This week, we've given our readers an inside look at many of the sustainable, eco-friendly initiatives developed here at Hyatt. In keeping with this "green" theme, today's Hyatt Friday Photo features the SunPower solar power system at Hyatt Regency New Brunswick.

The hotel's mission to generate clean, renewable solar power was ignited in 2009 through a partnership with SunPower Corp., a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, panels and systems. Together, Hyatt Regency New Brunswick and SunPower Corp. worked to design and install a 32,000 square-foot, 421-kilowatt solar power system over the top floor of the hotel's garage (see picture below). The system uses high-efficiency solar panels that lay flat on the roof and provide added thermal insulation for the building and environmental protection to the roofing material.

According to conversion formulas provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the output from this solar power system will help reduce New Jersey's CO2 emissions by 10,000 tons over the next 30 years, as well as lessen oil dependency by at least 749 barrels annually.

In addition to the solar power system, Hyatt Regency New Brunswick is taking many other steps to reduce its carbon footprint, including:

• Implementation of food composting with a combined recycling of metals, plastic, glass, cardboard, paper and good
• Installation of a kitchen exhaust hood control system to save energy and reduce heating and air conditioning costs
• Switch to CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) lights wherever possible, as well as installing LED lighting in various locations around the hotel to reduce annual electricity consumption

We applaud Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, along with all of the other Hyatt hotels and resorts that are committed to creating a culture of environmental responsibility.