Press Releases

Home > Media

Houston Celebrates Earth Day Year-Round

April 12, 2007

Contact Information:
Name: Lindsey Brown
Phone: 713-437-5275
Email: lbrown@ghcvb.org

Houston, a city known as the Energy Capital of the World, is also a progressive city where environmental initiatives abound. It's entirely possible for visitors to take a completely green trip to Houston—even down to the visitors guide.

Hotels and B&Bs

Magnolia Hotel
*Water conservation - change bed sheets every other day for guests staying more than one night
*Water conservation - launder towels on request only; program listed by signage in the rooms
*Recycled drinking cups in all fitness centers
*Company provides an eco-pass (bus pass) for all employees
*Newspaper recycling program at each hotel
*Installed compact fluorescents and looking at L.E.D options as they become available in 2007 and 2008
*Participating/usage of the chilled water plant in Houston with Entergy District Cooling. System is highly energy efficient and eliminated the need for a building plant within the hotel
*2007 - installing energy efficient automated guest room temperature control system
*Use all eco and environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals, laundry detergents and building systems treatment chemicals throughout all properties
*Upgrading building systems at other properties with highly efficient systems as replacement is warranted
*Auto shut-off lights in public restrooms. Dimming system throughout property to dim lights for both aesthetic decor and to minimize consumption of electricity when natural light is present during the daylight hours
*Bathroom fixtures are energy efficient high pressure, low volume to minimize water consumption throughout

Doubletree Guest Suites-Houston by The Galleria
*Nationally, Doubletree Hotels partner with National Arbor Day Foundation. Doubletree has created a message to THINK TREES by providing lesson plans and supplies to local schools. The students discuss human effects on the environment and play games that help them understand the 6 key elements for a tree's survival.
*On Arbor Day, April 27, the Houston property will provide THINK GREEN lapel ribbons to all their guests and to their local sponsor school, Briargrove Elementary. Additionally, the hotel will tie large forest green ribbons on more than 40 trees on hotel grounds. The hotel will provide a minimum of 50 tree seedlings to the school with detailed instructions on planting the trees. Free seedlings will also be available to guests and local clients that wish to participate.
*The hotel also conserves water on an ongoing basis by changing bed sheets every other day for guests staying for more than one night. The hotel launders towels on request only.
*Hotel staff uses recycled paper.

Modern B&B
*Uses sun shading and a solar thermal chimney, which moves hot air between the western sun screen and the building, pushing the hot air away from the building.
*Landscaping is a vegetable and herb garden, and these ingredients are used in the food prepared at the B&B
*Empty shopping bags used by guests are donated to the women's shelter resale shop
*Serves organic food whenever possible
*Line dry sheets to reduce electricity consumption
*Recycles newspapers, paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, glass and plastic

Robin's Nest B&B
*All sheets and towels are dried on a clothes line, which cuts down on electricity
*Appropriate food scraps are recycled for the organic garden
*Lights are no longer left on 24 hours a day

Candlewood Suites
*All four Candlewood Suites in Houston do housekeeping weekly rather than daily. This drastically reduces water usage as well as emissions and fumes from cleaning products. Of course, the properties were designed primarily as extended stay hotels so this fits into the model.

Hilton Garden Inn
*The Hilton Garden Inn has partnered with the National Gardening Association and is working to implement a program to bring gardens to local school children or nursing homes. http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/promotions/gardens/program.jhtml

South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center
*Recycles paper goods, and the limited proceeds are donated to Interfaith Caring Ministries.
*They are in the process of converting much of their lighting to fluorescent bulbs which is a great energy savings.

Moody Gardens Hotel
*Provides the facility for Galveston Island recycling
*Utilizes natural pest control
*Conserves energy with the use of a fuel cell
*Uses auxiliary power at night

Attractions

Houston Zoo
*Resource recycling endeavors include paper, printer cartridges, batteries (AAA, AA, A, C & D sizes), glass, plastic, cardboard and computer equipment. Collection bins for empty printer, fax and copier cartridges are located in office areas.
*More than four years ago, the Zoo went from paper to electronic filing of daily reports from the animal care staff. This change alone allows the Zoo to save 25,000 sheets of legal-size paper annually, the equivalent of four trees each year.
*Items like cardboard boxes, telephone books, shredded paper, 2 liter plastic bottles, paper feed bags, newspaper, and even used clothing are used for animal enrichment and husbandry purposes rather than being discarded and sent to landfills. Eligible, unusable items are now being taken to recycling centers every other week with mixed paper and glass by members of the Zoo's Green Practices Committee.
*The Greater Houston Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (GHCAAZK) earns money to support world-wide conservation programs by recycling aluminum cans and printer cartridges collected by Zoo employees and volunteers.
*The Houston Zoo has a recycling bin in their Natural Selections Gift Shop for collection of unwanted cell phones, batteries and chargers. Our cell phone recycling program was launched in the fall of 2003. As of July 2006 they have received over 1,500 phones from 30 states by mail alone. The Houston Zoo donates 100% of the funds raised to Bat Conservation International, a non-profit organization devoted to conservation, education and research initiatives.
*Increased use of electronic internal communications and double-sided copies has reduced paper consumption.
*In December 2003, the first annual "paper conservation" tree was planted on Zoo grounds in recognition of a significant reduction in their annual paper consumption by converting to electronic versions of routine reports and communications that saves about 35,000 sheets of paper, equivalent to saving four to five mature trees!
*The Concessionaire has reduced consumption of paper and plastic products significantly by virtually eliminating distribution of straws and cup lids. They no longer use Styrofoam products or dispense individual packets of condiments in their two main restaurant facilities.
*The Horticulture Department is experimenting with rain barrels in staff areas to collect rain water for irrigation purposes. They are also testing organic fertilizers that are kinder to the environment.
*Increased efforts are now being made during construction and renovation projects to use resource-conserving materials and equipment whenever possible. For example, sleeping platforms in the new Spectacled Bear exhibit are made from plastic lumber, a wood alternative made from 100% recycled plastic and wood products.
*Information is distributed to Zoo employees and volunteers regularly about green practices they can adopt at home.

Aurora Picture Show
*Aurora's electricity provider generates power from wind, water, geothermal, sun and natural gas, and electrical usage is monitored and reduced when the theater is not in use.
*Aurora uses low consumption toilets and compact florescent lights in the restrooms.
*Aurora recycles all paper, glass, plastic and aluminum concessions waste.

Bayou Bend
*Bayou Bend, with 14 acres of landscaped gardens and natural woodlands, is Texas' largest all organic public garden.
*No pesticides are used in the gardens. A garlic spray is used for mosquitoes, and all of the soil preparation and treatment is organic.
*The formal gardens are noted for rare Duchess De Caze Pink Camellias that are no longer available in nurseries, along with varieties of azaleas, gardenias, antique roses, and seasonal plantings that keep the gardens blooming all year. *The gardens are at their peak during March and April and are one of the highlights of the city, which has been designated an Azalea City by the Azalea Society of America.

Beer Can House
*Consisting of more than 50,000 beer cans, the Beer Can House is the ultimate recycling project.
*John Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, started his project now known as the Beer Can House in 1968 when he began inlaying thousands of marbles, rocks, brass figures and metal pieces into concrete and redwood to form unique landscaping features. He then turned to the house itself and began adding aluminum siding—aluminum beer can siding, that is. Over the next 18 years the house disappeared under a cover of flattened beer cans for both practical and decorative reasons. Garlands made of cut beer cans hanging from the roof edges not only made the house sing in the wind, but also lowered the family's energy bills. Ripley's Believe It or Not estimated that over 50,000 cans adorn this monument to recycling.

The Menil Collection
*Major recycling initiative throughout Menil campus (the museum and separate bungalow offices): paper, plastic, metal, the works
*Have switched where ever possible to fluorescent and other low-energy lighting, including exterior bungalow lighting
*Printing all materials — brochures, gallery guides, Membership bulletin, catalogues on recycled paper, and using soy-based dyes that are very environmentally friendly
*Aiming to eliminate leaf blowers and other gas-powered landscape equipment
*Encourage bicycling and car pooling for employees

The Heritage Society
*Nine historic structures have been rescued from potential demolition. The historic structures are restored in accordance to standards using reclaimed materials when obtainable.
*The collections represent a variety of historical items that would have otherwise been discarded.
*Several of the structures rely on natural light only.
*The grounds consisting of 13 acres in Sam Houston Park are maintained by the Houston Parks & Recreation Department and organic products are used for fertilizing and pest control.
*The grounds are watered in the early morning to minimize evaporation and several native planting beds have been introduced to the park to conserve water.
*Support objects that are no longer in use are recycled to other organizations.
*Future lectures will include teaching methods of preserving cultural resources.

Facilities

George R. Brown Convention Center
*Participated in the "Green Lights Program" which upgraded fluorescent lights to electronic ballasts and high efficiency bulbs
*Replaced roof and added insulation and a white surface to reflect sunlight and heat
*Upgraded lighting controls using the "Watt Stopper" software to reduce and manage lighting systems
*Installed motion sensors in some areas to reduce lighting when not required
*Installed capacitors on electrical switch gear to reduce energy consumption for heavy voltage loads
*Replaced original boilers with new energy efficient boilers which decrease NOX exhaust to the atmosphere
*Replaced original cooling towers with new high efficiency towers that will reduce energy and water usage
*Added motion sensor sinks and flush valves in the restrooms to save water
*Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum cans

Houston Organizations

Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
As of Jan. 1, 2007, all GHCVB publications—the Houston Official Visitors Guide, Houston Meeting Planners Guide, Houston Fact Finder and Houston Membership Directory—will be printed on recycled paper. The GHCVB is one of the first convention and visitors bureaus in the country to print on environmentally-friendly paper.

It takes 15-17 mature (30-year growth) trees to make one ton of paper. Using 10 percent "post consumer" waste, which is the requirement for publications to be considered recycled, two trees per ton will be saved. In addition to the GHCVB's major publications (listed below), all promotional postcards, business cards and day-to-day paper used is recycled.

Publication details:

*Houston Official Visitors Guide
Published quarterly
36 tons of paper per quarter
Saves 144 trees per year
*Houston Meeting Planners Guide
Published annually
10 tons of paper per year
Saves 20 trees per year
*Houston Fact Finder
Published annually
3.45 tons of paper per year
Saves 6.9 trees per year
*Houston Membership Directory
Published twice a year
½ ton of paper per issue
Saves 2 tress per year

Houston Downtown Management District
*Urban Design & Planning projects to maximize use of public transit
*Extensive streetscape improvements to facilitate pedestrian use of the city, helping to minimize automobile trips and reduce congestion
*A downtown circulator system currently in development will employ vehicles running on sustainable alternative fuel
*The District's Green Walls initiative will create numerous wall cover plantings to screen blank walls and parking garages in downtown, improving aesthetic value, air quality and reducing heat island effect.

City of Houston Public Works and Engineering
As an incentive to encourage Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating SystemTM certification, the Planning & Development Services Code Enforcement Plan Review Section will begin offering Quick Start service to any project which has registered for LEED certification regardless of construction cost.

Currently, the Quick Start plan review option is available only to projects that have submitted complete plans and have an estimated construction cost of $1M or more. By opting to pay an additional fee of 65% of the permit cost, the final plan review is completed in a face to face conference-like meeting with the reviewers, designers and owners present. The Quick Start program has been a popular option as it generally eliminates at least one plan resubmittal.

For the review participants will need to submit:

*A Quick Start Application
*The project registration receipt from the US Green Building Council (USGBC)
*The checklist of points the building is designed to achieve
*The required Quick Start fee (65% of building permit)

Houston Center for the Arts
*Retro-fit lighting installed to be more energy efficient
*All new HVAC system, also to be more energy efficient

###

Houston is a space of infinite possibilities. As a top convention and tourism destination you'll enjoy the very best hotels, convention facilities, sports, entertainment, dining, outdoor recreation and attractions. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and its partner, Continental Airlines, encourage you to make Houston your choice for business or pleasure. For more information on Houston attractions, log on to www.visithoustontexas.com or call 1-800-4HOUSTON.