The Fairmont Pittsburgh has attained LEED Gold certification, a first for the brand. The hotel has implemented a number of green initiatives, including:
- Nearly all of the construction waste was diverted from landfills. As a result, about 900 tons of concrete, metals, and other materials have been reused in other projects or recycled into new products.
- Lighting power has been reduced by about 40,000 watts below ASHRAE standards, thanks to the use of energy-efficient bulbs, natural light, and occupancy sensors.
- Approximately 80 percent of all equipment and appliances are Energy Star compliant, which means they use around 20 to 30 percent less energy than non-certified equipment.
- By installing water conserving fixtures, the hotel is on track to save about 930,000 gallons of water annually.
- Indoor air quality has been improved through the use of no- or low-VOC paints, fabrics, carpets, and wallcoverings.
- The hotel selected building materials and furnishings (many produced within 500 miles of Pittsburgh) made from sustainable or recycled content. For instance, the lobby bar features a solid surface called alkemi, made from recycled metal shavings, while wood floors and millwork are made from FSC-certified lumber.