RLJ Lodging Trust
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:98,157 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:28,038 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:70,119 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:N/A
Renewable Energy Share:10.36%
Total Energy Consumption:361,960 MWh/year
Water Consumption:721,293 kgal/year
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Sustainability
- Social Responsibility
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Energy Intensity per square foot decreased by 10% (on a like-for-like basis) compared to 2019.
- GHG Intensity per square foot decreased by 22% (on a like-for-like basis) compared to 2019.
- Installed water stations in three renovation projects to reduce plastic waste and improve guest experience.
- Partnered with Road Runner Waste Management to improve waste data collection and reduction strategies in Washington, D.C.
Social Achievements
- 49% of associates and 33% of the Board are women.
- Over half of associates and Board members are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
- Joined NAREIT’s Dividends through Diversity Equity and Inclusion grant program.
- Donated over $220,000 to charitable organizations.
- Participated in Habitat for Humanity Build Day.
Governance Achievements
- Formalized ESG program oversight as a Board responsibility, delegating it to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (NCGC).
- Introduced ESG compensation goals for senior executives.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce overall carbon emissions intensity by 35% by 2030 (relative to a 2019 baseline year).
Short-term Goals:
- Working with hotel management teams to identify specific sustainability priorities and initiatives for each property by 2024.
Environmental Challenges
- Water scarcity: 34% of properties (by square footage) are located in areas experiencing high or extremely high water stress.
- Portfolio vulnerability: 50% of properties are located in states prone to natural disasters.
- GHG emissions from energy use.
- Accurate waste data collection.
Mitigation Strategies
- Renovations focus on improving water conservation.
- Investing in increasing the resiliency of buildings to withstand climate change impacts.
- Investing in energy efficiency projects ($6.6M in 2022, 76% on energy or water efficiency).
- Partnering with waste management providers to improve data collection and waste reduction strategies.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Incorporating specific questions into RFP process to collect diversity metrics.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
- Rising sea levels
- Global temperature changes
Transition Risks
- Guest preferences
- Regulatory/reporting requirements
- Increased supply/inventory costs
Opportunities
- Shifting weather patterns driving demand to different geographic locations
- Providing lodging to emergency responders
- Demand shifts based on temperature changes
- Capturing changing consumer preferences with sustainable options
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD
Certifications: Energy Star (one property), Green Globes (one property), Florida Green Lodging Program (two properties)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 4
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 10
- SDG 12
- SDG 17
The report mentions alignment with UN SDGs, but doesn't provide specific details on how initiatives contribute to each goal.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Bulk dispensers to replace plastic toiletry bottles