It’s easy to say you believe in something – but it’s another thing entirely to act on it. So it is with environmental sustainability. This issue is becoming increasingly important to many, but few follow through with real change. This is not the case, however, for Bellingham’s Holiday Inn Express. Environmental responsibility is important to this local hotel and they’re doing something about it – something illuminating.
Lighting can account for over 40 percent of a business’s energy usage. According to Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a significant amount of this energy can be saved by switching to LED lighting. This isn’t as simple as changing a few bulbs, however. In many cases, it means completely rewiring existing light fixtures – a major undertaking.
The extra effort didn’t deter Holiday Inn Express, who are committed to a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future. This 101-room structure upgraded lighting fixtures in every area of the hotel, from hallways and guestrooms to the glass bubble chandelier in the lobby. Even behind-the-scenes lighting was upgraded to LED, including food warming lights at the breakfast buffet, underwater pool and spa lighting, employee and maintenance rooms, and even the lights inside vending machines.
Kyle Roberts is in charge of maintenance at Holiday Inn Express and will have worked at the hotel for 20 years this September. “Not every hotel is working towards sustainability,” he says, “but it’s the direction we want to go in.”
Holiday Inn Express worked with PSE, independent contractors and Sustainable Connections to upgrade nearly all of its lighting to LED over the course of an eight-month project. The right partnerships make a big difference in a project of this magnitude. Because the hotel participated in PSE’s Business Lighting Incentive Program, PSE helped absorb a portion of the cost. Kyle worked closely with PSE’s electrical contractor, Willdan Energy, during every step of the lengthy project.
Kyle is also working with Sustainable Connections to track results and has discovered that the hotel’s energy usage is down by an impressive 23 percent since project completion. In addition to helping the planet, the hotel is saving money – and putting it to good use. “We plan to use it to improve our guests’ experience,” says Kyle.
LED lighting is better for the environment and more affordable – it’s also safer. Hallway emergency lights activate when the power goes out during a windstorm. Older emergency lighting would quickly drain the batteries and might offer only a few minutes of illumination. New LED lights use a very low amount of energy and continuously emit bright light much longer, without a backup generator. These light fixtures were not included in the PSE incentive program, but Holiday Inn Express felt strongly about their importance and made the upgrade at their own expense.
Holiday Inn Express security guards are especially appreciative of the new outdoor LED lighting at night. “Our security staff now have well-lit exterior areas without the hum or flickering from the old fixtures,” Kyle says. “And the fact that they last significantly longer dramatically reduces our waste.”
There has also been a reduction in physical waste since the completion of the LED lighting project. Halogen, fluorescent and incandescent bulbs need to be replaced often and are costly to dispose of properly. The cost of recycling old fluorescent light bulbs would have been a major expense in this project, but PSE includes the service in its Business Lighting Incentive Program. In addition to keeping these materials out of the landfill, Kyle and his maintenance staff are also saving time not replacing all those short-lived lightbulbs.
In addition to the LED lighting upgrade, Holiday Inn Express has made additional energy saving changes. They participate in the InterContinental Hotels Group Green Engage Program – an innovative online environmental sustainability system designed to reduce energy, water and waste, and improve environmental impact. Hotel guestrooms are outfitted with low-flow fixtures to reduce water use. Rooms also contain an occupancy sensor that detects body heat, so heating and cooling systems only activate when someone is in the room. The hotel participates in the Project Planet towel and linen reuse program which eliminates waste from unnecessary washings. Meanwhile, Energy Star appliances and boilers make sure everything is running as efficiently as possible.
Holiday Inn Express is creating a great guest experience while making a positive impact on the environment. “It feels good to be making a difference,” Kyle says. Come for a visit and see for yourself. With a comfortable stay that’s good for the planet, you’ll never think of a hotel the same way again.
Holiday Inn Express
4160 Meridian Street
Bellingham
Sponsored
