Wyndham Green

University of Cambridge Sustainability Leadership and the Road to a Low Carbon Economy - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-07-21T13:58:55Z

"A Journey of a thousand miles, takes one step"
Part 1

I recently had the opportunity to meet with sustainability leaders, government officials and nonprofit organizations to talk about the roadmap to move us towards a low-carbon economy. Cambridge University along with the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change invited leaders and organizations around the world to participate in a climate change event called Deal or No Deal? It was inspirational and daunting but one theme resonated, everyone is passionate and wants to see a solution moving forward. Businesses need certainty and a framework or global policy to manage and operate their companies. The various legislative programs that vary by country and jurisdictions are confusing and could slow down the progress towards the global goal to reduce emissions. The question was how can businesses make a difference and partner with government and nonprofit groups to develop a global framework that will lead to a low carbon economy? Partnership is the key word that resonated over and over again and that we need a deal or agreement. The question was what happened in Copenhagen? Although it was disappointing the consensus is that some very important "Firsts" did come out of the event.

]]>

It was the first time that 120 countries around the world focused on climate policy and tried to get to an agreement and by the end of 2009 almost all of the industrial countries had put in carbon emission reduction targets.

There was an agreement to keep global warming to 2 degree centigrade.

A fund of $100 billion was outlined for developing countries to adapt and mitigate against global warming effects and a $30 billion fast start program was outlined to begin almost immediately.

It was probably unrealistic to think that on the first try we would be able to get to a global agreement but as they say the first step in reaching an agreement is to reach understanding and talk about the problems and potential solutions. Cancun is the next meeting and then on to Brazil and with each meeting we will evolve and the journey will continue to bring us closer and closer towards the solution. This will be an evolution and not a revolution and the hope is that we have enough time to impact the climate. The hope is that constant incremental action today will help us to move forward step by step and brick by brick.

Most of the business leaders noted that companies are not waiting. They are already implementing "the low hanging fruit" such as energy efficiency programs that reduce cost. I noted that we need financial tools and government incentives that align with corporate growth plans to help businesses move faster towards a green economy. Further everyone agreed that the economic and financial crisis of the banking industry and the European economy has dampened the focus on climate change and policy. Also "climate gate" and credibility of the scientific community has been questioned which in turn raises questions about how to educate and market climate change to consumers. The engine or platform to transform and rebuild the economy should be based on a new Green engine and infrastructure that delivers sustainable ongoing growth. Another suggestion by a historian and policy analyst named Doctor Szreter of Cambridge was that on a much smaller scale in England during the 1600-1900's, they had to deal with pollution and contaminated water from their factories that was negatively impacting their population growth, particularly young children, and eventually their economy. The road forward was through them linking government and private sector towards "social capitalism" or developing solutions such as sewers and other financially innovative tools to fund the development of environmental infrastructure that helped to solve their problems. There was civic pride and the people who worked in government were successful business leaders and people with much needed expertise. The result was that England was able to rebound and grow. Another interesting thing he noted was that the cities promoted these programs across the country by having healthy competitions and league tables where they published the results. He asked what would happen if we published the results of countries on an ongoing basis and began to have healthy competition about emission reduction goals and increased clean technology usage? This is the first in a 3 part series and I will continue to share with you as we move forward. Keeping the Faith in Green.

Pets Can Go Green Too - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-07-16T15:39:52Z

Pets have provided mankind undying devotion, companionship and assistance since the beginning of civilization. There is no doubt that we are happier and healthier for having embarked on this mutually beneficial relationship. For those of us living in the cramped, paved world of the modern city, our pets are often the only glimpses we have into the inner workings of the natural world.

Having established that an animal companion is a natural part of our human existence, it may seem contradictory to assert that there are quite a few decidedly ungreen aspects of pet ownership. Fido and Fluffy's forefather's decided eons ago to forgo their animal cohorts and hitch their fates to our wagon and found the accommodations and kibbles we provided much to their liking. As a result, they've reproduced in numbers well beyond their wild cousins, and as with humans, this booming population is not without its environmental consequences. I'll discuss a few of those consequences in this blog post as well as offer a few easy practices you can employ to help mitigate the environmental effects of your friend's presence on the planet.

]]> First and foremost, adopt your pet from a shelter. Here are a few numbers for you: Everyday 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the United States alone, and every year, 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized in animal shelters throughout the U.S. As these numbers demonstrate, there are more dogs and cats in the United States alone than there are loving homes willing to take them in. Pets in shelters are animals that are already here waiting for a home, and could be put to death if they aren't adopted. The environmental problems associated with animal overpopulation are the same as they are with people. These animals need resources to survive, and if they are homeless, they are not getting adequate health care and could be contributing to the spread of diseases. They also need people to clean up after them, which leads me to my next point...

As I write this, my hometown of Austin is awash with media reports of dog waste finding its way into our watershed - nearly 500,000 pounds of it at last count! A quick Google search shows that this problem is endemic throughout the United States. Well-meaning folks are taking their dogs to local lakes, creeks and swimming holes for some much-needed exercise and are forgetting to clean up after them. The same goes for animal waste in your own lawn. As the old saying goes, it all runs downhill, and your water supply is often the end of the line. The solution to this is simple: bag it (in a biodegradable baggie, of course), seal it and deposit it in the trash. You may also compost it, but there are a few things to consider before doing so. This site explains the purpose, process and problems that go with composting dog manure. Study it carefully if you plan to go this route, as dog waste that is improperly composted may also pose a health risk and will do little to fertilize your beloved vegetable garden.

The last way to green your pet that I'll discuss is about the bane of many a pet owner's existence: FLEAS. Just typing that word makes my shins itch. There's no getting around them. No matter what you use to control the flea population, there will always be at least a few left making your pet's life a little more difficult. It should come as no surprise that many of the flea treatments available today contain chemicals that are not meant to be consumed by your pet. Even if they are just applied to the skin, your pet is still going to groom itself and one way or another, they are going to ingest it. This goes for flea collars, sprays, shampoos and those topical creams you apply to the small of their backs. There are however more natural ways to control the flea population around your home and on your pet that don't employ harsh chemicals to get the job done. I've used diatomaceous earth, cedar bedding, nematodes, garlic, brewer's yeast and flaxseed oil to great effect in the past, but there are literally hundreds of natural ways to control fleas that you can chose from depending on what's easier for you. PETA recommends spraying your pet with a lemon water concoction that I've heard works very well (I assume this treatment wouldn't be for cats!). If anyone has tried this, let me know how it works in the comments section below. I'm always on the lookout for better ways to keep my friends flea-free.

As with any tips post, this is an incomplete list of ways to green your pet. I know I've missed more than a few environmental issues and remedies related to owning a pet, and I'm sure there are even more I've never heard of. So what's not in the post that should be? Let me know in the comments section. We (and our animal friends) are looking forward to hearing from you.

Help the planet and your pocket book this summer with fuel-saving tips - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-06-30T21:10:13Z

Summer is here and you've got the whole family wagon loaded up with everything you'll need at your destination (and for a few stops along the way). You've budgeted carefully and looked at every expense along the way to make sure you stretch your dollar as much as possible, but there's one area many people overlook when planning their trip out that has tremendous money (and planet)-saving potential: fuel economy. The cost of gas has been rising steadily, and I'm betting the savings from a 10-20 percent increase in fuel efficiency in your current vehicle would go a long way at the beach (or anywhere for that matter).

Here are a few tips that may generate fuel savings on your next road trip. I'll just focus on the big ones, but if I've missed anything (moi?) please let me know in the comments section below so others may benefit.

]]> Tip 1 - First and Foremost: Stop Driving Like a Maniac!
Remember that defensive driving course they made you take when your foot got a little heavy on that long stretch of road? Well, it turns out that what you learned may not only increase your chances of surviving the road, but may also save gas money. Chief among these tips is your acceleration rate. Next time you take off from a red light, count how long it takes you to get to 60 mph. If it's in 10 seconds or less, you are accelerating too fast. Instead try to get up to 60 mph in 15-20 seconds. Doing so could increase your fuel savings by 31-37%!

Tip 2 -What's the Rush? You're Already on Vacation!
As your speed increases, your fuel economy decreases exponentially. The physics on this is a bit over my head to be frank, but stick to this simple rule of thumb, and you're golden. Much smarter people than myself have figured out that once you cross 40 mph your car has to work harder to overcome wind resistance, and that number grows very quickly the faster you go over that. Simply driving the speed limit can save you 12-14% on fuel costs that are better spent on ice cream and cheesy souvenirs.

Tip 3 - Cruisin' Ain't Losin'
Give your right foot a rest already! Simply setting the cruise control for long stretches of road can add up to big savings on your trip - 7-14% on fuel costs, in fact! Using the cruise control greatly reduces the typical driver's surges in speed (see tip 1) and forces them to take the "long view" of the road instead of having to quickly react to everything around them. Personally, I've found that getting in the right lane, relaxing, and putting on the cruise control makes driving on a long trip less of a chore and more of an enjoyable part of the trip. Instead of worrying about what the guy ahead or behind me is doing, I give them plenty of space and am able to take in the scenery as we roll down the road.

Tips 4 - Idle Engines are the Devil's Work
This is an easy one. You aren't burning fuel if your car is off, but it takes a little extra to start the engine up - so what's the magic number of time to stop idling? Follow this rule of thumb: If you're going to be stopped for more than a minute, go ahead and turn the car off. The amount of fuel you'd be using will be more than what it would take to start the engine up. Avoiding excessive idling can save up to 19 percent!

So those are the biggest fuel-savers I could find, though in the course of my research, I learned a few other tips I've never considered, like using premium gas on longer road trips for savings of about 10%. What else did I miss? Let me know on the comments section below. By the way, did you know that according to the EPA, we put 19.4 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere for every gallon of gas we burn? Clearly it's in the planet's best interest for us to do what we can to cut down on our fuel consumption.

Sustainability The Next Big Megatrend - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-06-22T01:25:55Z

I recently attended a conference about the Newsweek Green Ranking and had the opportunity to listen to Dan Esty, author of Green to Gold, speak. It proved inspirational as well as educational.

He noted that sustainability is imperative for the business world. We have a business megatrend in the form of sustainability - big to small, old to new. Those who take it seriously will ride the wave, and those that do not will go under it.

]]> We've seen other megatrends in the past, and we can use these examples to predict what will happen to those who fail to adopt quickly. The first was the "quality" megatrend. Those that got it early, profited. Those that did not, suffered. A good example was the auto industry and the U.S. vs. Japanese auto makers.

Information technology is another. This affects every business - everyone must have an IT strategy to optimize their business in order to remain viable today. For example, Google is doing well while traditional newspapers are challenged and have to re-think their business models. Canon is rising, and Polaroid is no longer a household name.

The current megatrend is "sustainability" because people are focusing on pollution control, energy efficiency and managing resources in an effective way. Those who are doing well are managing their business in a structured way by using quantitative data to drive results. A new model of environmental decision making has emerged - i.e. not just managing risk or following law but also capturing the upside - to drive revenue, build brands and new business models. It is a robust approach: an analytical way to not only manage business resources and cost, but also drive new revenues.

What is the required for success? Two things:
1. Vision - decide what to do - is it resource reduction and cost or new business?
2. Delivery on the vision - an action plan with the key to success being execution.

How does sustainability deliver competitive advantage? There are 4 major buckets of opportunities:
1. Risk Management - eco-risk as a matter of corporate success. BP has mis-managed the eco-risk. Cap down $40B. McDonalds' recalling 12 million Shrek glasses and having to buy back those items because they were made with cadminium. Being unprepared - carbon exposure. What companies are looking at - their carbon footprint. Changes will be coming from customers. Some companies are prepared, and others may be exposed.
2. Eco-efficiency - bring down energy bills. At $70/barrel, oil is 2.5 times higher in price than 10 years ago. Squeeze out waste and cost of buildings. Manufacturing can reduce scrap and waste. Reducing toxic materials and waste can also cut costs.
3. Innovation - bring new products to market and tap into consumer interest, and build brand and consumer loyalty.
4. Branding - connect to environmentally conscious consumers. Coke is investing and telling a story that consumers can relate to it. GE eco-magination line is booming. Clorox totally remade its image. Their Green Works line and Burt's Bees products are now leading on all green surveys.

Execution is Key: 5 core elements to succeed
1. Leadership - top level CEO endorsement
2. Focus on systematic models, metrics and quantitative data to shift resources
3. Strategic fcus that is integrated and aligned with broader business goals
4. Leadership and management program - folded into how it manages. Not just chief sustainability officer but also ownership across all business unites and key performance indicators that everyone is judged by
5. Reporting and communications - Tell stories about your performance and footprint reduction of carbon, water and waste. Present it in a way that is accessible so that people understand and care about what you are doing. A new model for communication is social media -blogs, videos, and pages on community sites with link to 2nd tier data that allow interested parties to further research.

Global climate change is the mega issue of our day. Climate change could drastically transform our planet in ways that even the best computer models cannot predict. There are simply too many factors involved beyond rising ocean temperatures. Unfortunately, the discussion has broken down in the U.S., and recent scandals around how this information is presented are a big problem. It is fundamentally unacceptable that transparency of all scientific data is not available. Peer reviewed information should be standard. We still do not completely understand how it will affect us, but with higher levels of transparency, what information is available will make the next steps only too clear - that the science is settled enough to take action.

There is also an issue with a cap and trade approach surrounding the economic burden of allowances. It sits mostly with energy companies. The idea of a carbon market looks like it will help us, however,it is simply not accessible to most people. It looks like some Wall Street shell game, and that understandably arouses the suspicion of a lot of people. We need a race to technology to drive alternative energy. The most effective transition in the next 10 to 20 years is gas. Why are we are not talking about it? The only countries that have managed to drive down their emissions to 1990 levels include: Russia, due to their economy; UK, by shutting down coal mines and ramping up natural gas production, as well as embarking on ambitious tidal and offshore wind projects; and Germany, who in the years since the first oil crisis on the 1970s have molded themselves into global leaders in solar technology and energy efficiency. This is the only proven model to follow.

Finally, what about the consumer? There are 3 consumer subsets that are interested in environmental performance
1. High disposable consumer: The hybrid car buyer who wants to show off the latest green product or organic quart of milk
2. Under 30 consumer: Understandably has a huge interest in preserving the environment. After all, they still have many years left on the planet and want to pass a healthy Earth on to their children.
3. Women: They are more interested than men. There is a huge gender gap here, and they are willing to pay. I'll leave analysis on this statistic to the community.

So the environment is obviously a big deal to a lot of people. Organizations that recognize this and make appropriate changes to their offerings and operations will ride this megatrend and remain viable. What is your organization doing to adapt to this new trend? As always, keeping the Faith in green!

Social Responsibility and the Clinton Global Initiaitive - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-06-04T15:35:35Z

I attended the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in NYC on May 13th which proved to be an incredible event. Clinton and four CEO's discussed Sustainability. His Haiti program and how he, alongside President Bush, have developed a socially responsible program to help the country and its people. He is truly a visionary, however, what stood out most was his focus on the culture of the people and how to interact with them. He talked about the earthquake survivor camps and mentioned that the work being done by Sean Penn was most impressive. He was surprised at Sean's true commitment to helping the people of Haiti. He also told a story about a person that he and Hillary knew in the States who is highly educated - a graduate from the Sorbonne - and now lives in Haiti trying to invoke change, but who is also a voodoo doctor. Clinton's message was that no matter their occupation, everyone in the country should be accepted.

Afterwards I attended a break out session on the social web and how it can help move the CGI program forward in all areas including sustainability. Several interesting statistics the speaker mentioned were that the number of Facebook members equals the 3rd largest country, 78% of consumers trust information from their peers and not advertisements, and that 25% of the top 20 brands benefit from user generated content and the power of the web to market and communicate directly with their customer. The inversion of the pyramid and the growth of bottom up action networks continue to grow. The web enables everyone to have a voice. Many people who helped expand Yahoo!, Google and various social media platforms were in attendance. We talked about the "Birthday Wish" concept and how using a similar application can really promote social action in a whole new way. The other key element discussed was the power of social networking to drive collaboration. It can build culture and help to develop identities. The Pepsi Refresh project leader discussed why they decided to invest their $25 million and give back to the community. Consumers can receive grants of $5,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $250,000 to complete an act of social good in their communities which are voted for on online. The response has been tremendous. Pepsi decided to test this campaign as opposed to investing in a Super Bowl ad or other traditional advertising. The other key elements that were discussed included building the business case and metrics around social media and quantifying the payback. Another major opportunity is around mobile applications and driving change which everyone agreed will become very useful to promote programs and initiatives around the world.

A key takeaway that the team agreed upon is that the CGI program is powerful. We need to leverage all members and existing networks online. In order to be successful, we must track, measure and design for impact while developing tools to further build collaboration. Brands will continue to change the model of empowering the individual consumer to produce something meaningful. Keeping the faith in Green!

Paddling Towards an Oil-Free Ocean - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-05-27T15:04:47Z

There's no question that plastics have made our lives easier and more convenient, but that convenience has come at a great cost. Over 200 million tons of plastic is produced every year, and only 3.5% of it is recycled. The rest of it ends up in our landfills and bodies of water. In the case of our oceans, over 90% of floating litter is plastic, where it entangles, chokes or is eaten by untold numbers of marine life. You may have heard of the Texas-sized Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Well, we are well on our way to creating Great Garbage Patches in every ocean on the planet, and since there are no organisms that can naturally break down plastics like organic material, it is likely to remain in these places for a very, very long time.

]]> Tom Jones, is currently on a quest to standup paddleboard all the way from Key West, Fl to New York City in only 90 days. That's 1,500 miles of ocean, folks! He is calling this world-record attempt Paddle 2010, and it is a part of the Plastic Free Ocean campaign. You can follow his progress here (as well as on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube), as well as learn more about the effect discarded plastics are having on our oceans and marine life.

Here at Wyndham Green, we are proud to be sponsors of Mr. Jones' epic journey. We will be providing Tom and his crew with the hospitality and comfort they need recharge along the way, and we invite you to join us as we follow him. The abundance of plastics in our oceans is staggering, and it is a 100% man-made problem. That is why we are doing our part to reduce the use of non-recycled plastics within our own operations. We've implemented recycling programs throughout Wyndham properties, offer room keys made from recycled plastics, and even make our uniforms out of recycled plastic bottles. As always, Keeping the faith in Green!

Eco-Innovation Panel from the Front End of Innovation Conference 2010 - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-05-13T14:49:25Z

Earlier this week, I had a wonderful opportunity to represent Wyndham's sustainability program at the 8^th annual Front End of Innovation (FEI) conference in Boston, MA. The FEI Conference brings our leading environmental thinkers and business sustainability leaders together to learn not only what the latest environmental theories are, but how they are being implemented today. Guests at the conference ran the gauntlet from internationally lauded authors to executives from such businesses as Coca-Cola, Target and Xerox, all of whom have been recognized as leaders in enacting viable sustainability programs.

]]> For my own part, I was able to highlight at two of the conference's panels what Wyndham has been able to accomplish so far. Our programs have been able to drive innovation throughout the hospitality industry, and naturally people and businesses alike are interested in how we were able to do this, and what's next for the company's sustainability program. For starters, having both grassroots and Senior Leadership support from our chairman and CEOs has been a tremendous help in getting our program off the ground and running. This has been the best of both worlds. Not only are we made up of literally thousands of employees and customers who are deeply concerned about the environment and the role Wyndham is playing in mitigating our environmental footprint, but our leadership teams have made Wyndham Green part of one of the company's top 5 strategic priorities.

We have been able to drive not only product innovation by rolling out green cleaning solutions and uniforms (just to name a few), but also drive social innovation like the Caught Green Handed Recognition program and communications innovations by converting direct mail programs to our millions of consumers around the globe to email. We are also proud of our strategies and programs that have enabled us to work with our worldwide green council encompassing employees around the globe. The green counsil consists of over 120 members in 12 countries that all make this happen. They are all passionate people and because we have made a commitment to sustainability, they are proud to be on board and a part of the process.

The other panelists also highlighted the importance of collaboration within their respective businesses and with organizations like the USGBC and the International Tourism Partnership, and it was encouraging to hear that we have similar challenges and opportunities. I was very impressed with the commitment and learning that we shared across our industries and with the people in the audience. It was inspiring to hear about their stories and successes and opportunities that could happen in the future. What are the possibilities? There are many opportunities to look at new business models and partnerships that can drive profitability. Shaw, a company that supplies our hotels and resorts with carpeting and flooring, talked about how they are now not only making recycled carpet, but also generating energy from the waste because as it is now, 4-5 billion square feet of (with a "b") carpets end up in landfills. They are also developing plastic recycling plants to create polyester for use in their carpet. Of their 7 corporate strategies, the top two are sustainability and innovation. That is commitment! Stories like these not only show how companies have implemented these big environmental ideas into real program, but provide hope and impetus to the movement as a whole. It has been a journey of continuous improvement and we are humble as we have a very long way to go. Working together, I believe we can get there!

I look forward to the next summit. Keeping the Faith in Green!

Bring the Kids! - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-04-29T22:00:57Z

Earth Day 2010 was a busy and productive day for environmentally-active people the world over; and here at Wyndham Worldwide, it was no different. We had the opportunity to highlight all the great things our sustainability teams have accomplished recently: attaining Silver LEED certification for our headquarters in Parsippany, NJ, new uniforms spun from recycled plastic, and implementing energy efficient practices across our chains worldwide, just to name a few. At many of our locations around the globe we also had our children come to our facilities and learn about our Wyndham Green program. At our corporate headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, we had over 150 kids attend and participate. We conducted an Energy Adventure Scavenger hunt, had the children design a green hotel and also held a mock trial where the kids had to decide whether Shrek and Fiona were contributing to polluting our swamplands.

]]> In addition to these great activities, we were also very proud to announce the launch of the WyndhamGreen Kids program. I have found that our children already understand and enjoy what it means to be green. In school , they have been learning about the planet and at home they frequently ask questions about recycling. They ask the proverbial "why not" and challenge us to learn more. I still have a lot to learn as well. My daughter after attending summer camp, asked me about the North Pacific Gyre and what I as "Miss Green" was doing about it. I frankly had to tell her I did not know what she was talking about. So she pulled up YouTube and showed me a few clips from major media sources highlighting the 7 million tons of floating plastic waste, twice the size of Texas, that is in the Pacific Ocean. I was surprised and learned about the problem and also the possible solutions we could participate in. Here is a link to one of the clips featured on YouTube.

That is why we developed the WyndhamGreen Kids site to provide a resource and learning activity center to share as a family. They say knowledge is power - and if we can learn to recycle our plastic and keep it out of the oceans then we are taking one step towards the solution.

With the WyndhamGreen Kids program , children from all around the world will be able to learn how to take care of our planet using our six core strategies: Energy conservation, Water conservation, Recycling/re-using, Education, Community Involvement, and Innovation. The program's website features a whole slew of fun activities and games geared towards teaching children about the natural world, as well as everyday practices and tips to help preserve it. There's even a section for parents with activities they can do with their kids to help foster these great new habits for the next generation. As with any major program, we couldn't have done it alone, and we thank our partners at Energy Star, the EPA and the Tunza UNEP organization for helping us make this happen.

At the risk of sounding too cliché, it is imperative that our children learn the effect our daily habits have on the natural world as they'll be inheriting it soon enough. By all accounts, their generation is proving to be much more attune to this fact than ours ever was, and that gives us great hope for the future. Check out the site when you get a chance, and let us know what you think. Bring the kids!

Wyndham Green Kids

Wyndham Worldwide Headquarters Receives LEED-CI Silver Certification - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-04-26T16:47:44Z

At Wyndham Worldwide, our work towards sustainability is never finished. However, that doesn't mean there aren't goals and milestones we should strive use to gauge the program's success and effectiveness. When our more ambitious milestones goals are met through hard work, collaboration and innovation, you'd better believe it's cause for celebration.

It is on this note that we are very proud to announce that our 250,000 square-foot headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, has received the Silver LEED-CI certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Getting any LEED certification is no small feat. The processIt took 3 years, withfor our SVP of Corporate Real Estate and Facilities, Frank Campana, to leading a team of approximately the process with about 50 members, on a team to make this happen. The USGBC applies strict guidelines to buildings that must be met before they'll even consider certifying it. Among the building's features that are weighed by the Council considers are total energy use, lighting, water and material use, and as well as the use of recycled materials throughout the building, to name a few.

]]> We were able to meet these standards by powering the facility with energy harvested from the wind, installing energy efficient lighting and appliances, reducing our water usage and diverting 88% of the construction waste from the landfill. And all this was done 5% under budget!

At the ceremony where the building received the honor from the USGBC, our CEO Stephen P. Holmes encapsulated emphasized the unique position Wyndham Worldwide is in to positively change the world, saying, "As a global company that interacts with over 150 million consumers annually, we can make a profound impact in protecting our Earth. This includes preserving natural habitats, preventing pollution and educating our employees, franchisees, partners, and customers on how we can collectively continue to make a positive difference in sustainability."

It is this commitment to sustainability that won Wyndham Worldwide a place on Newsweek's list of the 100 greenest companies in America and placed us in the finalists in the USGBC's fourth annual "Building a Greener New Jersey" award. The winner for that distinction will be announced on May 20th (fingers crossed!). Of course the beauty of striving for sustainability is that our work will never be complete as better methods and materials are constantly being developed. New ways of thinking and approaching the issues are born every day, and it's a challenge simply to keep abreast of the new innovations.

This is where you come in. We'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on what else we can do to make Wyndham Worldwide a greener company. Our sustainability teams are built of with creative and capable folks, but not even they can match the innovative potential of 150 million Wyndham customers and environmentalists putting their heads together. So join the conversation, and contribute your new ideas for greater sustainability! We look forward to hearing from you.

For more on our headquarters in Parsippany, check out this video showing off the features of the building.

Eco-tourism in Mexico - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-04-19T13:51:25Z

When we travel with our kids, we like to learn about the local culture and environment while experiencing and learning new things. While on our trip in Cancun, my daughter commented that she had not seen one animal or anything new since we had arrived. Although the hotel we stayed at practiced conservation such as offering a towel and sheet re-use program, it did not provide much in the way of educational opportunities, so we decided to go on an adventure and learn about the area. We rented a car and drove over an hour away to Xel Ha, a sustainable wildlife preserve that has been in existence for over 15 years. We were in for a big surprise. Xel Ha is an all inclusive eco-water park and a cross between a wildlife preserve, adventure and amusement park. It has received Green Globe silver certification. A full day at this park taught our family more about conservation and respecting the Yucatan coastline than any class.

]]> Xel Ha is an inlet off the ocean with reefs and caves- picture various cliffs, rocks and mangrove trees, natural fauna and wildlife species. The natural lagoon has been preserved and expanded. Our friends even commented that when they came years earlier, it was simply one small patch of an area. Now it's over 20 acres of turquoise water with lush green vegetation, pathways and thatched hutted centers that served food, provided water gear and had locker rooms. Nothing was built above the trees, and the development has been very respectful of the environment. Tropical birds fly around - the only noise you hear is from nature and sometimes other people walking or swimming nearby.

The park was beautiful. The recommended buying biodegradable suntan lotion to not harm the fish and sea coral. We obliged and put it on. There were walking paths made of stone and large wooden maps to provide directions around the park. Our first stop along the path - snorkeling. Fish were everywhere, from small yellow striped ones to large iridescent blues to 3 foot groupers and silvery pools of minnows. Before getting to the Mayan Cave, we stopped at a landing that had steps to one of the cliffs with white sand and wooden lounge chairs that overlooked the lagoon. While resting there we saw large silver gray iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks. Next stop - a swim to lunch at a thatched roof buffet where we tried localfoods like pickled cactus, homemade tortillas and various prepared dishes of chicken and fish. We then found our way to "the path of consciousness," a walkway that had special trees and stones with signs about the native animals that lived in the preserve, such as the coati - a South American rodent. Before leaving we jumped off the Cliff of Courage, crossed the Trepachanga, rode bikes and stopped at the kids playground. As we packed up to go, my daughter looked at me and said, "Mom this was paradise! I am sooooo glad we came." I absolutely agreed with her. Of course we had to buy the group shot of us snorkeling in the Mayan Cave before we left.

It was great to experience an eco adventure that we remember for the rest of our lives. I can see why eco-tourism is one of the fastest growing markets, estimated at $250 billion for developing countries like Mexico. The Wyndham Xpu-Ha Palace Resort is another eco-friendly 37-acre oasis where guests can cohabitate with the native wildlife and stay in charming bungalows. As we recycle and reduce our "stuff", we also need to preserve and enjoy our environment. I now have a greater understanding and joy for this. As always, Keeping the Faith in Green. To learn more go to www.xelha.com or stay at http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/CUNXP/main.wnt

Green Innovation - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-04-19T13:40:49Z

"Be the change you want to see in the world"

Years later, Gandhi's words remain a mantra for the green movement. Along my own journey, I have been fortunate to work with some great visionaries - from Steven Jobs to Andrea Jung. I did not realize at the time, but these experiences have been extremely beneficial in my sustainability work today. They have helped me further develop a vision and idea and make it a reality. The first step is to have the right "can do" attitude. Those who accomplish great things and make the world a better place may not always be optimistic, but they are all pragmatic, persistent and relentless in sticking with their vision.

]]> Along my journey, I have had the opportunity to partner with Cintas, one of the largest hospitality uniform companies in the world. At the time Wyndham began considering ways to be more environmentally proactive, the industry had not yet developed a green uniform program. With a great team at Cintas, we began discussions of how we could work together to make such a program happen. The challenge was in how to develop a green fabric that is durable, functional and affordable. I knew from my product development days that we needed to look further, and recommended that we look for examples outside of the hospitality industry. Patagonia, a sportswear company, had been using recycled plastic bottles for years in their fabrics. My son was on an Ultimate Frisbee team who wore Patagonia sportswear all the time, so I knew how well this fabric performed. We worked with Cintas on creating samples and reviewing fabric options to to test and develop our own green fabric for our front desk uniforms. We worked with our franchisees and owners in various hotels from Puerto Rico to New Jersey to test each of the items in a normal everyday work environment. After completing 9 months of testing, we decided to preview the new green uniform in a fashion show at a brand conference. Instead of using professional models, we worked with a group of hotel associates that were housekeepers, maintenance men and front desk employees to model and show off the new uniforms. We called it "real fashion for real people," played runway music and taught the associates to model like professionals. When we presented the program to our franchisees and team, they were ecstatic. They loved that we were taking pride in our associates and products. In addition we were having fun with the whole process. We even had our audience vote and comment on the different styles to serve as market research for future projects. This led to commitment and pride in our program that rolled out a year later.

It takes about 450 to 700 years for plastic bottles to decompose; approximately 8 out of 10 bottles wind up in landfills. The eco-friendly uniforms that we helped develop use 66% less energy and 90% less water to produce than a standard uniform. Each eco-friendly uniform uses about 25 two-liter bottles, so to date Wyndham has been able to recycle over 11,000 bottles. The fabric we helped develop is now a standard part of the Cintas line, used by our Wyndham Hotel and Resorts and Wyndham Vacation Ownership brands and throughout the industry. We are proud to be a part of this great initiative. As always, Keeping the Faith in Green.

Be One with B1 with Wyndham Green - B1 with Wyndham Green

2010-04-05T14:16:11Z

Keeping the Faith in Green by Faith Taylor

It's been over three years since we at Wyndham Worldwide launched our green program and in that time we've managed to make tremendous strides towards greater sustainability and communicating about our impact on the planet. However our work is far from finished, and we can't do it alone.

We are very happy today to announce the launch of the B1 with Wyndham Green blog. We chose B1 because we know that we have one planet and being one voice joined together in action is how we can make a difference. Our vision for this blog is not only to chronicle our environmental achievements, but to engage in a dialogue with you, whether you are a Wyndham customer, employee, an environmental advocate, or an individual looking for ways to make our planet healthier for generations to come. After all, innovation and growth occur through a free exchange of ideas. If two heads are better than one, surely 6.7 billion (at last count) are better than two. Our sustainability program is built on a foundation of three simple pillars: innovation, communication and collaboration, and we look forward to your thoughts on all three.

]]> We'll be sharing our latest ideas, goals and achievements here, but this movement is not only about what Wyndham can (and has) accomplished. We'll also be adding our voice to the global sustainability conversation, sharing thoughts on the latest and greatest in green travel and hospitality innovation, talking with the great environmental thinkers of our age and asking for your input every step of the journey. To make this easier, we're launching a Facebook fan page in tandem with this blog. Drop by and share your green tips, question, thoughts, or just say "hello." The shape of this blog depends largely on you. What would you like to see here? Let us know in the comments section or our Facebook page! Join us in Keeping the Faith in Green!