The ABCs of LEED

USGBC
LEED

LEED AP
LEED NC

LEED EBOM
The U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization that certifies sustainable
businesses, homes, hospitals, schools,
and neighborhoods…and hotels. USGBC
is dedicated to expanding green building
practices and education.
The Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green
Building Rating System is a voluntary,
consensus-based national rating system
for developing high-performance,
sustainable buildings. LEED emphasizes
state-of-the-art strategies in five areas:
sustainable site development, water
savings, energy efficiency, materials and
resources selection, and indoor
environmental quality.
LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED
APs) have demonstrated a thorough
understanding of green building
techniques, the LEED Green Building
Rating System, and the certification
process. The LEED AP program is
administered by the Green Building
Certification Institute (GBCI), which was
established with the support of USGBC to
allow for objective, balanced management
of the credentialing program.
LEED Certified Buildings
= 1,228
LEED Certified Hotels = 7
WORLDWIDE, 17% fresh water withdrawals
BUILDINGS
ACCOUNT 25% wood harvest
FOR…
33% CO2 emissions

40% material and energy use

45% in China

Source: US Green Building Council

PERCEIVED 8-9% decrease in operating costs
ADVANTAGES
OF BUILDING 7.5% increase in building value
GREEN
6.6% improvement in ROI

3.5% increase in occupancy

Source: US Green Building Council

Energy costs typically account for 35–40% of a hotel’s
operating expenses.
energy efficient lighting
ATLANTA MARRIOTT MARQUIS
In this extensive renovation, LED lighting saves
energy, changes colors and adds drama to the atrium
space.
energy conservation
GRAND HYATT KAUAI RESORT & SPA, HAWAII, USA
Heat produced by the air conditioning system heats
the water for guestrooms, laundry and swimming
pools. This process decreases environmental pollution
in addition to conserving 205,000 kWh of electricity
each year.
co-generation system
THE RITZ-CARLTON, SAN FRANCISCO
Installation of a Co-Gen system provides 120 tons of
cooling year round with 80% efficiency; emits 40%
less carbon dioxide a year – equal to planting 150
acres of forest each year; emits 90% less nitrogen
oxide a year – equal to removing 250 cars from the
road each year.
renewable energy
GUANGZHOU CONGHUA HOTSPRINGS RESORT,
CHINA
The project incorporates many sustainable features in
the design, including integrated metal panel and
translucent photovoltaic roofing systems.
alternative cooling
OCEAN VILLAGE HOTEL, SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND
Sustainability is a key goal for this project. Sea water
will be used to chill ceilings within guestrooms,
resulting in lower carbon emissions than the use of
conventional air conditioning systems.
local materials
SASAKWA LODGE, SERENGETI, TANZANIA
The project consists of luxury safari lodges with spa,
equestrian and other leisure facilities. It was designed
to merge with the environment by using local
materials and color selections sensitive to the
indigenous landscape surrounding it.
natural ventilation
SASAKWA LODGE, SERENGETI, TANZANIA
The buildings were designed according to sustainable
principles with ventilation and cooling in mind through
the careful placement of windows and the use of large
verandas wrapping around all the buildings.
natural habitat protection
RANTAU ABANG VISITORS CENTRE, MALAYSIA
With its sea life museum, the project captures the
strong traditional link between Malaysians and the sea.
It serves, further, to protect the giant sea turtle during
one step of its migratory life.
preserving culture
GRAND HYATT BALI, BALI, INDONESIA
The resort helps sustain traditional Balinese culture
with botanical research. Lily ponds and pools are kept
clean by a biological filtering system using fish rather
than chemicals.
saving trees
HOTEL TRITON, SAN FRANCISCO
Management offers the daily newspaper for free in the
lobby and hallways rather than delivering papers to
each guestroom. They order 60% fewer papers as a
result.
sensitive siting
RAMADA REEF RESORT, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
The innovative design notched the buildings to leave
the dense stand of trees undisturbed and raised the
pools, decks and walkways to alleviate damage to tree
roots.
benefit the community
SASAKWA LODGE, SERENGETI, TANZANIA
By providing materials and training to the local
villagers, they managed to build their own school and
community centre. Through its strategic location, the
project also helped to put a halt to the massive
problem of game poaching.
Green Hotels: The Bottom Line

30-70%
ENERGY
SAVINGS VERIFIED
PERFORMANCE

ENHANCED
PRODUCTIVITY INCREASED
VALUE
REDUCED
LIABILITY &
IMPROVED
RISK
MANAGEMENT

Source: US Green Building Council

Green Hotels: Additional Benefits

THE RIGHT
THING TO DO
HEALTHIER
GUESTS

LOWER
OPERATING
COSTS HEALTHIER
STAFF
ENHANCED
PUBLICITY
TRANSLATING TO
HIGHER REVPAR

Source: Howard J. Wolff - WATG

california’s first LEED-certified hotel
ORCHARD GARDEN HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO, USA
Received LEED™ NC certification in May 2007. The
restaurant features organic entrees, locally-grown
produce and California wines.
eco-friendly construction
ORCHARD GARDEN HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO, USA
Concrete made with fly ash, a byproduct of recycling
coal, wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
as harvested in a sustainable manner and diverted
construction debris from landfill disposal by redirecting
recyclable material back to the manufacturing process.
energy management
ORCHARD GARDEN HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO, USA
A $36,000 guestroom key card system created
specifically for the hotel that controls each room’s
lighting and mechanical systems. The guest places the
card in a discreet box in order to turn on the lights and
other room systems.
in-room recycling
ORCHARD GARDEN HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO,
CALIFORNIA, USA
Environmental consciousness extends to the
guestroom, where guests are encouraged to place
recyclables in a custom-designed sorting bin.
eco-friendly construction
CITYCENTER, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA
Largest privately funded development in the world to
pursue LEED™ certification. Through re-use and
recycling, it diverts over 80% of construction materials
from landfills.
the contractor’s role
CITYCENTER, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA
Largest privately funded development in the world to
pursue LEED™ certification. The casino incorporates
sustainable features including extensive use of natural
light, water-saving fixtures, and transit system.
going for platinum
BARDESSONO INN & SPA, CALIFORNIA, USA
This 62-room luxury lodge and spa resort will use solar
and geothermal energy, sophisticated energy
management systems, sustainable building materials,
and organic landscape management practices. The
project is seeking Platinum LEED-NC certification.
adaptive reuse: a case study
THE NINES a STARWOOD LUXURY COLLECTION
HOTEL, PORTLAND, OREGON, USA
Conversion of a National Register department store
into a 331-room luxury hotel with an emphasis on
sustainability. Significant savings in energy and water
consumption in designing to LEED Silver standards.
 LEED™ Green
Building Rating
Materials and
Resources
System
Energy &
Atmosphere
Indoor
Environmental
Quality

Sustainable Sites Water Efficiency

Five major categories

in which to earn points
of credits towards a
certification level.
Credits may also be
earned for design
innovation.

Source: US Green Building Council