April 15th, 2009

Photo: The Orchard Hotel

From Green Right Now Reports

The Orchard Hotel has earned LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification for an existing building by the U.S. Green Building Council. San Francisco’s only hotel to earn this honor, the Orchard Hotel is the second hotel in California and fourth hotel in the world with this certification.

LEED-EB is the USGBC’s rating system for operating high performance buildings dedicated to whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues, recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs and systems upgrades.

The Orchard Hotel, managed by Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, based in Oak Brook, IL, includes 104 guest rooms and is located just two blocks from Union Square. The hotel said the inspiration for meeting the LEED-EB guidelines comes from its 85-year-old owner, Mrs. S.C. Huang. She is passionate about clean environments, after the untimely cancer-related deaths of three family members, and has devoted herself to creating environmentally safe and sustainable hotels.

“Mrs. S.C. Huang pursued a LEED certification for her existing hotel for several important reasons,” Stefan Mühle, general manager for the hotels and regional director for Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. “Studies prove that LEED certified buildings have lower operating costs, higher employee productivity, and happier, healthier occupants. We’re extremely proud to lead the hospitality industry in our dedication to our environment and our guests’ and employees’ quality of life.”

The Orchard Hotel achieved LEED-EB certification for managing energy use, sustainable cleaning and maintenance practices, employee education, recycling policies, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. The hotel’s green practices also include chemical-free cleaning products, a 100% tobacco-free environment, recycled paper and soy-based inks, low flow toilets and showers, CFL, halogen or LED lighting throughout the hotel; low or no-VOC paints, adhesives and sealants; strict recycling and compost programs and more.

In 2007, the Orchard Hotel’s sister property, the Orchard Garden Hotel, was awarded LEED-NC® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-New Construction) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. San Francisco’s first hotel to earn this honor, the Orchard Garden was only the third hotel in the U.S. and fourth hotel in the world with this certification.

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