Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has further strengthened its reputation as a leader in environmental practice after receiving a prestigious Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice.
Nominated by the Energy Saving Company, Macdonald Hotels received a gold award for results being achieved through its Room 15 programme. Holiday Inn and Marriott received silver and bronze awards respectively.
Room 15
Implemented in 2007, Room 15 is the bed-rock of a group-wide sustainability initiative introducing ‘greener’ technology practices across the group to reduce greenhouse gases without compromising the guests’ comfort and quality of hospitality experience.
Through ongoing investment, hotel procedures and individual staff actions, Room 15 aims to achieve significant reductions in energy use and emissions of carbon dioxide. With a self-imposed target of achieving a 15% reduction in electricity and fossil fuel usage by 2015, in the past year alone Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has invested over £700,000 in gas, electricity and waste saving management projects.
The drive to reach its Room 15 targets is led by the Board. Gordon Fraser, Group Finance Director and Chair of the Room 15 Energy Committee, commented:
“Over the past six years, in line with our Room 15 targets, we have introduced a raft of innovative projects including combined heat and power plant installations, building management systems, boiler and radiator temperature control technology combined with the hotel energy saving manuals supported by the Green energy teams at each hotel.
“In addition, across the group, thirteen hotels now benefit from LED lighting. This one initiative alone has helped Macdonald Manchester Hotel & Spa decrease its carbon dioxide emissions by over 852 tonnes. Light sensor devices in corridors, water-saving hippo bags in toilet cisterns and even the creation of four signature ‘green rooms’ at Macdonald Windsor Hotel are further examples of our drive to be an industry leader of best environmental practice.”
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