HERNDON, Va. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES), today announced that it will support the decision of Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. to further reduce its carbon footprint by providing the hotel with WGES CleanSteps® Carbon Offsets matched to the hotel’s natural gas use, and WGES CleanSteps® WindPower. The purchases are equivalent to taking 1,685 cars off the road for one year or planting 29,906 trees.
The purchase of WGES CleanSteps® WindPower and WGES CleanSteps® Carbon Offsets reflects the hotel’s strategy to improve its environmental performance through reduced greenhouse gas emissions from energy use. As part of their sustainability initiatives, the hotel also optimizes water use, minimizes waste and educates guests and the general public about its continuing effort to be a steadfast steward of the environment.
“Luxury, legendary service and sustainability are integral elements of our business model,” said General Manager Amanda Hyndman at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. "Reducing our environmental impact from our electric and gas use is just one of the many actions that we employ to fulfill our commitment to sustainability efforts. Further, it demonstrates that the hotel is environmentally aware, presented in a manner that is seamless to our discriminating guests.”
All of the wind power supplied by WGES to the Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. is Green-e Energy certified by the Center for Resource Solutions. The certification ensures that the power provided is sourced from new, renewable generators that meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards. The intermodal carbon offsets, matched with WGES natural gas products and supplied to Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. are independently verified by third-party engineering firms. The offsets are then entered into electronic registries, administered by CSA International, to prevent double-counting and provide a complete, transparent audit trail.
In addition, the purchase of WGES CleanSteps® Carbon Offsets supports the partnership between WGES, Sterling Planet and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to fund tree plantings and other nutrient management programs to further reduce greenhouse gases in the Chesapeake Bay region. Since the inception of the new product and partnership in 2010, more than 25,000 locally sourced intermodal carbon offsets have been matched to WGES customers’ natural gas usage, equivalent to planting 87,169 trees.
“We commend Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C., for their dedication to sustainability,” said Harry Warren, President of WGES. “As a leading competitive energy supplier, we are committed to providing customers with options that include green energy products. It is rewarding to partner with businesses such as Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C. who recognize that their choice of energy products can produce a substantial and positive impact on our environment.”
About Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.
The hotel’s unique location on the southwest waterfront makes Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C., the only hotel offering views of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, Tidal Basin and Washington Marina. In addition to exceptional accommodations and gracious service, the hotel features the Forbes Four-Star Spa at Mandarin Oriental, the Southern-style restaurant Sou’Wester and the AAA Five Diamond CityZen. For reservations, please contact the hotel directly at +1 202-787-6140, toll free 888-888-1778, or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/washington.
About Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc.
Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. is one of the largest competitive providers of electricity and natural gas in the mid-Atlantic region, and supplies over 350,000 customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Headquartered in Herndon, Va., Washington Gas Energy Services is an affiliate of Washington Gas and a subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:WGL). For more information, visit www.wges.com.
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