Greensboro is about to get greener with the opening of the Proximity Hotel. Scheduled to open on Nov. 1, the hotel, which is located near Friendly Center, will be one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in North America.
“It’s time to build green. It’s not only our responsibility to the environment, but it makes good business sense,” said Mark File, marketing director for the hotel. The owner of the Proximity alsoowns the O’Henry Hotel a block away.
The architects of the building followed the guidelines of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a nationally accepted benchmark for green buildings. Proximity Hotel has been given a Gold LEED rating.
“There are only a few LEED certified hotels in the country today, and only one other Gold Certified; there are currently are 100+ being built,” said File.
Seventy-five percent of the construction waste will be recycled and it will use about 40 percent less of the electricity and natural gas of a normal hotel by using more efficient materials and systems. Water usage will be cut by 35 percent by using high-efficiency fixtures.
“Construction costs are about 30 percent more. However, we will recoup the extra expenses in about five years because of the energy savings,” said File.
The hotel will have the first Otis Gen2 elevator in North America, which will actually generate electricity as it descends. There are also 100 solar panels located on the roof of the building to heat hot water. One of the main goals of Proximity will be to serve as an education center to teach people about sustainability practices.
“We will have a display on our sustainable practices, information on our web site, tours of the building and printed materials to share,” said File.
News of the hotel is causing a stir amongst the more environmentally conscious people on campus.
“Its another piece of a really good plan that seems to be coming together in Greensboro, taking public conversation beyond just that, it also is very appealing to the young professionals Greensboro is trying to attract” said Assistant Professor of Political Science Kyle Dell, who teaches courses in environmentalism in early America and modern environmental problems.
“They are blazing a trail for what Sustainability Council at Guilford is trying to do . when I arrived at Guilford there was no council and now we have a committee of teachers, staff and students and a generous budget,” said Dell.
There are, however, some concerns about the hotel. Junior Chelsea Hornick-Becker, who is a member of Forever Green, Guilford’s environmental club, has some issues with the room prices.
“I looked at the Web site and it all looks great and environmentally friendly, but to bring your family there for the weekend would cost upwards of $250,” said Hornick-Becker. “It’s a step forward, but it just perpetuates the idea that to be environmentally friendly you must be privileged.”