Seattle’s hotels can support a vibrant tourism industry without contributing to climate change.

HOW?

With the Living Hotels ordinance, new hotels would reduce reliance on fossil fuels, generate as much of their own energy as possible on-site, conserve water, use sustainable materials and reduce carbon impact of construction, encourage low impact forms of transportation, and consider equity for our communities.

WHY HOTELS?

The carbon footprint of the tourism industry is large, contributing 8% to global carbon emissions. We have to tackle the tourism industry if we’re going to seriously address climate change.

Hotels are themselves a high greenhouse gas intensity land use according to data from the City of Seattle, producing more emissions than office, residential, senior care, or school buildings.

Hotels produce more greenhouse gas emissions than office, apartment, or school buildings…

—Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment

The good news is that a majority of travelers want to use more sustainable travel options.

83% of travelers plan to prioritize sustainability

69% expect more sustainable options

TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

Learn More About the Living Hotels Ordinance

The Living Hotels ordinance is modeled on the already existing Living Building Challenge pilot program in the City of Seattle.

It would provide a 25% development bonus for new hotels that meet the Living Building Challenge or enter into a Climate Incentive Agreement.

Under the ordinance, hotel developments would reduce energy consumption and climate impacts:

  • avoiding reliance on fossil fuels in construction and operation
  • using sustainable materials, reducing embodied carbon, and avoid waste
  • enabling employees to live close to work

You can find more on the Living Building Challenge standards here.