I write about LEED certified hotels from time to time but I still haven’t had the opportunity to stay in one.  As hoteliers are realizing the importance of “going green”, LEED certified properties are popping up all over the United States.  One of the more recently certified properties is the Joie de Vivre Hotel in San Francisco.

 

The Joie de Vivre Hotel in San Francisco recently received a score of 100 from Energy Star and LEED for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EB O&M) Gold Certification.    The hotel uses CFLs, has recycling bins in guest rooms, use carpeting made from post-consumer recycled products, and low VOC paints were used.  

 

All of these measures are to be expected out of a building that reached Gold level certification, but the hotel has also taken another step that may catch some guests off guard.  They do not sell or provide bottled water on site.  Instead, glass pitchers are available in the guest rooms and filtered water machines have been placed in the hotel’s common areas.

 

The measures taken at the Joie de Vivre Hotel have led to a reduction of 167 tons of CO2 production annually, in part through the on site solar energy production.  The solar energy accounts for nine percent of the hotel’s energy needs and it makes the Joie de Vivre Hotel the first solar-powered hotel in the city.

 

Located on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the Air Force Institute of Technology is now home to a LEED Silver certified academic building.  This is the first building on the base to achieve LEED certification.  

 

In order to help the building achieve LEED Silver certification, low-flow plumbing, indigenous landscaping, and locally sourced materials were used.  Kevin Hill, 88 ABW’s LEED accredited professional, is optimistic that this certification represents a new phase for the base.  “Hopefully this is the first of many LEED certified facilities to come.  It’s a special feeling to see Air Force policy and goals go from concept to concrete with this first at WPAFB.”  Source:  Air Force Materiel Command