New York gets its first green five-star hotel at Bryant Park

“1” Hotel and Residences, set to open during the first half of 2010, will be New York City's first five-star green hotel. The building will be built to LEED standards and will open in a proposed 31-story mixed-use green tower across from Bryant Park in Manhattan. Green features include extensive daylighting with occupancy sensors and lighting control systems; low- and no-VOC materials; 50% of energy use from renewable sources such as wind, hydro, and biomass; and non-toxic housekeeping products. In addition, the luxury hotel will donate 1% of its profits to local environmental organizations. Other “1” Hotels are currently being planned for Seattle, Scottsdale, Ariz., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Washington, D.C., and Paris.