Our Targets & Results
EarthView takes a science-based approach to environmental sustainability. We align our energy, water, waste, and emissions targets with leading methodologies, including the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, Science Based Targets initiative, and UN SDGs. We share our progress against these targets below.
Our near-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions target has been verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative as aligned with necessary GHG reductions to limit global temperatures to 1.5°C (vs. 1C currently) above pre-industrial levels.
Our 2030 Reduction Targets
EMISSIONS TARGET
63%
Absolute reduction by 2030*
ENERGY CONSUMPTION TARGET
35%
reduction per SF by 2030*
WATER WITHDRAWAL TARGET
30%
reduction per SF by 2030*
WASTE DIVERSION TARGET
50%
diversion rate in 2030
*Target is compared to a 2010 baseline. Our scope 1+2 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target is in line with a 46% absolute reduction in Scope 1+2 greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 to 2030, as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
Our 2022 Results & Progress
Last year, we announced updated and more ambitious targets for reducing our environmental impact, including a net-zero commitment and an interim GHG target in line with a 1.5°C future. We joined the Science Based Targets initiative and set a 2030 emissions reduction target to help us get there. See our Environmental section for more information on our targets.
MEASURING OUR FOOTPRINT
To reduce our environmental footprint, we measure where we have been and where we are now. We have tracked our GHG emissions, energy, water, and waste since 2010.
Since EarthView’s inception, we have also implemented data management systems that allow us to confidently report high-quality, non-financial data, better manage our footprint, and identify opportunities for continual improvement. We continue to evaluate opportunities to increase the granularity of our data and turn insights into action.
Biodiversity Commitment
Our EarthView program seeks to align with sustainability best practices and calls to action by the UN Environment Programme to strengthen our relationship with nature for the better. We actively support the UN’s 2050 biodiversity mission to live in harmony with nature. As experts in hospitality, we work to embody our core value of Hearts that Serve with not only our guests and associates but our local communities and environments.
At Hersha, we promote biodiversity as an integral part of our sustainability efforts. Our properties support local biodiversity through landscaping with native plants, local wildlife protection practices, and guest and employee communications about eco-friendly best practices. We minimize our impact on local biodiversity through resource efficiency programs and holistic waste management, including packaging, business waste, operational waste, food waste, and wastewater. Our hotels use eco-friendly food service items like non-plastic straws and stirrers to prevent harm to wildlife. Additionally, as a part of our philanthropic efforts, our associates participate in volunteer efforts that protect and promote biodiversity, from community clean-ups to ecological restoration. As we seek to increase the sustainability and eco-friendliness of our business, we continue to evaluate the potential for biodiversity-improving programs and developments. We also take into consideration related reporting frameworks like TNFD.
We know that each habitat we operate in is unique. EarthView actively partners with our hotel teams to design and implement biodiversity-protecting programs specific to each hotel. Some of our hotel initiatives include but are not limited to:
- Sea Turtle Protection Program at the Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club in Miami
- Native Plant Landscaping and Species Identification Program at the Parrot Key Hotel & Villas
- Dune Habitat Conservation and Biodiversity Protection Program at the Sanctuary Beach Resort
- Water-Efficient Native Desert Landscaping at the Ambrose Hotel
EFFICIENT BUILDINGS AND OPERATIONS
Buildings have an outsized impact on our environment. According to a joint report published by the UN Environment Programme and the International Energy Agency, buildings and construction account for 39% of global energy-related emissions. We implement green leases in our property agreements and strive to run our facilities as efficiently and sustainably as possible.
36% of our portfolio has been awarded a third-party building certification, such as LEED, ENERGY STAR, ISO 14001 (for environmental management), or ISO 50001 (for energy management) under our ownership.
The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Premier Green Hotel in Monterey Bay, Kind Traveler™ Partner
The Sanctuary Beach Resort takes many steps to protect its surrounding Marina Dunes Preserve as one of the most environmentally-conscious hotels in Monterey. The property integrates sustainability as a core pillar in design, operations, and community relations. The Sanctuary is a proud partner of Kind Traveler, a veteran-and-women-owned public benefit corporation that empowers a new generation of responsible travelers to positively impact local communities through its Give + Get travel platform. The hotel also has zero single-use plastic in rooms and sustainability-focused amenities, including a bocce court made from recycled oyster shells and complimentary beach cruiser rentals.
RENEWABLE ENERGY & NON-EMITTING TRANSPORTATION
We believe transitioning to an economy run efficiently on clean energy is imperative to curb climate change and maintain a livable future for our society. To support this endeavor, Hersha is committed to exploring opportunities to increase the renewability of our energy sources. We also continue to expand electric and non-emitting transportation options in our communities.
Electric and non-emitting Transportation
To encourage the reduction of emissions from transportation, we are installing electric vehicle charging stations across the portfolio, providing electric house cars and complimentary bike rentals when possible, encouraging exploration of local neighborhoods through walking and biking, and educating guests on public transportation options.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station: These efforts support the expansion of a larger charging infrastructure, which is needed to spur the transition away from combustion vehicles. Currently, we have electric vehicle charging stations at 7 of our hotels, with additional stations planned for installation in 2023.
Electric House Car: Our Ambrose Hotel has an electric house car, a Tesla, that transports guests to and from popular destinations. We evaluate options to purchase electric house cars for other hotels as transportation needs arise.
Complimentary Bike Rentals: More than half of our hotels provide complimentary bike rentals to support guests in exploring local neighborhoods with zero emissions.
Easy Walkability & Access to Public Transportation
Our hotels are mostly based in dense, urban neighborhoods, with a portfolio-wide Walk Score of 84 out of 100 across the portfolio. A high Walk Score indicates there is a greater number of diverse amenities that are easily accessible via walking. Many of our hotels, like the Hyatt Union Square, are near central public transportation hubs. High walkability and access to public transit reduce the number of single-passenger car rides taken to and from hotels while supporting local transportation systems.
PLAN TO ACHIEVE OUR TARGETS
In 2019, we announced ambitious 2030 targets for greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water reductions, and waste diversion. In 2021, we updated these targets to align with the SBTi Business Ambition for 1.5C, increasing the ambition of our GHG emissions reduction targets and aligning with a path to achieve net-zero scope 1 + 2 emissions by 2050. To achieve these, we focus on projects and initiatives that increase energy efficiency, water efficiency, the amount of waste diverted from landfills, and the renewability of our energy source, with sub-targets for some of these initiatives to help us get there.
LED Lighting
- Our energy-efficient lighting strategy is focused on retrofitting existing lighting with LEDs, which are more efficient than incandescent and fluorescent lighting and have much longer lifespans.
- LEDs have been installed at 100% of our hotels.
- We continue to purchase and install LED bulbs and fixtures as hotels are renovated.
Guestroom EMS
- Our HVAC efficiency strategy includes installing guestroom energy management systems (EMS).
- Our guestroom EMS is programmed to reduce energy consumption while rooms are unrented or unoccupied, saving our hotels 25-30% in heating and cooling costs.
- Engineering teams are trained to review their hotel’s energy management system.
- Currently, EMS have been installed at 79% of our eligible, HVAC-compatible properties, with a goal to reach 100%.
High-Efficiency Water Fixtures
- Water fixtures, including faucets and showerheads, typically make up the majority of our hotel’s water usage.
- We have increased the water efficiency of these fixtures through balanced flows that maintain guest comfort, in line with the EPA’s Water Sense criteria.
- On average, properties with high-efficiency water fixtures lower their water usage by 20-30%.
- We have high-efficiency water fixtures installed at 67% of our hotels in regions with “high” or “extremely high” baseline water stress.
Laundry water reuse systems
- Washers consume high volumes of water at our hotels with on-site laundry. Laundry-water reuse systems use recycled and filtered water for 70-80% of our laundry cycles. We are continuing to evaluate opportunities to install these systems at our other hotels.
- To date, our laundry-water reuse systems have reused 3,442 kGal of water, which would fill more than five Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Non-plastic straws & stirrers
- To avoid the detrimental environmental impacts of single-use plastic, our hotels only use paper straws and wooden stirrers in their operations. We avoid using over 4 million plastic straws and stirrers annually, preventing these items from littering our oceans and harming wildlife.