FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 23, 2009

    CHICAGO -- Environmentally-conscious visitors to Illinois can now StayGreen at hotels throughout the Land of Lincoln. Launched by the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA), the StayGreen program recognizes hotels that proactively use eco-friendly products and services to help protect the environment. With 16,175 StayGreen rooms available across the state, IHLA is confident the StayGreen designation will help visitors better understand their choices in green lodging in Illinois.
    For the first year of the program, IHLA is focusing on two areas in which hotels must meet specific criteria in order to be awarded StayGreen designations: saving energy and recycling.  IHLA will re-evaluate and refine the standards it sets for StayGreen programs each year, and is already considering adding more green programs. Hotels must submit proof each year that they continue to meet StayGreen standards.
    "Our goal is to create a series of green recognition programs that will help make the lodging industry in Illinois a leader in protecting our environment," said IHLA President and CEO Marc Gordon. "We envision a world in which green lodging is 'business as usual' sooner, rather than later." IHLA is encouraging all of its member hotels to become StayGreen properties and then take the next and pursue Green Seal or LEED certification.
    In order to receive the StayGreen energy reduction designation, hotels must meet standards set by IHLA. Options include purchasing renewable energy credits from green energy sources such as wind, hydro and solar power to offset at least 50 percent of a hotel's power, to utilizing:

• Energy efficient lighting 
• Occupancy sensors which turn off lights and heating/cooling units when rooms are unoccupied
• Programmable thermostats
• "Green" roofs
• ENERGY STAR commercial equipment
• Water conservation equipment
• Linen and towel reuse

    Hotels will receive the StayGreen recycling designation if at least four of six recyclable items typically discarded by guests and staff are collected, separated and recycled on a continuous basis. These are newspapers, plastic and glass bottles, metal cans, cardboard/paper, and kitchen oil and grease.
    "Green accommodations are becoming more important to travelers and meeting planners," said Jan Kostner, Deputy Director Illinois Bureau of Tourism. "The StayGreen program is excellent way to make our state stand out to green travelers."
   

Visitors seeking green lodging in Illinois can search for StayGreen hotels at the IHLA website: www.stayillinois.com.

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SIDEBAR

Quick Hotel Stats on Going Green

The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association is encouraging all of its member hotels to "go green," and cites these quick statistics:

• Electricity use generally accounts for 60 to 70 percent of the utility costs of a hotel. Energy-efficient products can reduce energy consumption – and energy costs.
• Guests in a typical hotel room can generate a lot of waste -- as much as 30 pounds per day --but as much as 80 percent of that can be recycled.
• And they're really clean – and thirsty! An occupied room typically uses 218 gallons of water every day. Water-efficient fixtures can reduce water and sewer use by 25 to 30 percent.

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Illinois StayGreen Hotels

Downtown Chicago Hotels

Four Points by Sheraton Chicago-Downtown Magnificent Mile+
Gold Coast Guest House B&B
Hampton Majestic
Hilton Chicago*
Hotel Allegro Chicago*
Hotel Monaco Chicago*
Hyatt Regency Chicago on the Riverwalk+
InterContinental Chicago*
Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel
Omni Chicago Hotel
Palmer House Hilton
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers*
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower*
Swissotel Chicago+
The Sutton Place Hotel (Chicago)
The Talbott Hotel*
The Westin Chicago River North+
The Westin Michigan Avenue*
The Wit, A Doubletree Hotel

* Green Seal certified
+ Undergoing audit for Green Seal certification

Suburban Chicago Hotels:

Chicago Marriott O'Hare
Country Inn & Suites, O'Hare South
Doubletree Hotel Chicago - Arlington Heights
Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Hyatt Regency Woodfield
Sofitel Chicago O'Hare
The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center

Central/Downstate Hotels:

Candlewood Suites Bloomington/Normal
Candlewood Suites Springfield
Hampton Inn & Suites - Bloomington/Normal
Hawthorn Suites
Hilton Garden Inn - Champaign/Urbana
Holiday Inn Express Pekin
Homewood Suites by Hilton - Champaign-Urbana
Homewood Suites by Hilton Forsyth, IL
Super 8 Washington (Peoria Area)
Mark Twain Hotel

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StayGreen
Green Energy Recognition Program

Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association members can earn recognition from IHLA for successfully implementing the Green Energy Program by fully meeting all of the criteria in one of the following options:

Option A: Purchasing renewable energy credits derived from environmentally-friendly, green power sources such as wind, hydro, and solar to offset at least 50% of the hotel’s annual electricity consumption.

Option B: Implementing at least two of the three criteria listed below:

1. Purchasing renewable energy credits derived from environmentally- friendly, green power sources such as wind, hydro, and solar to offset at least 25% of the hotel’s annual electricity consumption.   
2. Utilizing 100% environmentally-friendly, energy efficient lighting throughout the entire hotel   
3. Utilizing occupancy sensors in all guest rooms which turn off lighting   and heating/cooling units when the rooms are unoccupied.

Option C: Implementing at least five of the eight criteria listed below:

1. Purchasing renewable energy credits derived from environmentally-friendly, green power sources such as wind, hydro, and solar to offset at least 10% of the hotel’s annual electricity consumption.
2. Utilizing at least 50% environmentally-friendly, energy efficient lighting throughout the entire hotel.
3. Utilizing occupancy sensors in all guest rooms which turn off lighting or heating/cooling units when the rooms are unoccupied.
4. Utilizing programmable thermostats in all guest rooms to eliminate unnecessary energy usage.
5. Applying an elastomeric cool roof coating to reflect heat and installing drought-resistant plants to create a green roof on the hotel.
6. Utilizing Energy Star Qualified commercial equipment in the hotel covering at least three of the following commercial equipment items:
   1. Refrigerators and Freezers
   2. Clothes Washers and Dryers
   3. Dishwashers
   4. Ice Machines
   5. Heating and Air Conditioning Units
7. Utilizing water conservation equipment in all guest rooms such as showerheads, toilets, or faucets.
8. Promoting and utilizing a linen and towel reuse program in all guest rooms for guests who are staying over at least one more night.

StayGreen
Recycling Recognition Program


IHLA Hotel members can earn recognition from IHLA for successfully implementing the Green Recycling/Waste Minimization Program by continually operating a recycling/waste minimization program in which at least four of the six major recyclable items discarded by guests in hotel rooms, function areas, and public space, are collected, separated, and recycled rather than disposed of as general waste. The six major recyclable items are listed below:

1. Newspapers
2. Plastic Bottles
3. Metal Cans
4. Glass Bottles
5. Cardboard/Paper
6. Kitchen Oil and Grease

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