Marriott’s Grand Chateau has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious ENERGY STAR rating, the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. This signifies that the 40-story building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency.

“We are thrilled to accept the EPA’s ENERGY STAR in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts,” said Tom McCormack, general manager of Marriott’s Grand Chateau. “Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our ‘Spirit to Preserve’ commitment to the environment while also lowering our energy costs.”

The 427-villa timeshare resort uses approximately 35 percent less energy than typical buildings its size and also releases 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The resort improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire resort and by making cost-effective improvements to its buildings.

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to protecting our environment,” said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR.”

To achieve the ENERGY STAR, Marriott’s Grand Chateau took steps including incorporating a robust recycling program throughout the entire resort, replacing all incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights and Light Emitting Diode lights, and optimizing its energy management system thereby decreasing energy costs. Since the official launch of its “green” efforts in 2007, the resort has saved over 4,523 metric tons in green house gas emissions and reduced energy costs by over $960,000.

This is not the first recognition for Marriott’s Grand Chateau. In 2008 the resort was awarded the TOBY Earth Award for Environmental Conservation from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Nevada, and in 2010 the resort became a member of the Audubon International Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program, scoring in the top 10 percent of newly enrolled resorts in the program.