The Refinishing Touch Blog

Today we’re continuing our series to spotlight global sustainability initiatives by looking at unique organizations in our own country that have gone the extra ‘green mile’ by adopting cutting edge techniques to go green.

Perhaps most notably, one hotel has caught our attention with near unparalleled strides made to protect the environment and has erased its carbon footprint entirely. The Legacy Hotel and Meeting Center in Rockville, MD is powering 100% of its facilities with wind energy, making it one of three hotels in the nation that has been certified by the EPA as 100% green powered and placed on the 100% Green Power Purchaser list. On top of running its facilities on wind energy alone, the hotel further promotes sustainability by utilizing organic, biodegradable detergents and cleaning solutions and provides recycling baskets in each of its guest rooms.

Another hotel using advanced technology to reduce its carbon footprint is the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park in Asheville, NC, which has been using solar power to generate energy used to heat more than half of its hot water supply and creates enough hot water to provide its guests with hot water even on overcast days. Using a 58-panel system, the Hilton Asheville generates over 2,300 gallons of hot water every day, eliminating 25 tons of carbon dioxide and saving the hotel $10,000 per year. Low-flow toilets, showerheads and sink fixtures also aide in keeping water usage low and sustainability high.

Creating a balance between sustainable practices and guest comfort can be an enormous challenge for hotels. Here at The Refinishing Touch, we applaud The Legacy and the Hilton Asheville for being shining examples of hotels that have found a way of doing both with a little help from green technology.