hospitalitystyle.com

(October 2011) posted on Mon Oct 24, 2011 EDT

2010 savings from green steps: $74 million

Hilton Worldwide said its brand-wide sustainability efforts cut its utility costs by $74 million in 2010. According to the hotelier’s LightStay sustainability measurement system, the company experienced the following reductions in utility expenses for that year:

*A 6.6 percent reduction of energy use;

*A 7.8 percent reduction of carbon output;

*A 19 percent reduction of waste output ;

*A 3.8 percent reduction of water use;

“LightStay has provided us with a platform to measure hotel performance and economic improvement, proving to be invaluable given today’s increased operational demands and resource constraints,” says Christopher Nassetta, Hilton’s president and ceo.

Recent updates to the program include a social network feature that allows hotels to communicate, track projects and share best practices. All of the company’s 3,750 properties are required to use LightStay by this December.

Over the next three years, Hilton also plans to install energy-efficient chillers, boilers, motors, building automation systems, water reclamation systems, high-efficient windows and white roofs across its portfolio.

Hilton recently earned ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems. The company’s goal is to reduce water use by 10 percent and energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and waste by 20 percent within its corporate properties and hotels by 2014.