Courtyard by Marriott‘s first LEED certified property has opened in Settlers Ridge in west suburban Pittsburgh. Concord Hospitality Enterprises, which owns the hotel, worked with Marriott on the prototype project for the Courtyard brand. The new design is expected to reduce energy usage at hotels by an average of 24 percent annually and save more than 300,000 gallons of water per year, the equivalent of 21 swimming pools. This improved energy efficiency is expected to produce average annual operating savings of $50,000 at current energy costs.
Specific eco-friendly components at the Courtyard Pittsburgh Settlers Ridge/Robinson Township include:
- A heat recovery energy system that reclaims building exhaust air to pre-heat the building’s fresh air system
- An energy management system that reduces unnecessary heating and cooling run times when guestrooms are unoccupied
- Water-saving showers, sinks, and toilet fixtures
- Energy-efficient light fixtures
- An enhanced building thermal envelope that includes exterior building “outsulation” and increased glass and glazing u-value
