Marriott Headquarters Wins the Gold Medal for Green Buildings

April 08, 2010

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (USGBC) RECOGNIZES MARRIOTT FOR LEED(R) EXISTING BUILDING STATUS Marriott International's 30-year old Headquarters building achieved LEED Existing Building Gold status by earning points for maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts, an investment that saves the company $700,000 annually and up to $1.3 million in expected tax credits over three years. It is the culmination of extensive changes implemented over the last three years. Headquarters' achievements include: - Ranking in the top 25th percentile for energy efficiency when compared to buildings of similar age, size and use and an accumulated reduction of 9.04 percent in electricity consumption; - Receiving an Energy Star rating of 77 (out of 100; a score of 75 or better indicates top performance) for the last three years; - Increasing the recycling rate to 69 percent in 2009 and diverting all waste from the landfill to a waste-to-energy plant; - Installing motion sensors in all restrooms, telecom and electrical closets; - Replaced office supplies for cost-neutral, greener alternatives or highly recyclable options; - Eliminating disposable products and converting to china and flatware in the cafeteria; - Purchasing higher efficiency lighting options with reduced mercury content; - Participating in Demand Response energy reduction programs earning more than $100K in electricity rebates; - Switching from evening to daytime office cleaning; and - Engaging and educating more than 3,000 employees to help solidify the company's status.

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