The Refinishing Touch Blog

Green hospitality firmly on the agenda for first global summit

We are pleased to see 2009 bringing the first Annual Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit. Taking place April 15 through 17, it will bring together visionaries and leaders in green hospitality at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Macungie, PA.

The president of EcoGreenHotel, Scott Parisi and the president of National Energy Services Company, John Grillo will co-deliver the keynote address at the summit. Parisi and Grillo will be joined by Kevin Mahoney of Innovative Hotel Management, Chris Lewis of OTO Development and Lorrie Miller of the Hampton Inn in Easton, PA for a discussion panel entitled ‘Green Hotels: The Future’.

Executive chairperson Clare Misquitta said: "[This] presentation will offer a rare opportunity for hospitality professionals to learn about their trend-setting strategies for implementing meaningful green initiatives in lodging facilities across the spectrum - from mom-and-pop motels to major luxury chains.”

This summit upholds all the principles by which we run our own business – and any event which proactively promotes a greener hospitality industry gets our vote! We plan to track the main news and themes that result from the summit and will share our thoughts here on the TRT blog.

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posted by TRT Blog on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 9:30 AM 0 Comments

Who Will LEED the 2009 College Resolution?

With 2009 upon us and our New Years Resolution to 'Go Green,' it is important to reflect on noteworthy green efforts of 2008. This past year was the first year that The Princeton Review included the 'green rating' as a category. This rating was generated to rank America's greenest campuses.

Kicking off the New Year with this crucial resolution in addition to The Princeton Review's hyped new category, we can't help but wonder who will be the greenest University of 2009! 2008 saw many colleges making strides in the right direction, but with competition at hand, efforts will undoubtedly amplify.

A recent article entitled 'The greenest college of them all' documented especially impressive green efforts made by universities. Massachusetts Maritime was particularly significant for 2008's green movement.

Maritime built one of the region's first wind turbines back in 2006 which now accounts for about 20 percent of the campus' electrical needs. Recently a LEED- gold certified dorm complex was completed. This was the first state owned dorm to get such a high distinction. The dorm along with its northern campus utilizes solar panels. Microturbines are also used by the University to provide a continuous source of electricity.

But that's not all! Maritime is now actively planning for future green plans. Partnering with a company that makes wind turbines which oscillate vertically in addition to turbines being placed on top of dorms is discussed as part of their future plans.

Here's to hoping that 2009 will see others following Maritime's 'LEED' to become the new year's greenest University.

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posted by TRT Blog on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 9:02 AM 0 Comments