Riyadh Marriott goes solar, cuts CO2 emissions by 89%

Riyadh Marriott Hotel, built in 1982, is committed to making a positive and sustainable impact on the communities it operates in.

One of the goals of Marriott International is to reduce the environmental footprint by 30 percent across its portfolio by 2025.

While CO2 naturally exists in the Earth’s atmosphere, human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, have added more carbon to the atmosphere than can be managed by the Earth’s natural systems. Carbon emissions, also known as greenhouse gases, are warming the planet, resulting in climate change. The impact of climate change is already visible, from more intense heatwaves to rising sea levels and shifting seasons.

“With increasingly severe consequences predicted, climate change is creating huge risks for our properties, putting stress on the resources we need to operate as a business, and making those resources more expensive,” the hotel said.

Riyadh Marriott Hotel launched the Marriott Solar Panel Project, which is designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics (PV). The solar PV electric system comprises panels (1,788 units), designed to convert sunlight directly into electricity.

“A solar PV system will help our property cut both energy costs and carbon emissions and it will send a positive message to associates and guests about our awareness of the impact of fossil fuel use on climate change and our contribution to reducing these effects,” the hotel said.

With the Marriott Solar Panel Project, the hotel will reduce its annual CO2 emissions from 8,029,763 kg to 915,904 kg. This is equivalent to planting 35,700 trees.

“The process of changing our behaviors, technology, and standards to improve our energy profile, save money, enhance the guest experience, and lower our impact on the planet is called innovation. Embracing changes like innovation is part of the business and culture of Marriott and solidifies our role as leaders in hospitality. Guests expect us to investigate, test, safeguard and adopt the latest technology in their rooms and meeting spaces to provide them with a great experience, all while helping them reduce their carbon footprint,” the hotel said.

“The most effective way to reduce carbon emissions is to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels, focusing efforts on energy efficiency and conservation and switching to fuels with lower carbon content and renewable sources of energy.”