a room with a tv and couches — Green Initiatives

Sustainability and Hospitality

A Clear Approach
to a Cleaner World

We understand the importance of preserving the Earth while still delivering award-winning service. We are dedicated to preserving our guests’ health and safety and are committed to protecting the environment. We are steadfast in integrating eco-friendly actions in all our daily operations and property upkeep while remaining consistent in our guest comfort.

Among other accomplishments, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta’s efforts have been awarded a 2021 AQUA RECYCLING Award for saving more than 4 million gallons of water, the highest environmental award of excellence for reducing water usage as well as reduction in energy used to heat water.

In addition to our green initiatives, our banquet menus are crafted to include pure organic selections and organic or healthy break menus. InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta was the very first hotel in the Americas region to eliminate the use of trans-fats from food production.

How We’re Making Buckhead Even More Beautiful

PRIOR TO AND UPON CHECK-IN

Green choice program gives our guests the choice to defer Housekeeping service during their stay to gain 500 points
Public transportation options, like MARTA, are available so that the hotel can be reached by mass transit
Guests will be able to pick up newspapers on their floor by the elevator to eliminate waste
No plastic bags for newspapers

THE GREEN "MARK"

Our pool is Saline based (4 salt generator cells produce salt for the pool) which reduces and or eliminates usage of pool chemicals
Compact fluorescent and LED lighting are used throughout hotel
Lighting capabilities are patterned after the "Energy Star" program
Fountains use recycled and stored rain water
Green sleeping rooms at InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta

GREEN SLEEPING ROOM

Using bulk amenities in all guest room bathrooms and public areas and employee restrooms saves our hotel an estimated 350,000 plastic bottles and 15,000 gallons of used product per year
Water-saving showerheads at 1.75 (gallons/per/minute)
Water-saving toilet fill valves 1.60 (gallons/per/flush)
Guest rooms, public areas, and employee restroom faucets have water-saving aerator 1.5 (gallons/per/minute)
Towel, linen, and amenity reuse programs in place
Eco-friendly, non-abrasive detergent is used for linens and towels
Temperature and lighting control systems power down room temperature when unoccupied
Closets utilize sensors to activate lighting upon opening

THE GREEN MEETING ROOM

Discontinued use of plastic, Styrofoam, and other non-recyclable items
Recycling bins are located in all meeting rooms
Recycled notepads are provided for all meetings

THE GREEN FOOD EXPERIENCE

Spent cooking oil is used in the production of various sub-product materials
We recycle food compost by using ORCA (ORCA is a hyperlocal, distributed alternative to the traditional truck and bin collection system. This delivers significant savings because we eliminate trucking from the process while significantly reducing the harmful emissions that come with truck traffic. ORCA creates the perfect thermophilic biological environment for the microorganisms to digest food waste into a liquid

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard, cooking oil, room keys, kitchen aprons, employee uniforms, and linens are all recycled or repurposed
Laundry recycling water program: Conserves over 4.5 million gallons of drinking water per year, prevents chemical-laden waste water from returning to the environment, and stops over 2100 pounds of total Organic Carbon from being released to the wastewater treatment plant per year
Chiller economizer to maximize the heat recovery from the cooling tower. The waterside economizer eliminates the need of cooling via compressors when environmental conditions are optimal