With already one of the most comprehensive environmental programs within the worldwide hotel industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today announced that it has partnered with the widely recognized US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Program. This latest partnership with ENERGY STAR, which will focus on the company’s fifteen US-based properties, is part of Fairmont’s ongoing strategy to streamline its energy performance and reduce both utilities consumption and greenhouse gas emissions throughout its operations.
A voluntary program, ENERGY STAR provides businesses with guidelines and resources necessary to achieve and maintain energy efficiency. The program involves ongoing measurement, tracking and benchmarking of a hotel’s energy performance. An innovative energy performance rating system determines each building’s eligibility for the ENERGY STAR label.
In accordance with the principles of Fairmont’s own Green Partnership program, considerable emphasis is placed on energy conservation throughout the company. Various initiatives such as cogeneration at The Fairmont San Jose and extensive lighting retrofits at The Fairmont Washington D.C. have resulted in significant energy savings. Fairmont is also an advocate of renewable energy and recently purchased Eco-Logo certified Renewable Energy Certificates from the Pembina Institute. These certificates, derived from wind power, offset emissions from the brand’s 249 check-in computers across North America resulting in an annual greenhouse gas reduction of almost 100 tonnes. A leader in sustainability within the hospitality sector, Fairmont was recently recognized for its environmental leadership with receipt of the 2006 Global Tourism Business Award from the World Travel and Tourism Council.
“We are proud to be part of ENERGY STAR and look forward to implementing the program’s strategy at our celebrated addresses across the United States,” said Michelle White, Manager, Environmental Affairs. “ENERGY STAR further strengthens our Green Partnership program and will greatly assist us in achieving our long term goals of improved operational performance and environmental protection”
