EARTH HOUR 2008 LAUNCHES OMNI INTERLOCKEN RESORT GREEN INITIATIVES
BROOMFIELD, CO. (March 26, 2008) — Heeding Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s call to “turn out the lights” for one hour on Saturday, March 29, 2008, the Omni Interlocken Resort & Spa will use its participation in Earth Hour 2008 as the launch of its resort-wide sustainability program. Dedicated to developing creative solutions to lessen the environmental impacts of this upscale resort, general manager David Jurcak declares Earth Hour the perfect way to begin this ongoing initiative.
A global campaign that expresses how individual action on a mass scale can help change the planet by reducing energy use, Earth Hour 2008 occurs on Saturday, March 29th between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. (MDT). The event began last year in Sydney, Australia. That evening in March, 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses turned off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2 percent for one hour, the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for one year.
Mayor Hickenlooper has challenged Denver area residents and businesses to participate with thousands of other world cities and turn off the lights and non-essential appliances for one hour on March 29th. While the Omni Interlocken goes “dark” for that hour all public space will be lit by candles. It is estimated that more than 800 60-watt light bulbs will be turned off for that hour, hopefully resulting in a 70 percent savings of energy.
“The Omni Interlocken Resort’s management team had begun to lay the foundation for an ecologically sustainable resort, spa and golf courses when we received Mayor Hickenlooper’s letter,” said Jurcak. “Participation in Earth Hour seemed to be a natural kick-off for the Omni’s journey toward green practices.”
To assist in its program development, the Omni Interlocken Resort has contracted UHG Consulting of Boulder. Experienced in guiding national hotel companies along the path of sustainability, this local company has begun baseline audits of the Omni Interlocken’s energy usage.
“Our goal for the Resort is to help reduce its overall environmental impact without sacrificing any of its luxury standards,” said Rick Hodges, Project Director, UHG Consulting. “We are excited to help the Omni continue exceptional service to its guests while becoming a more environmentally friendly business,” he said.
The Boulder Chamber of Commerce recently booked its “Green Expo” on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at the Omni Resort. More than 100 companies will be exhibiting various products and services for the metro area’s consumers.
The Omni Interlocken Resort is located in the foothills at 500 Interlocken Blvd, nine miles from Boulder, and 20-minutes from downtown Denver. With 390 guest rooms, and 34,000 square-feet of meeting space, it features a full service spa, two outdoor pools, three restaurants and 27 holes of championship golf.