25 Photos of Stylish LEED-Certified Hotels

Jessica Marati — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:38:27 +0000

Lodging that’s both stylish and socially responsible.

Here in the United States, the hotel industry has an enormous environmental footprint, equalling 5 billion square feet of space, 5 million hotel rooms, and $4 billion in annual energy use, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. That’s a whole lot of impact, particularly when you consider that the vast majority of properties operate with little to no regard for the environment.

But little by little, the tide is changing, and hotels are coming to realize that operating sustainably doesn’t just affect the environment – it also affects their bottom line. On average, hotels that incorporate green principles use an average of 26 percent less energy and 30 percent less indoor water, and they generate 33 percent less energy and 50-75 percent less solid waste.

The gold standard of the sustainable hospitality industry is the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification program, which encompasses stages from certified to Platinum. The application process is rigorous, and as of October 2011, only 122 hotels worldwide had made the cut. Here are some of our favorites.

(above) Bardessono, Yountville, California, USA

ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru, India

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Kandalama Hotel, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

The Hotel Wilshire, Los Angeles, California, USA

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Posada de Mike Rapu, Easter Island, Chile

Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach, Florida, USA

Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey, California, USA

The Park Hotel, Hyderabad, India

Proximity Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, California, USA