Sensors •
Infrared sensors will be used for guestroom lighting and thermostat control. o Occupancy sensors detect when a guest enters a room and keeps lights on until the person has exited the room. o Infrared sensors in public spaces will measure the amount of natural daylight in the space and will automatically adjust light settings accordingly. o Back-‐of-‐the-‐house motion sensors will perform a similar function by detecting movement and turning lights on/off.
Preventative maintenance • •
A comprehensive preventative maintenance plan will be established to check that building energy and water equipment are functioning properly. Preventative maintenance checks will take place quarterly.
WATER Water tracking • • • •
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager will be the primary tracking tool to document water usage data. Comprehensive water tracking will include tracking the amount of water used per department and per month using water meters throughout the hotel. This tool encompasses all the resources taken from the environment with the exception of water that does not travel through hotel meters (rain water). Monitoring our hotel’s electric, gas, and water usage can provide critical data that will result in reduced usage, savings opportunities, and increased conservation of natural resources.
Water Reduction •
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Low-‐flow fixtures that meet WaterSense standards will be incorporated into guest, public and service areas. o Toilets: Dual flush, 1.28 GPF. o Faucets: 1.5 GPM. o Showerheads: 2.0 GPM. o Urinals: No flush. We will implement a linen-‐reuse program within the hotel, encouraging guests to reduce their water usage. The company for laundry outsourcing will be chosen based on their environmental and water reduction practices.
Alternative Water Sources •
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Reclaimed water (greywater) recycled from showers, lavatory sinks and laundry will be treated and reused for non-‐potable applications such as landscaping, toilets and fire suppression systems. Rainwater will be captured via the rooftop and underground systems and channeled to a cistern as a water reserve for other purposes. Replacing bottled water with environmentally friendly water filtered on-‐site with the Vivreau system will reduce transportation, pollution and packaging waste.
WASTE Waste Tracking • •
U.S. EPA WasteWise Re-‐TRAC will be the primary tracking tool to measure waste and track trends over time in order to identify areas for improvement. The amount of waste generated, time period over which waste is generated and sources of waste will all be tracked.
Waste Diversion Disposal •
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A comprehensive recycling program will be implemented throughout the hotel in which both employees and guests will be encouraged to participate. Waste will be categorized as recyclables, compostable, repurposed or landfill waste. Mattresses, cooking oil, furniture and flooring will all be recycled. Hazardous materials such as paint, coatings, printing cartridges, electronics and batteries will be disposed of properly.
Disposable Items • •
The use of disposable items (e.g. coffee cups, to-‐go boxes, etc.) will be kept to a minimum in hotel, restaurant and event operations. When used, disposable items will be 100% recyclable and made from post-‐consumer waste.
Donation • •
Leftover supplies from construction or renovations will be donated to GoodWill or Slavation Army Chicago. Surplus/excess food will be donated to a food bank in the local community.
Onsite Composting • •
Onsite composting of organic waste will turn food and yard waste into a nutrient-‐rich fertilizer. Composting will minimize waste and repurpose it to improve soil and garden quality for both our green roofs and vertical garden.
PURCHASING Ethical purchasing •
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Purchasing from suppliers that provide environmentally preferable products and run a sustainable operation will be maximized to reduce our impact, improve human health and encourage change among suppliers. Preferred suppliers will run operations with renewable energy, use biofuel fleets for transportation and offer sustainable products (e.g. USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade, etc.). We will support local businesses by purchasing food, amenities and furniture from within our community whenever possible. Preference will be given to furniture made from locally sourced materials, including wood harvesting, processing, manufacturing and installation.
Sustainable Products Recycled Products • •
Paper products such as toilet paper, facial tissue, and office paper, paper towels, coffee cups, etc. will be made of a minimum of 50% postconsumer recycled materials. 100% biodegradable products will be given preference whenever possible.
Cleaning products • •
All cleaning products will be purchased in bulk, minimizing transportation and reducing packaging waste. Green Seal certified cleaning products will be used to ensure environmentally preferable characteristics through Life Cycle Assessment.
Environmentally Sensitive Amenities • •
Green Seal certified bathroom amenities will be used in all guestrooms. Earthology products are free of sulfates, parabenes and artificial colorants, and will be incorporated into bathrooms in wall-‐mounted, refillable dispensers.
Furniture & Flooring • •
Furniture selection will take into account the use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials. Such materials will be uread-‐formaldehyde free. FloorScore certified flooring and carpeting with low VOC emissions will be chosen over other flooring options.
INNOVATION Technology • • •
Through the use of technology, we will go as “paper less” as possible, providing electronic check-‐in, invoices and in-‐room information packets. Guest feedback regarding our sustainability efforts will be incorporated into questionnaires given at check out or sent via email to guests after their stays. Through our comprehensive carbon measuring system, we will show guests their “Stayprint” (carbon footprint) upon checkout. o On final invoices, guests will be able to see their “Stayprint” and compare it one at another hotel without a sustainable program in place. o Our Carbon Neutral Booking program works with LHW to understand the average emissions per night of its member hotels and then allows guests to opt-‐ into offsetting those emissions through Forest Conservation Projects around the world.
Education •
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Through this comprehensive program, ERA will encourage, educate and empower our staff, guests and community to initiate new ideas that reduce our environmental impacts as a corporation and as individuals. Our intention is not to change the world; instead, we want to use our influence to get our community involved through a message that resonates with them. Educational programs for our team members will ensure our message and values are passed on to our guests. We believe that small steps lead to big changes.
CERTIFICATIONS & RECOGNITION ERA’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond green certifications and endorsements. With that in mind, we acknowledge the importance of third party certifications and recognition programs, to both promote our sustainable initiatives to potential guests and ensure those initiatives are met.
Leading Green – STEP
LHW adopted and endorsed an optional set of environmental standards developed by Sustainable Travel International. STEP is a voluntary environmental certification program for LHW hotels, taking into consideration the specific needs and challenges of operating a new or existing luxury hotel and adhering to strict baseline criterion.
Green Seal Green Seal is a non-‐profit environmental standard development and certification organization. Green Seal's flagship program is the certification of products, services, restaurants and hotels. The certification is based on Green Seal standards, which contain performance, health and sustainability criteria.
GreenLeader The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Program identifies hotels and B&Bs that are committed to green practices like recycling, water efficiency and alternative energy. All qualifying properties must have a basic set of green practices in place. These practices are essential to any green program, and are of interest to eco-‐conscious travelers.
StayGreen – Illinois The StayGreen Program was launched by the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) in 2008 to recognize its hotel members that proactively use eco-‐friendly products and services to reduce their impact on the environment. IHLA StayGreen Hotels can achieve recognition for saving energy, recycling & minimizing waste, and using eco-‐friendly products.