Will U.S. Hotels Make The Switch To Really Green Lodgings?
In Europe, many hotel room keys double as the master switch, turning power to the room on and off. The New York Times writes that it’s almost never seen in the U.S. and wonders if Americans are ready for greener hotel rooms. Brian McGuinness, a vice president of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, told the paper that people say they want to be green, but they don’t want to compromise. Starwood began a new green brand last month called Element, which is branded as being eco-conscious but so far the hotels do not have master switches in the rooms. McGuinness said when they surveyed potential customers about master switches some responded that “they would suffer discomfort,” because the room would be too hot when they returned. But he added that future Element hotels may install compromise master switches, which controls the lights and the TV, while leaving the air-conditioning on. Experts estimate that the price for installation is about $300 per room, or less than one-quarter of 1 percent of t
