Scottsdale's Eco Friendly Real Estate

By Author: Peter Vatistas
Total Articles: 19
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The City of Scottsdale, Arizona has evolved into one of the most eco-friendly communities in the country. In fact, Scottsdale is the nation's first city to adopt a goal that all new municipal buildings should be certified at the "gold" level by the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). In 2008, thanks in part to Scottsdale's Green Building Program, one-third of all new single-family homes, many of them considered luxury Scottsdale homes, met above-code energy and green rating requirements that qualify for Scottsdale's unique Green Certificate of Occupancy designation.

Several of Scottsdale's finest resorts and spas are on the forefront of this green revolution, including The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, whose view-rich real estate includes an on-site organic garden that produces a variety of vegetables, herbs and spices for use in the resort's restaurant kitchens. FireSky Resort & Spa received the Green Seal Certification in March 2010, making it the first Arizona hotel to achieve this designation.

As part of its company-wide Eco Program, the ...
... Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers energy-efficient lighting and water-conserving showerheads and tap aerators plus menus incorporating local, seasonal and organically grown foods wherever possible. In addition, through a partnership with AzBioDiesel, the resort collects used cooking oil and converts the grease to biodiesel, helping to prevent more than 100,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.

Among the first resorts in the country to have an individual solely dedicated to environmental management, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch focuses on the areas of energy efficiency and waste minimization, as well as guest environmental education through the resort's Native American and Environmental Learning Center, Eco-pond and Native Heritage Seed Garden. Meanwhile, the Royal Palms Resort and Spa recycles more than 127,000 pounds of cardboard annually and supplies 300 pounds of green waste every week to create organic fertilizer for a local farm that provides produce to T. Cook's restaurant.

The Talking Stick Resort, located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, opened in July 2010 and incorporated green building elements using locally manufactured recycled steel and renewable materials such as cork flooring. The hotel also utilizes eco-friendly practices including the use of nontoxic cleaning products, locally grown organic foods and low emission fabrics in guestroom and resort furniture.

Source: Press Release, www.ScottsdaleCVB.com Article Source: Russ Lyon blog