Vibrant Blog

Origionally by Allen Norwood
From SouthPark Magazine

Every tiny stitch contributes to the perfect drape of a bespoke suit or couture gown.

At the new Ritz-Carlton hotel in uptown Charlotte, the smallest details add up to a similar sumptuous experience.

The Ritz-Carlton will seek LEED Gold designation for the building, a first for the company. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, as certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The building will be graded on such things as water and energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials and furnishings.

In keeping with the green theme, the hotel includes a bike valet, offering guests complimentary use of Trek bicycles. Riders get a cycling map of Charlotte, water bottle, lock and safety helmet. Women’s bikes are equipped with baskets for shopping.

Among the features that will help the hotel earn grades for its certification:

– Plantings on the roof reduce urban heat, cutting the need for air conditioning. Irrigation for hotel plants comes from captured rainwater.

– Employee uniforms include materials made from recycled plastic.

– To cut down on plastic bottles, the hotel is equipped with an in-house water filtration and container system. Ritz-Carlton says that could eliminate 73,000 plastic bottles a year.

– The hotel will buy 35 percent of its electricity from a green power supplier the first two years.

– The building uses 30 percent less energy than a conventional hotel. Efficient plumbing fixtures cut water usage by 35 percent, saving 700,000 gallons the first year.

– The two-level wellness center atop the hotel uses organic and vegan products.

– Guest transportation is provided by a hybrid vehicle - and parking is free for hybrid and electric vehicles.

– The banquet spaces feature stylish tables made of recycled aluminum, reducing the need for table linens. Furniture is covered in recycled leather. “People want to hold green meetings, green weddings,” Nowak says. “We can accommodate both.”