Hilton Los Angeles/ Universal City Awarded National Green Seal, Silver Level Certification

April 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Energy and environmental enthusiasts are increasingly calling on businesses to take green action and implement sustainable initiatives.  Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is making great strides in this endeavor and is proud to be one of the few environmentally conscious “Green Seal Silver” certified lodging facilities in California.  The hotel’s executives understand that sustainability is meeting present needs without comprising the earth’s future generations, and have shown their commitment to energy-conservation and waste-minimization by implementing environmentally friendly operations.  By doing this, the hotel is not only helping to reduce the greenhouse emissions that impact global climate change and save energy, but is also improving efficiency, lowering operating costs, providing a cleaner and healthier hotel environment, and setting a positive example for employees that boosts morale and property loyalty.
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City continues to look ahead and innovate with green practices.  In 2009 the hotel began working with Green Seal, a non-profit organization that developed life cycle based sustainability standards for lodging properties.  This institution sets the environmental norm in the hospitality industry and offers third party certification for those who meet the set criteria.  In January 2010, the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City hotel attained the Bronze Level certification.
There are presently 15 recycling programs established in the hotel that diverts to 80-85% of its total waste from being sent to local landfills.  Cardboard, printing paper, light bulbs, guestroom amenities, batteries, toner cartridges, aerosol cans, food waste, yard waste, and kitchen deep fry oil have all been included in the recycling process.  The food waste, for example, goes from the hotel’s compactor to a material recovery facility where it is separated and turned into organic compost.  In paper and food waste alone the hotel’s efforts saved 724 trees and did not take up 198 cubic yards of landfill space.
In 2011 the team at Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City recycled the following:
   66 tons of cardboard and mixed materials (paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum)
   2,897 light bulbs
   54 ballasts, 313 toner cartridges, and 125 aerosol cans
   2,682 pounds of plastic containers and 4,499 pounds of soap from leftover guestroom amenities were donated to a non-profit organization  
   69 pounds of  AA batteries
   9,350 pounds of e-waste
But recycling is just a fragment of the hotel’s green operations to protect our land, air, and water resources.  Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City also initiates environmentally friendly policies by purchasing less hazardous chemicals for its laundry, dish washing, and housekeeping departments.  In addition, they have added energy efficient lighting and motion sensor timers in meeting rooms; installed water conserving toilet fixtures throughout the hotel, and they offer a towel & linen conservation reuse program to guests who stay multiple nights.
General Manager, Mr. Juan Aquinde, CHA, consistently encourages his team members to step up their current level of sustainability practices, even in their personal lives.  “There are a number of ways we can practice sustainability individually.  It is as easy as being conscious of the waste that we create on a daily basis.  Learning to recycle properly is a big step in the right direction.  If we all work together, our small collective changes will realize a more positive outlook for our environment.”  As a result of Mr. Aquinde’s direction, Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City was awarded the highly regarded Silver Level Certification in June 2011, proudly becoming the only Hilton hotel in California, and one of six Hilton hotels in the country, to attain this level of compliance.

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A Southern California icon, the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is located in the heart of the “Entertainment District” at the main entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City Walk, and the Gibson Amphitheater. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this AAA Four Diamond hotel and its 473 guestrooms and 9 suites of comfortably lavish Hollywood accommodations is the ideal choice for business or pleasure. Spectacular views of the Hollywood hills, award-winning restaurant, relaxed lounge, coffee bar and complimentary shuttle to Universal City attractions only enhance the years of service-focused hospitality experienced by its guests.

Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City is located at 555 Universal City Hollywood Dr, Universal City, CA 91608. For additional information or to make a reservation, please contact the hotel by calling 818-506-2500, or online at www.hiltonuniversal.com.