Having significantly reduced its carbon footprint following a renovation, the Tapa Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu has been LEED-Certified.
The new designation makes the hotel the first LEED-certified tower within the Park Hotels & Resorts portfolio. The certification was achieved for implementing practical, measurable strategies in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality during the renovation of Tapa Tower. These upgrades resulted in a 14 percent reduction in both energy consumption and greenhouse emissions.
“We see the achievement of this LEED certification as another way we get to take care of this place we call home,” Debi Bishop, managing director of Hilton Hawaiian Village, said in a statement. “This is a proud milestone that reflects our commitment to sustainability and our belief that preserving Hawaii’s natural beauty is essential for today’s guests, our community and future generations.”
Located 0.1 miles from a main bus station, the Tapa Tower’s location earned a walkability score of 90 out of 100 as the result of reduced emissions by promoting alternatives to car travel. Low-flow plumbing fixtures contribute to over 29 percent in water savings, while all guest room mini-refrigerators are Energy Star-certified.
Meanwhile, all paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants and flooring materials used were verified as low-emission or non-toxic. An indoor air quality plan was implemented during construction to protect workers and future guests, including the use of green building materials and natural ventilation.
In addition, a key aspect of the project was revitalizing an existing building, which posed greater challenges than certifying new construction, according to Baumann Consulting, which led the certification effort.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is a green building rating system. LEED-certified buildings are designed to promote sustainability that practices that improve environmental and human health.