NEW YORK CITY-The Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo has been designated LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council, making it the first hotel in New York State to receive the program’s highest distinction. The hotel is owned by UK-based Firmdale Hotels and is the company’s only US-based property.

“To receive the accreditation is just an amazing accolade and it motivates and inspires other people to act the same way,” Jakob Hansen, the hotel’s general manager tells GlobeSt.com. Hansen says the USGBC awarded the certification for the construction and completion of the building. Going forward, he also plans to conform operational practices to environmental goals.

LEED certifies buildings based on a 100-point scale. The checklist for new construction projects includes site sustainability, water use reduction and building with renewable or local materials.

Hansen says meeting LEED requirements fulfilled environmental sustainability values in a fiscally sound manner. “If you stay here you can rest assured you’re in a building that is relatively green, and that some thought has gone into the process of constructing it,” he says. “That’s obviously good for the environment but it’s also good for the pocket, and hopefully those things can go together.”

The Crosby Street Hotel excelled in energy efficiency, lighting, water reduction and local materials, according to a Firmdale press release. Hansen says guests will enjoy native gardens and meadows, as open-air space constitutes 61% of the site. The Crosby Street Hotel also produces its own tomatoes and chicken eggs on its green roof, Hansen says, which reduces the amount of heat that is reflected back into the atmosphere.

“Turning something that’s very practical in terms of achieving something for the environment into something that’s pleasant and fun at the same time is obviously important,” Hansen says. “There is a bit of that going on.”