Are You Green Certified?
Everything You Need to Know—and Why
by Deborah Brauser
With all types of programs now offered, and their various designation seals popping up on hotels and restaurants all over the country, green certification is becoming more prevalent in today’s industry. At the “How to Achieve a Sustainable Restaurant” panel at the 2008 Commercial Construction Show, moderator Mike Hess of X-nth Earth in Maitland, Fla. said, “To borrow a popular phrase, if not now, when? A green building is a tangible way to show your values. And interim goals are important steps on your way to bigger overall goals.”
Whether it’s nationwide or state-sponsored or for the initial building process or for overall efficiency, everyone agrees that the benefits of certification programs can be substantial. Energy savings, lower water consumption, improved public perception and a healthier work environment all contribute to a nice return on investment.
Here’s an overview of some of the biggest green certification programs out there:
Florida Green Lodging Program
Sponsored by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), this program was established in 2004 to reward lodging facilities that conserve Florida’s resources.
Other states with similar types of certification programs include Michigan, California and Virginia, with several others interested in starting a program like Florida’s. “We’ve been contacted by Colorado and Tennessee. And we’re scheduled to talk at the upcoming Georgia Governor’s Conference on Tourism,” says Program Manager Peter Goren.
Benefits to designated properties include a listing on the program’s website, inclusion on the site’s green lodging locator and use of its logo on all marketing material.
Another benefit came from Governor Charlie Crist in 2007, when he signed an executive order requiring that whenever possible his state agencies hold their meetings and conferences only at hotels with the Florida Green Lodging designation.
Certification Process: After submitting an application, a facility completes a self-assessment. “Basically you walk around the hotel with a checklist, see what you currently have and make note of the requirements you need to work on,” says Goren. Then an on-site assessment request is submitted. After that evaluation is completed and approved, a ceremony is scheduled and the property becomes an official designated member of the program.
And if a property doesn’t meet the requirements on its first try? Goren assures that second chances are given. “Remember, it’s a voluntary, non-regulatory program. We’re not out to bust anybody. We just want to save state resources.”
LEED Certification
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) sponsors one of the most stringent programs for the design and construction of green buildings—the nationally recognized LEED or “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” ratings system. The number of points accumulated by a project in each of LEED’s six major categories determines its certification level of Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.
Started in 2000, only 17 hotels and restaurants have been completely certified, and hundreds more are awaiting word of final designation, are in the middle of the extensive evaluation process or are preparing for the process by getting LEED educated.
The Proximity Hotel, located in Greensboro, N.C., is currently in LEED’s review process, but believes it will be the first certified Platinum hotel in the country. Account Executive Beth Sinnott says they found the process easier than expected. “Our president said, ‘Get ready. We’re going to climb a mountain.’ But halfway through, we realized it was only a hill. We planned on reaching Gold and then realized Platinum was within our grasp, so we went for it.”
Certification Process: A project team submits an application through the USGBC’s website, and each category prerequisite is then reviewed for compliance. After a Preliminary Review document is issued, the project team provides corrections or additional supporting documents. Then the USGBC conducts a final LEED Review and determines certification status. Once the team accepts the results, the project can be referred to as LEED Certified as it awaits its certificate and LEED plaque.
Pizza Fusion, a restaurant chain started in Deerfield, Fla., hopes to have 20 stores open by the end of the year—with all built to LEED certification standards. Two are already tracking at Silver level. “I think people would be very surprised at what a couple of minor changes will do to the economics of a restaurant,” says cofounder Mike Gordon. “Little changes really do make big differences.”
Green Restaurant Association
The green movement has exploded since the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) first began 18 years ago. Founder Michael Oshman says, “In 1990, we were sort of the lone wolf out there. Now we have a track record of almost two decades of certifying restaurants and helping them reach a higher level of sustainability.”
The GRA currently has between 250 and 300 members in 30 states and Canada. Certification benefits include a listing on GRA’s Dine Green website, use of the Green Restaurant seal for marketing purposes and access to a list of GRA-endorsed green products. Also, Oshman says the GRA helps restaurants by notifying them of legislation changes such as Styrofoam bans and recycling mandates.
Certification Process: After the GRA meets with a restaurant and a contract is signed, the restaurant commits to making four environmental steps a year from the program’s checklist of 11 Environmental Guidelines. Once a restaurant makes the suggested changes, the GRA verifies via invoices and then certifies the property.
Other green certification programs include the Green Seal “Greening the Lodging Industry” program, the EPA Energy Star Challenge and the relatively new EcoGreen Award, a national lighting certification program for restaurants and retail.
On track to receive LEED Silver certification, the Clearwater Beach Sandpearl Resort is also a Florida Green Lodging designated property. Lee Weeks, CEO of Coral Hospitality, the resort’s development partner, says that no matter what the certification process, it’s just a smart thing to do. “There are a large number of people that want to participate in environmentally friendly businesses. And if it’s going to return on the investment and make you feel good, why not?” He adds, “You don’t have to give up offering a luxurious experience when going green. You really can have it all.”
Certification Programs
Here’s the contact information for each green certification program mentioned in our story:
Florida Green Lodging Program
www.floridagreenlodging.org
The state does not charge for its program. Facility costs depend on factors such as the type of project being implemented, the age of the facility and the time since and the extent of the hotel’s last renovation.
USGBC LEED Ratings Systems
www.usgbc.org
The registration fee is $450 per project for USGBC members and $600 for nonmembers. LEED certification fees vary by project size, but the average certification cost is $2,000.
Green Restaurant Association
www.dinegreen.com
The costs range from $700 to $4,000, depending on term of contract, restaurant size and whether it’s established or in the start-up phase.
The Green Seal “Greening the Lodging Industry” Program
www.greenseal.org/programs/lodging.cfm
EPA Energy Star Challenge
www.energystar.gov
EcoGreen Award Certification Program
www.ecogreen.com
Green Tips
Our interview subjects were asked to pass along some tips for properties thinking about going green or starting one of the certification process. Here are their responses:
From the Florida Green Lodging Program’s Peter Goren: “If anyone has any concerns about getting started, contact us. One of the things we are so proud about with our program is that many of our member hotels are more than happy to talk to the competition about the program and some of their concerns.”
From Lee Weeks with the Sandpearl Resort: “Once you know that you want to get LEED certified, contact the LEED group immediately, use their consultants and have conversations throughout the building process.”
From Proximity Hotel’s Beth Sinnott: “Definitely use your resources. One thing I would say is assemble your entire team and try to keep that core team from the beginning. Your design team and your build team need to be integrated with open communication and patience.”
From Ashley Katz with the USGBC: “Talk to someone who’s already gone through this. Then find a LEED Accredited Professional (AP). Having one on your team can add points. Also, LEED offers lots of different tracking systems. So register your project early on for access to everything.”
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