Hotels Aiming for Net-Zero Might Make Travelling More Environmentally Friendly

The Brutalist Pirelli building was reportedly rated Connecticut's ugliest edifice. The massive 1970 mid-rise now has the title of being the most energy-efficient hotel in the United States.

The Marcel, named for its famed modernist architect Marcel Breuer, will debut in New Haven in May as an all-electric hotel with a rooftop solar array and solar parking canopies that will produce its electricity. It houses lithium-ion batteries, which store energy generated throughout the day and may be used at night.

The 165-room hotel has already been awarded a Passive Building certification, consuming 80% less energy than a typical American hotel. Marcel received the highest efficiency certification, LEED Platinum, from the Green Building Council, making it one of just a few dozen hotels in the United States to receive this honor.

Country's First Net-Zero Hotel

If the Marcel is as energy-efficient as the developers promise, it will be the country's first "net-zero" hotel. While net-zero energy can be reached in various methods, it generally implies that a facility generates enough renewable energy to cover its own yearly energy consumption needs.

Unlike luxury off-grid hotels or glamping resorts, net-zero hotels may be found at cheaper prices and in cities where building laws prohibit off-grid constructions. Because these hotels are connected to the grid, they might provide renewable energy to the areas around them.

Using Solar Panels

Solar panels and batteries are more expensive to install than traditional buildings. However, as the tourism industry emphasizes environmental issues, more net-zero hotels are underway.

According to Bruce Becker, Marcel's architect and developer, "Hotels are practically the poorest performers in terms of energy efficiency compared to other structures." "However, a profitable hotel does not need the usage of fossil fuels."

Tourism

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, hotels account for around 1% of worldwide emissions. This figure is likely to rise as more people reach the middle class and have disposable cash for travel. According to a research document published by the International Tourism Partnership, the hospitality industry must decrease emissions by 66 percent by 2030 to keep global warming within the two degrees Celsius agreed upon in the Paris Climate Accords.

Hotel Emissions

According to an Urban Land Institute analysis, hotels consume more energy than offices, retail, multifamily housing, and industrial production. However, hotels have unique obstacles compared to other types of buildings.

Because many are one-of-a-kind structures, emission reduction measures must be adapted to each one. Because of the industry's complicated ownership arrangements, no one entity is usually in charge of considering sustainable practices. Concerns about disturbing the visitor experience might frequently trump the objective of conserving energy during a retrofit or renovation.

Net-zero buildings might assist the hotel sector in moving beyond "greenwashing" attempts or small-scale solutions (refillable shampoo dispensers, using bath towels for more than one day) that are insufficient to cut emissions significantly.

The hotel business is being influenced by the rising emphasis on addressing climate change in other areas of society. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance's Claire Whitely adds, "It's being pushed a lot more." "Both hotel visitors and business clients have high expectations."

Hilton, Marriott, and Accor are among the hotel brands that have established net-zero targets for the whole firm. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance published a guide on how property developers, large-scale renovations, and building purchases may cut emissions.

Almost all hotels will have the opportunity to evaluate carbon emissions during renovations every ten years. "Those moments are chances to think about what technology you can add," Whitely says.

The epidemic and supply chain difficulties have hindered hotel development and renovations. According to Jan Freitag, national director for hospitality market analytics at CoStar, a commercial property business, developers are more interested than ever in net-zero hotels. The conflict in Ukraine, which is putting a strain on fossil fuel supply and raising questions about supporting oil-rich regimes, has heightened the urgency of decarbonization.

Freitag recalls, "We knew we had to do this." "It's now a requirement."

Net-Zero Lodgings

There is currently no accurate census of how many net-zero hotels exist. Travelers, on the other hand, are seeking hotels that are more environmentally friendly. According to a Booking.com analysis from 2021, 81 percent of tourists polled want to stay in a sustainable lodging in the following year, but 49 percent believe there aren't enough options.

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