California Tops LEED Hotels List With Seven

Interest in the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification program continues to grow with 21 hotels now certified. California, with seven hotels, is the state with the most hotels represented. The seven properties include: Hotel Carlton, San Francisco; Montage Hotel Beverly Hills; Orchard Hotel, San Francisco; The Ambrose, Santa Monica; Northstar Village Phase 3, Truckee; GAIA Napa Valley, American Canyon; and Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco.

So far this year, six properties have been certified. In 2008, seven earned that honor. In 2007: four. One property was certified each year from 2004 to 2006. One also earned certification in 2000. In addition to the seven California properties mentioned above, the other certified ones include: Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater, Fla.; CityFlats Hotel, Holland, Mich.; Posada Del Mike Rapu, Easter Island; Hotel Terra, Teton Village, Wyoming; Element Hotel, Lexington, Mass.; Proximity Hotel, Greensboro, N.C.; Avalon Hotel and Spa, Portland, Ore.; The Palazzo, Las Vegas; The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga.; Unity Village Hotel and Conference Center, Kansas City, Mo.; Hilton Vancouver Washington; University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center, Adelphi, Md.; Len Foote Hike Inn, Dawsonville, Ga.; and the Kandalama Hotel, Damulla, Sri Lanka.

One property has earned LEED Platinum (Proximity), six properties have earned LEED Gold, seven have earned LEED Silver, six have earned basic certification, and one has earned LEED Bronze (Bronze category no longer available). Hundreds of other properties have registered to pursue LEED certification.