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Joie de Vivre's Hotel Carlton is First Hotel in San Francisco to Earn LEED-EB Gold Certification From U.S. Green Building Council
Joie de Vivre's Hotel Carlton is First Hotel in San Francisco to Earn LEED-EB Gold Certification From U.S. Green Building Council
Published 06-01-09
Submitted by Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Eco-chic at Hotel Carlton, San Francisco's first LEED-EB Gold hotel San Francisco - June 1, 2009 - One of San Francisco's eco-chic hotels now ranks as its greenest according to the industry standard set by the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system. Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre boutique property, has earned the prestigious LEED Existing Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EB O&M) Gold certification from the USGBC. The hotel is the first in the country to earn the rigorous Gold certification under the USGBC's newly-revamped LEED-EB O&M rating system which debuted last year and was designed specifically to address the needs of existing buildings.
"We are thrilled and proud that we can now say Hotel Carlton is LEED-EB O&M Gold certified, making it the highest rated hotel by LEED standards in San Francisco," said Pamela Flank, the hotel's general manager. "Sustainability makes good business sense because it conserves resources. Every operations decision we make at the hotel is filtered through our mission to reduce our impact on the environment." In addition to earning its LEED-EB O&M Gold certification, Hotel Carlton also was recently awarded a top score of 100 from Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
To achieve LEED-EB O&M Gold, the USGBC's certification for existing commercial and institutional buildings, a property must significantly reduce environmental impacts in a number of areas. A building must achieve a certain number of points in a ranking system that encompasses energy, water, and natural resource conservation, air and water quality, and other factors. And it must maintain these practices and improve the building's eco-efficiency over time. Second only to a Platinum certification, LEED-EB O&M Gold reflects an ongoing commitment to environmentally sustainable principles and practices.
It's an investment Joie de Vivre founder and CEO Chip Conley believes is worth the effort. "Joie de Vivre embodies smart design, and smart design is also sustainable," said Conley. "Lessening our environmental impact reflects our core values, which are about style with soul. We want our guests to have a meaningful experience at our hotels, and Hotel Carlton exemplifies that desire."
Relaunched in 2004, the 161-room Hotel Carlton became the first solar-powered hotel in San Francisco in 2008. Its sustainability platform continues to evolve and includes numerous practices to reduce the hotel's carbon footprint. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are used throughout the hotel; toiletry dispensers grace guest bathrooms; and bottled water is not available at the hotel. Instead, filtered water machines are available in common areas and glass pitchers are placed in guest rooms. In-room and public recycling bins are found throughout the hotel; carpets are made from post-consumer recycled material; only low-VOC paints and non-toxic cleaning products are used, and guests can re-use their towels and linens instead of having them laundered daily. Additional hotel initiatives to reduce environmental impact include a popular turn-key green meetings program and purchase of carbon credits to offset all carbon usage.
To receive the LEED-EB O&M Gold ranking, the hotel achieved:
- Annual CO2 reduction from energy policy - 167 Tons
- 78% reduction in average vehicle ridership for employee commuting
- 80% waste diversion from landfills
- Nine percent on-site renewable (solar) energy production
- Occupant controlled lighting in 100% of work spaces
- 27% reduction in water use
- At least 60% of cleaning products are sustainable
- 100% sustainable purchases of durable goods
San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre (http://www.jdvhotels.com) is a collection of creative lifestyle businesses. Founded in 1987 by Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre manages nearly 40 boutique hotels, more than 20 restaurants and four spas, and is recognized for creating some of the most innovative hospitality services and products and designing one-of-a-kind properties. Joie de Vivre also manages residential projects with hotel-style services and amenities. As California's largest boutique hotel collection, Joie de Vivre Hotels is becoming the hotel brand synonymous with the California travel experience, offering a wide range of unique urban, suburban and waterfront boutique hotels that cater to leisure and business travelers in all market segments. Joie de Vivre hotels are located in San Francisco, Marin County, Silicon Valley, San Francisco East Bay, Big Sur, Sonoma County, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Los Angeles. In 2009, Joie de Vivre continues its California expansion with hotels opening in Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Venice Beach, Santa Clara and Laguna Beach.
Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Joie de Vivre Hospitality
Based in San Francisco, Joie de Vivre Hospitality (www.jdvhotels.com) is a creative collection of lifestyle businesses. As California's largest independent boutique hotelier, Joie de Vivre encompasses other hospitality businesses such as restaurants and spas. Celebrating 20 years of creating dreams, Joie de Vivre Hospitality is expanding its California presence in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sunnyvale, Huntington Beach and beyond.
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