HEI Hotels and Resorts
Adding to their many other awards including but not limited to Travel & Leisure’s “Top 25 Spas in US and Canada,” and three AAA 4-Diamond rated hotels & resorts, HEI Hotels & Resorts has recently been awarded the important distinction of being chosen the New England Region’s Energy Star Partner of the Year by the U.S. Department of Energy.
HEI Hotels & Resorts include well-known properties such as Marriott, Hilton, The Equinox, InterContinental Hotels Group, Algonquin, and Starwood Hotels. With 33 hotels encompassing over 7.8 million square feet, HEI Hotels & Resorts has made energy efficiency a priority. HEI ha implemented ongoing programs to improve the energy efficiency of their properties through “a combination of energy efficiency projects, operational changes, and promoting energy-conscious behavior among employees.” According to the Department of Energy’s website, HEI Hotels & Resorts’ key accomplishments include:
“Reducing company-wide energy consumption by more than 8 percent in 2009, totaling 24 percent since 2006, the majority of which can be attributed directly to operational awareness.
Developing a custom energy dashboard called the Energy Looking Glass (ELG) to supplement Portfolio Manager in tracking a property’s energy usage, allowing chief engineers to compare a hotel’s daily energy use to the same day in the prior year, and immediately identify any need for adjustments. Communicating to all associates the correlation between energy savings and positive impacts on the environment.
Launching a company-wide, performance-based incentive program for hotels in the same brand group to compete to improve energy performance. Chief engineers and general managers at winning hotels receive substantial prizes on a quarterly basis.
Promoting energy efficiency to its 5,000 employees by rolling out an energy conservation standard operating procedure, Social Responsibility program and training video; displaying Energy Star ‘Bring Your Green to Work’ posters throughout hotels and corporate offices; and launching an additional incentive program to award gift cards and Energy Star qualified flat-screen televisions to all staff at the top three most energy-improved hotels.”
Through education, awareness, incentive programs, and implementation of energy-saving methods, HEI has made saving energy a priority. Rauw Energy is proud that HEI Hotels and Resorts installs the Fuel Economizer in their properties as one of their energy savings tools.
