We're Still Light Years Away

Many of the latest and greatest hotel, resort and office properties claim to be sustainable developments – but are they?  A recent experience tells me that while recognition of the “need to be green” is all good, we have a long way to go before even the top level of architects and developers really understand how to design and build a sustainable property.

Of course, there are exceptions, and LEED guidelines assure us that a building is truly green.  However, developers have a strong sense that the incremental costs required to meet LEED Silver status, much less Gold or Platinum, are prohibitive. 

Here’s a real-world example.  Recently, a friend’s 50^th birthday in L.A. gave us the opportunity to try out a brand new resort hotel, Terranea, located on the Palos Verdes peninsula at the old Marineland of the Pacific site.  This magnificent resort is built on over 100 prime acres of priceless land overlooking the Pacific Ocean.   The developer, Destination Resorts, purports to be fully sustainable and offers a “Destination Earth” section on its Web site which details the various energy saving practices employed by the company at the dozens of resorts it owns throughout America.

So, we check in, and while walking down the hallways, we notice it is about 60 degrees.  Why?  Nobody knows.  We asked the alert and attentive, young staff and they looked at us as if we had multiple heads.  It was a full 10-15 degrees cooler in the hallways – and these circuitous corridors are hundreds of yards long – than the rooms, which were plenty comfortable in the mid 70s even without the A/C engaged.  Yet the system was just blasting ice cold air in the halls, 24-7, for no apparent reason.

Even in good hotels, a low hot water supply is sometimes a problem.  Not at Terranea.  Turn on the shower, there is no “H” and “C”, just “H” and “S” … for scalding.   Again, think of the extra power needed to drive the hot water heater all day and night while holding the temperature at boiling point.  Unnecessary and what if you did want a cold shower?

Also, if you find yourself with an empty soda can or already-read newspaper, there is no place to dispose of it, at least, no place where you know it will end up in the recycling bin.  (Admittedly a recycling addict, my husband totes cans, bottles and reading material back home with us in his luggage, to dispose of them in our big blue bin that we know gets properly recycled.) 

Meanwhile, Destination Resorts boasts of sustainable practices on its Web site, including use of CFL light bulbs; re-using sheets and towels; sensor toilets; low flow showerheads, and the like.  We don’t mean to call out Destination Resorts, so much as point out that if the fourth largest resort company in America still has glaring non-green issues, just think about the other new construction that is still a very long way from being truly green. 

I had another disappointing experience at the Marriott in Oakland, Calif., at the Berkeley Meeting of the Minds Conference in 2007.   This conference was devoted to building city infrastructure systems green, and Steven Chu was the keynote speaker.   Although the conference content was top notch, I found it ironic that no one seemed to care that the rooms lacked recycling bins; plastic water bottles were frequently used on-site; and an extraordinary amount of food waste was not being composted, so far as I could tell.    Hotels’ and resorts’ eco-initiatives – especially at green conferences – should be a priority.  In fact, I applaud the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, Calif., for its efforts in making the Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference as sustainable as possible.  I never saw a plastic water bottle in sight the whole week I attended; they served organic meals; and recycling bins were readily available.    On top of that, carbon offsets were purchased to reduce the travel footprint for the conference. 

Local legislation is helping matters by virtually forcing developers to build green.  As environmentalists, we are constantly hearing about new buildings and developments that are truly striving to go green.  However, Terranea is a wake-up call for us to remember that when it comes to truly living green and thinking about the environment, even the good guys in some cases have a long way to go before really making the grade.

We’d love to hear your experiences with public buildings that are green, but not really.  Post your comments, thanks!

Follow Jennifer Schwab on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SCGreen_Home

Comments

[juniperberry]

I hate "greenwashing" it makes things seem sneaky and greedy. why can't people just be honest?

[jimmytay]

cuz its all about mooooney!

[BridgeCrewe]

"A recent experience tells me that while recognition of the “need to be green” is all good, we have a long way to go before even the top level of architects and developers really understand how to design and build a sustainable property."

I really believe in this section of the blog. I think in today's day and age, many people and businesses would like to be more sustainable(for all the benefits involved, which are usually financial), but don't have the education in order to do so. I think that education is key!

[plantasauresrex]

most people are just not aware of the financial benefits that becoming sustainable can bring

[juniperberry]

True they only focus on the expense not the benefits

[BridgeCrewe]

Although the conference content was top notch, I found it ironic that no one seemed to care that the rooms lacked recycling bins; plastic water bottles were frequently used on-site; and an extraordinary amount of food waste was not being composted, so far as I could tell. Hotels’ and resorts’ eco-initiatives – especially at green conferences – should be a priority.

I had a friend that was at this coference and she had the same complaint. Ironic? Yes. Surprising? No.

[GreenyMeanie]

I've also read some of the other articles here by you Jennifer, and I must say, they are very impressive! They won't let me comment on them anymore, but I look forward to reading more of them. Which days do you post new blogs? I'll check back here in hopes that you let me know.

[plantasauresrex]

no new blog for a while. sad.

[GreenyMeanie]

Wow, I can't believe I just found this article! Very profound and necessary; especially since so many companies now are claiming to be green! I think that it's only going to get worse in time.

[JamesYorjan]

I have an experience­...I was at a college campus before whose green building had solar panels, plants, the whole nine yards. But when I went to go recycle a piece of paper, they didn't even had recycling bins in the courtyard.

[waters of march]

I have to deal with this EVERY DAY on my campus. We have very few recycle bins and they never seem to be where the people are, it's so frustrating.

[earthb0und11]

James, I know exactly what you are talking about! Or recycling bins are hidden and unavailable. But... the good news is that schools are definitely trying. Progress takes times, but with student activism things really get done... :)

[LifeIsGreen]

Cool blog...Jen­nifer, you post some awesome topics that not a lot of people talk about. This article, in particular, makes me stop for a moment and wonder how many "green" companies are just using it as a ploy...I bet a loooooot.

[SweetRain]

I don't think I've had the misfortune of dealing with "green" places that aren't really green. I think I would probably be very upset. More people should be aware of this industry trend.

[environman]

I would definitely be upset! Especially if I was paying extra for something that I wasn't guaranteed to get. If I'm willing to spend a little extra money on a "green" resort, it better be green.

[CoreyJ]

Cool blog...I sent my friends this blog- they seem to like the topics being discussed. We're going out to dinner soon, so I gotta mention your article that I read.
What's next weeks post gonna be about?

[waters of march]

Hey good idea, I'll forward this asap...

[MarcQB]

Jennifer, another great post. I'm kinda disturbed. To keep up with customer demand, hotels/resorts are trying to do anything in their power to offer the most convenient services (even at the expense of the environment). What disturbs me is that resort place that only has H and S for shower water options. Wow, can't people wait an extra minute for cold water?

[CoreyJ]

Seriously, some people like taking cold showers...­what are they to do? Go to the freezer, get some icecubes and pour them into the tub? Some countries don't even have hot running water. We should be thankful for a working plumbing system.

[BridgeCrewe]

Redwood 322, there's nothing wrong with companies capitalizing on the trend. Unfortunately, this won't stop, but at least these companies are taking notice. This movement won't grow through force or irritation. I believe that it will grow through diplomacy, education, and understanding.

[Redwood322]

i agree... unfortunately i think it will also take a few MAJOR catastrophes for our government and societies to change and be more eco-friendly!

[k kaned]

thas sad but true. nothing gets done in this country until AFTER disaster happens. (hurricane katrina, anyone?????)

[BridgeCrewe]

As for you "GiveSomeT­reeLovin", if you go to Sierra Club Green Home where Jennifer's the Director of Sustainability, and there's great content as well as a green check for companies as to the level of sustainability that they maintain.

[BridgeCrewe]

I don't believe we're "Light Years Away", but I do believe efforts need to be "stepped up" in order to educate and inspire people to change their ways in order to become a "greener" planet.

[earthb0und11]

if the govt and companies continue to press consumerism it will take light years!

[Redwood322]

I get so fed up with US business saying that they're going green... when being sustainable is simply the norm in other countries! AKA save water by reusing towels, save trees by using recycled paper, save energy by using solar..

This isn't a new fad... this is a way of life in so many developing counties! However, the industrial boom definitely promotes people to live the AMERICAN DREAM and use all the resources they wish at the drop of a dime. We all need to look at other countries and get with the game.

[GiveSomeTreeLovin]

Does anyone here know of any websites that regulate the sustainability of companies or individuals claiming to be green? That would be a good thing to start man! A site or foundation that regulates peoples' efforts.

[phoenix1901]

This really WOULD be great. Something where you could search companies and have a summary of their "greenness­."

[MarcQB]

I bet that would expose a lot of "green" businesses­...*cough* reveal how companies who say they are really green having not a lot of green features.