REST EASY AT AN ECO-FRIENDLY HOTEL IN PHILADELPHIA AND THE COUNTRYSIDE®

Philly Hotels Committed To The Cause & Setting Examples For The Industry

PHILADELPHIA, July 25, 2011 – From the coziest bed and breakfasts to the most international of corporate chains, hotels in the Philadelphia region work hard to provide their guests and employees with amenities and programs that reduce their environmental footprint on the planet. Philadelphia hotels use low-flow shower heads and energy-efficient lighting; clean with supplies that aren’t toxic; recycle old batteries, lightbulbs and office equipment; donate used fryer oil to farmers to use as bio-diesel fuel; and provide guests with the option to reuse their sheets and towels for the duration of their stay. Here is a look at some of the hotels that are going even further to set examples for the industry.

Center City Philadelphia:

·         Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown: Executives here have hired a consultant to instruct them on how to best go green. So far, they’ve made vast improvements to their utilities: an energy management system controls HVAC operations; steam service has replaced emission-releasing boilers; steam condensate is captured and used to preheat guest-room hot water; bathroom exhaust air is vented and routed through coils to pre-heat and pre-cool the hallways. As for non-engineering changes, all hotel paper and pen products are manufactured from recyclable materials, and certain meeting rooms designated as “Green Meetings” use no linen and are outfitted with tables and chairs made from recyclable materials. 21 N. Juniper Street, 
(215) 496-3200, philadelphiadowntowncourtyard.com

·         Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia: Executives at the luxe Benjamin Franklin Parkway property embraced the green movement long ago. Since 2005, when they founded a task force to evaluate and implement eco-friendly changes, the hotel has reduced its overall energy consumption by one-third. In 2006, they began salinating their indoor pool and hot tub with minerals instead of chlorine and have since installed a liquid cover over the pool, which reduces heat loss and evaporation. In 2007, they launched a program that made them the largest composter in the city Some of that composted waste is sent to the roof to fertilize the garden that grows herbs and vegetables for their restaurants. Finally, the hotel generates much of its own electricity, heat and hot water with the first corporate Microturbines to be installed in Philadelphia. 
One Logan Square, (215) 963-1500, fourseasons.com/philadelphia    

·         Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing: Not only does staff save energy by using discount passes to take public transportation to work, they conserve electricity by working in service areas that are equipped with light sensors and timers that automatically shut lights off when they’re not in use. Further, lights in the back of the house turn off every night at midnight, and escalators don’t run when there’s no event happening on the second floor. 
201 S. Columbus Boulevard, (215) 928-1234, pennslanding.hyatt.com      

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Page 2/Eco-friendly Hotels

• Hotel Palomar Philadelphia: As the only LEED Gold-certified hotel in the city, this Kimpton property adheres to the strictest of requirements in the areas of energy saving, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources. Three of the quirkiest eco characteristics are the recycled wall coverings, the blankets made of 100% recycled content and the parking discounts for hybrid cars. Additionally, the restaurant Square 1682 is among the city’s only LEED-registered dining establishments and practices at the highest levels of sustainable food sourcing. 117 S. 17^th Street, (215) 563-5006, 
  hotelpalomar-philadelphia.com
• The Independent Hotel Philadelphia: A program called “Earth View,” currently in Phase One, governs eco-initiatives at this Midtown Village hotel. The guest experience has been altered in that they no longer receive phone books in their rooms; they don’t eat or drink from Styrofoam cups, plates or bowls; and they use key cards, toilet and facial tissue and paper towels made from recycled content. Meanwhile, during their stay, the hotel’s energy consumption is being tracked on two different websites. 1234 Locust Street, (215) 772-1440, theindependenthotel.com
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