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Building with Green in Mind Construction techniques are keeping pace with sustainable trends. Monday, December 14, 2009 Beth Kormanik

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As part of a large hotel renovation project in Hawaii, 550 louvered closet doors had to be removed. Their destination was the dump, until the workers realized the doors were made out of mahogany.
 
They arranged a deal for someone to buy the wood and turn it into hardwood flooring.
 
"It's all being reused," said Bob Olson, president and CEO of R.D. Olson Construction of Irvine, Calif., who was overseeing the Hawaiian renovation. "It's beautiful. You can't buy mahogany like that today."
 
Olson would know. As a contractor that specializes in high-end hotel and resort projects, he has spent 30 years sourcing the best materials at the best prices. He also knows the other side of the business as an owner of the Timber Cove Inn on the Sonoma Coast in California.
 
One of the biggest changes he has seen in the hospitality industry is the increase in sustainable construction. Whether a hotel is going for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation from the U.S. Green Building Council, a designation from state government or just implementing energy-saving technologies, more owners and guests are exploring sustainability.
 
"LEED and environmentally friendly buildings are here to stay," Olson said. "You had better get on board because you'll be left behind if you don't. That goes from entire supply chain to the operations of the hotel. Those that do will be well rewarded in the long run."
 
Olson isn't alone.
 
Cheeca Lodge in Islamorada, Florida, has installed concrete modular luxury hotel guest suites that used eco-friendly design. The Premier Oceanfront and Island View suites, 840 square feet, were manufactured in Okeechobee, Florida, and transported to the lodge with major construction finished, including marble tile floors, granite counter tops, bath fixtures, marble and glass rain showers, and electrical wiring and cabling. Finishes such as crown moldings, carpet and art were added at the lodge site, along with balconies.
 
Royal Concrete Concepts built the units, which are scheduled to open this week.
 
"The precedent was set for luxury construction in multi-million dollar homes, and now we've brought this innovative construction to the hospitality industry, as a first in the U.S. and possibly a first in the world," Jerry Johnson, owner of Cheeca Lodge & Spa, said in a statement. "We have been able to put up a Guest Room wing in an unheard of 90 days, from pilings to topping off, and with a quality superior to that of conventional construction."
 
The lodge is billing itself as "pre-greened" and built to LEED specifications, but a spokeswoman for the U.S. Green Building Council noted that they do not have any building type or rating system that “pre-greens” buildings.

Marie Coleman did confirm that Cheeca is registered under LEED for New Construction and is awaiting potential certification.
 
At this point, making sustainable construction choices is still optional for hotel owners. Local, state and federal governments have offered incentives for green choices, but Olson envisions a time when lawmakers will mandate sustainable construction.
 
"Unfortunately, that's probably where it's headed," he said. "I prefer to see the free market work its own way. If I'm going to be LEED, let me use that as my competitive advantage and others will follow. That's really the best way. Once it's mandated, I think we start to lose what LEED is intended to. Then the issues become, 'How do I do what I need to do to get this monkey off my back' vs. 'What are the things we want to do, how can we make a difference and be different, and go above and beyond for our customers.'"
 
For his projects, Olson said he advises clients that one of the best ways to "green" a property is to invest in energy-saving innovations.
 
"I can't speak enough to that," he said. "That's where it hits the pocketbooks. That's where it has the most direct effect on the environment."
 
Olson named three energy-saving areas that he recommended hoteliers invest in.
 
- HVAC systems. Olson favors a four-pipe system where the chilling and heating is centralized at one plant and the distributed throughout a building, rather than having standalone systems for each unit. It's expensive up front, Olson said, but creates efficiencies that save money over the long term.
 
- Hot water. The ability to preheat water before it gets to the water heater is a significant opportunity for cost-savings, Olson said.
 
- Lighting.  New energy-efficient light bulbs have improved their hues and finally are suitable for guest rooms.
 
One barrier to environmentally friendly construction is the added cost. Especially in a challenged economy, some investors are not willing to put in the extra expense. For one hotel project, Olson estimated going for LEED Gold designation would add 4.5 percent to the budget. The best way to get owners to go green is to prove the return on investment, he said. Energy savings are the biggest way to show ROI, followed by the increased value of the real estate. The third area is recouping the money through higher room rates. That's still difficult now, Olson said.
 
"Studies are showing that guests prefer it but are still not willing to pay for it," he said. "When we can get them to acknowledge and partially pay for it, we will see a surge. That's where we are today, on that breaking edge."

Either way, more manufacturers that serve the hospitality market are providing resources to help hotels meet LEED requirements, Olson said. To him, that indicates the strength of the sustainability movement.
 
"I think it's clear to everyone that you've got to address sustainability because that's what the public wants," he said. "It's growing. It's not going away. The companies that are in the lead understand this. Those who don't address it are going to be left behind. Let's hope it's not too late for them."