Emory Conference Center Re-certified

The Emory Conference Center Hotel (ECCH) is continuing its commitment to the environment and its “green” guests. The property has recently been re-certified by Green Seal, converted to a new food waste elimination system, began recycling its waste cooking oil into fuel, and introduced single stream recycling.

ECCH is the only Green Seal-certified hotel in Georgia, meeting rigorous environmental standards for U.S. lodging properties that include waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, and environmentally responsible purchasing. Certification must be renewed annually and ECCH has been certified since 2004.

The hotel’s new food composting system is self-contained and rapidly breaks down all food waste into a nutrient rich liquid that is suitable for discharge into public sewer systems. The machine helps to reduce waste in landfills, groundwater contamination, truck traffic from hauling, the use of fossil fuels, and harmful emissions.

“Not only is the decomposer ecologically friendly, it’s very sanitary and economical ” says Executive Chef Michael Klein. “It can process up to 1,500 pounds of food waste per day and we are currently decomposing approximately 500 pounds per day.”

Chef Klein and his staff are also recycling waste cooking oil. With the assistance of Refuel Biodiesel, a program of the of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the cooking oil is converted into bio-diesel fuel and used in the Cliff shuttle buses at adjacent Emory University.

The single stream recycling program enables ECCH employees and guests to mix recyclable paper, plastic and glass in one centralized bin, resulting in the hotel recycling more than 41 tons each year.

A major conference center expansion that began in March 2008 will be certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council, while the existing building will be working toward earning LEED certification. The expansion is expected to be complete in May 2009 and includes 127 new guest rooms, 6,000 square feet of additional meeting space, a bowling alley, a bar and restaurant, outdoor reception areas, and a pool and health club.

The ECCH is a member of the Green Hotels Association, P2AD, and the Georgia Restaurant Association Local Sustainable Green Round Table.

Emory Conference Center Recycles

Already one of the most environmentally responsible conference centers and hotels in the Southeast, the Emory Conference Center Hotel (ECCH) is now the only property in Georgia implementing the single stream recycling system.

Single stream recycling enables ECCH employees and guests to mix recyclable paper, plastic and glass in one centralized bin, resulting in the hotel recycling more than 41 tons each year. Before adopting the program, items had to be sorted into seven different bins. The sorting is now done at an off-site processing center after the mixed recyclables are collected from special containers on the ECCH loading dock.

“It’s easy for our employees to recycle because they don’t have to worry about separating any of the items,” says Kathryn Johnson, general manager. “And the really great thing is that the single stream takes all plastics, not just one and two. It also takes all paper products including mixed, white, coated, etc.”

Guests are also encouraged to participate. Recycling information is posted in every hotel room and recycling bins are located on each floor and in all meeting rooms.

Inspired by the architectural design of Frank Lloyd Wright, the ECCH is the only Green Seal-certified hotel in the state, meeting rigorous environmental leadership standards for waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, hazardous substances handling, and environmentally responsible purchasing.

A major conference center expansion that began in March 2008 will be certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Building Council, while the existing building will be working toward earning LEED EB certification, making ECCH the only hotel in Atlanta LEED certified.

The ECCH is a member of the Green Hotels Association, P2AD, and the Georgia Restaurant Association Local Sustainable Green Round Table.

The hotel is located at 1615 Clifton Road. www.emoryconferencecenter.com.