There were two significant announcements in the news this past week. The first one is that a zero carbon emissions multi-hotel complex and convention center is being planned for near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. The Chicago Convention Center development promises to be the world’s first zero carbon LEED Platinum convention center complex. Stay tuned for more details on this project. At press time the developer was out of the country and could not be reached.
The second announcement involves the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and its six 40-foot wind turbines. The owner of the hotel, Costa Dorada Associates, Miami, will spend about $500,000 for the turbines that will each generate 32,000 kWh of electricity. The turbines, oval shaped with intertwining blades, will sit on the roof of the 375-key property. In the event of an approaching hurricane, the turbines can be folded down.
I spoke with Andreas Ioannou, general manager of the hotel, and he told me installation will begin in September with completion expected by the end of the year. Initially, Costa Dorada Associates considered street-level wind turbines. They are still in the company’s plans but may not be constructed for two or three years. Next year solar panels will be added to the roof of the hotel. Once the solar panels and wind turbines are up and running, the hotel could approach 25 percent renewable energy for its electricity supply.
A Rare Industry Achievement
What Costa Dorada Associates is doing is groundbreaking for a city the size of Fort Lauderdale. To my knowledge, there are no other larger-city hotels in the United States with wind turbines (see our current list of wind powered properties). I know that owners of hotels in San Francisco and New York have at least considered them. The unique design of the turbines to be placed on the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort make them possible.
While the cost is significant, Costa Dorada Associates hopes to pay part of it through rebates from state and federal government.
The turbine installation is the continuation of an ongoing commitment by the hotel’s owners to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. The resort was the first hotel in Broward County to be awarded a Florida Green Lodging designation by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection for going above and beyond environmental regulations and voluntarily implementing hotel conservation programs that protect Florida’s environment.
I am looking forward to visiting the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort once the turbines are operational. If you are aware of any similar wind turbine installations or pending ones, be sure to contact me at (440) 243-2055 or editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
We Have a New Address!
In the past week our offices have moved to 2188 Vernon Road, University Heights, Ohio 44118. Our new phone number is now 216-848-1406. Our new fax number is 216-848-1404. Please be sure to note this in your records.
Internship Opportunity
The Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize is looking for an intern. To learn more about the opportunity, click here.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
Planning Advertising for the Second Half of 2012?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2012. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2012 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. A media kit can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Social Networking Sites
Green Lodging News now has 1,191 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 286 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
