Club Initiatives:
Replaced older boilers with more energy-efficient boilers
Recycle folding tissue and folding products that come from The Shop at The Houstonian vendors
Provide all employees a polycarbonate water bottle to help reduce the number of cups made of other materials
Provide
recycle containers for recyclable items throughout the Club
Use rechargeable batteries in the equipment
Purchase mostly compostable or recyclable consumer items
Refrain from printing unnecessary copies of documents
Have installed digital signage
Have converted to LED lighting, which
produces virtually no heat, nor contains any mercury or poisons, making them safer than halogen, CFL
and incandescent light bulbs
Offer conveniently-located bicycle racks
Use the Green Seal Certified cleaning products, which contain no phosphates, caustics, silicates, butyls, nonylphenols, nonylphenol
ethoxylates or cleating VOCs, and are packaged in recyclable packaging
Hotel Initiatives:
Repaired roofs by using light-colored reflective materials to minimize infrared heat transfer absorption
Installed occupancy sensors in guestrooms, which communicate to an energy management system to reduce power consumption in unoccupied rooms
Installed Phillips 42-inch LCD Energy Star-rated TVs in guestrooms
Installed window insulation in guestrooms for decreased heat transfer
Installed weather stripping on all guestroom doors to provide more efficient climate control in the corridors
Replace bed sheets and towels only upon guest request
Use green seal-certified cleaning chemicals in Housekeeping and Laundry
Trellis Spa Initiatives:
Donate all used and damaged towels, robes, linens, massage cradle covers
and mitts, among other items
Remove unnecessary
fluorescent and recessed lights to directly affect the
ambiance and indirectly, cost
Replace small, single-use bottles in showers with large, multi-use bottles, which will reduce the cost of purchasing large, concentrated bulk orders of shampoo, conditioner and body wash, as well as reduce waste through the
elimination of discards of small, single-use bottles
Developed organic facial, body treatment and day packages and carries Tata Harper, a 100% organic product line
Switched all massage creams to an organic product, regardless of
type of treatment performed
Expanded available selection of green-friendly retail products and clothing
On our Grounds:
Treat pests only when their presence is deemed a nuisance or threat thereby reducing the introduction of toxins into the ground (IPM)
Use a rain-sensing irrigation system that prohibits watering during periods of rain
Filter run-off water from the loading dock and construction areas through hydrocarbon
Supplement the fertility program with eco-compatible products, such as discarded eggshells and coffee grounds from the kitchen
Throughout the Campus:
Use low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint for all paint projects
Install high-efficiency lighting
Added film to all exterior windows, which offers greater energy efficiency
Undertake
recycling of paper goods in nearly all departments
Provide digital distribution of daily reports
Constructed a central laundry plant with water and heat reclamation and lower energy consumption systems
Replaced Styrofoam cups with biodegradable corn-product cups
Donate equipment to other organizations, or to scrap metal locations to be melted down and reused
Use double-sided pages for large paper copying and distribution
Consolidate purchasing to save on delivery costs
Renovation:
Forney Construction is proud to be the General Contractor performing the renovation at the Houstonian Club. With a project of this magnitude, there are many opportunities to provide sustainable materials, as well as making environmentally conscious design choices. This starts right from the beginning, with demolition, and continues throughout the remainder of the project.
During demolition, any materials that can be recycled are removed and taken to the proper recycling facility.
Throughout the redesign of the Club, LED lighting technology is replacing incandescent lighting, which drastically increases the longevity of each lamp (bulb) by more than 25 years. The use of occupancy sensors and dimmable fixtures throughout the building takes that lifespan even further. These components reduce the amount of energy these fixtures are using by about 75% when the room is unoccupied, further contributing to the sustainable considerations made for the project.
The use of recycled materials is yet another way sustainability has been thoughtfully considered in the Club’s transformation. For example, the new flooring in the Houstonian Hideout, Resident Fitness Center, group exercise studios and other areas. This flooring material is constructed using recycled rubber flooring materials, while still providing a multifunctional high-performance floor that is durable and provides improved ergonomics, acoustical benefits, and shock absorption. All key qualities to making it the perfect application for The Houstonian Club.
The exterior modifications to the Club include the Dining Deck and lush landscaping. All landscapes will match the look and feel of the Houstonian Campus, highlighting mature trees and creating beautiful green areas. The addition of plants and trees means more than just beautifying an area. The Earth benefits from this foliage as oxygen is produced and pollutants are filtered to clean the air.