The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa recently earned LEED Silver EBOM (Existing Building Operations and Maintenance) status, which was awarded for its commitment to environmental sustainability. The Kaanapali resort is the first building in the state to be granted the LEED-EBOM certification.
“We are so pleased to have been awarded the LEED Silver EBOM status in recognition of our conservation and energy efficiency efforts, as well as our longstanding commitment to sustainability,” said Hyatt Regency Maui General Manager Allan Farwell in a Sept. 12 news release. “We hope that as we preserve and protect our natural environment in Maui, our commitment inspires our guests to make similar conscious efforts in the various parts of the world where they live.”
The certification follows a two-year renovation throughout the resort including at its dining outlets, pool area and Drums of the Pacific Luau. In order to make the necessary environmentally friendly enhancements, Hyatt Regency Maui’s operations team worked closely with property owner Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and with third-party consultants Green Building Hawaii.
The resort installed reduced flow shower heads in all of its guest rooms, saving six million gallons of water annually. It also installed an intelligent, weather-based, real-time irrigation system combined with grey water irrigation, reducing landscape water use by more than 27 percent. The resort also uses non-turf landscaping which is 100 percent native, in addition to utilizing adaptive plants.
Guest rooms are now fitted with motion-sensing air conditioning that turns off when lanai doors are open, or when guests leave the room. The resort also has placed recycling receptacles in every guest room.
In addition, more than half a million pounds of leftover and scrap food will now be donated to local pig farms for feed and compost; complimentary digital newspapers are now available for guests through most mobile devices and computers; digital signage has replaced printed signage; and more than 70 percent of purchased items are local, recycled or made with a renewable resource.
The two-year effort made by Hyatt Regency Maui associates, managers and executives that led to the property’s LEED certification aligns with Hyatt Thrive, Hyatt’s global corporate social responsibility philosophy, and immediately follows the unveiling of Hyatt’s new 2020 environmental sustainability strategy, according to resort officials. Known as the Hyatt 2020 Vision, these new environmental goals define a suite of measurable and actionable targets across three focus areas–use resources thoughtfully, build smart, and innovate and inspire.
The LEED EBOM rating system is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. To qualify, buildings have to show a significant increase in diverting waste from landfills and an increase in energy and water efficiency, as well as a robust sustainable purchasing program. Hyatt Regency Maui applied for and received the certification based on how well the resort measured against LEED standards.
Hyatt Regency Maui has also been recognized for its green efforts from numerous other environmental organizations including the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders Silver ranking; a 2010 Green Key four-key distinction, representing outstanding industry leadership and a commitment to protecting the environment; a Hawaii Green Business membership designation in 2009, recognizing the resort’s efforts to operate in an environmentally responsible fashion; and induction into the Energy and Efficiency Hall of Fame by Maui Electric Co. in 2007.
Photo: kevinmcgill/Wikimedia Commons
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