We are excited to congratulate The Agrarian Hotel on achieving LEED Silver, the first New Construction project in the City of Arroyo Grande to earn LEED certification.
The Agrarian Hotel, a 54-room, 30,000 SF hotel, implemented practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
More than 25% of The Agrarian Hotel’s energy is offset by a large solar array on the roof. Renewable energy combined with efficient lighting and equipment results in 30% energy savings compared to a typical building. Water savings are 40% for indoor use, and outdoor water use is reduced by almost 70% through native and adapted plant selections. The project also diverted 80% of construction waste from landfills.
An often overlooked factor and one of the most important green building features for this project is the site selection itself. With a central location downtown, guests and staff can easily walk to restaurants, shopping and services without needing a car. In addition, the creek restoration and walkway add a great pedestrian connection.
Interestingly, one point the project was not awarded was Sensitive Land Protection. Although the LEED reviewers lauded the native landscape and creek restoration, they ultimately denied that particular credit because the project is within 100’ of a water body, the creek itself. This outcome reflects the conflicting goals that sometimes occur in a sustainable project – infilling an existing site to increase density and walkability, while giving natural habitat space within a city. Although the LEED credits don’t always align with project realities, the Agrarian Hotel was able to strike the right balance overall, earning 50 points across all categories and the prestigious achievement of LEED Silver.
Congratulations to the entire team! Learn more about the Agrarian Hotel today!