2. Energy efficiency : Solar Panels heat 60% of our hot water

3. Plenty of natural lighting via huge windows throughout

4. Chip Holton, our artist-in-residence, created original art for each guest room and the lobby. No packaging or shipping was utilized to transport the 500 pieces of art.

5. Buy local material : Most of our furniture was designed by our team and made locally.

6. The restored stream

7. Geothermal energy is based on the heat of the earth's core

8. 1.Improved regional air quality by the elimination of smog forming chemicals. 2.Improved worker safety and health. 3.Reduced incidents of eye and respiratory irritation, headaches, fatigue and other symptoms of “sick building” syndrome. 4.Cleaner indoor air quality. Benefits of Using Low VOC Building Materials:

9. Water saving The Kohler Highline Comfort Height 1.1 Gallon Flush Pressure assisted flushing system. Two-Piece toilet. Meets strict flushing performance guidelines established by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) WaterSense program. WaterSense labeled toilets use at least 20% less water than standard 1.6-gallon toilets. This product can help a building earn Water Efficiency points in the LEED Green Building Rating System™. See specification sheet for water use data.

10. Another trial is processed in Proximity Hotel, 2007. This is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum "green hotel", which followed building's design and construction guidelines. The purposes of LEED-certified buildings are reducing the operating costs, healthier and more productive occupants, and preserve our natural resources. This hotel uses 41% less energy than a conventional hotel/restaurant by using ultra efficient materials and the latest construction technology. Energy efficiency : The solar energy heats hot water with 100 solar panels covering the 4,000 square feet of rooftop (enough hot water for a hundred homes). This heats around 60% of the water for both the hotel and restaurant. To use abundant natural lighting, large energy-efficient “operable” windows (7’4” square windows in guest rooms) are designed. Water saving : Water usage has been reduced by 33% by installing high-efficiency Kohler plumbing fixtures, saving two million gallons of water the first year. (Toilet=1.28 gallons/min, Faucet=1gallon/min, Shower=2.0gallons/min, Urinal=No water(use Creepy Sewer Gel)) Buy local material : Regional vendors and artists were used for materials to reduce transportation and packaging. Recycle : 87% of construction waste was recycled, diverting 1,535 tons of debris from landfills. Building materials with recycled content include reinforced steel with 90% post consumer recycled content, National Gypsum Wallboard 100%, asphalt 25% and staircase steel 50%. Concrete contains 4% fly ash (224,000 pounds), the mineral residue left after the combustion of coal that is diverted from landfills. Low V.O.Cs : Low-emitting volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, adhesives, carpets, etc reduces indoor air contamination. Zero Geothermal : Geothermal energy is used for the restaurant’s refrigeration equipment, instead of a standard water-cooled system, saving significant amounts of water. “Education Center” for sustainable practices includes tours of our "green" hotel for guests, sustainable practices symposia, and outreach programs for students of all ages. innovation in design : A green, vegetated rooftop will be planted on the restaurant to reduce the “urban heat island effect.” In other words, the green roof reflects the heat, thus reducing the amount of energy needed for refrigeration and/or air conditioning. It also slows the rain runoff and insulates the rooftop, keeping the building cooler overall. Currently, we are trying out various plants on the roof in a test area.