A report from the USGBC says the hospitality industry is hungry for environmentally sustainable projects.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s “LEED in Motion: Hospitality” report says 109 million square feet of hotel space is already certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building-rating program — a trend that is expected to continue.
“Across industries we are seeing an increase in consumer demand toward sustainability practices, and no industry is better poised to meet these demands than hospitality,” said Rick Fedrizzi, the founder and chairman of the USGBC. “This growing sector is rapidly adopting green buildings because owners and developers want to enhance their triple bottom line – people, planet and profit.
“LEED is a transformative tool that positively impacts the quality of our built space by creating a healthier, more sustainable environment that saves money and resources," he said.
Officials site a McGraw Hill Construction study that says green HVAC and construction in the hospitality sector has increased 50 percent from 2011-2013 and now represents 25 percent of all new construction in the sector today.