120,000 honeybees buzz atop Ritz-Carlton
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The penthouse roof of one of uptown Charlotte's swankiest hotels buzzed with activity Wednesday as its 120,000 new residents, honeybees, met their public.
On the eve of Earth Day, the Ritz-Carlton unveiled its new green roof, planted with a groundcover called sedum. Tomatoes, herbs and lavender grow in raised beds on one side. On the other stand two handsome beehives, painted white with copper roofs.
The bees will become urban commuters, visiting condo balconies and city parks in a two-mile radius before returning to their 18th-floor base. Their honey will flavor the hotel's yogurt, granola and brews served at high tea, said executive chef Jon Farace.
"I think we'll just have to categorize it as a wildflower honey," said Randall York of Cloister Honey, which tends the hives. "It should be just a good floral mix."
It's all in keeping with the hotel's environmental ethos.
On Wednesday the hotel became the first Ritz-Carlton to win a green stamp of approval from the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold designation. The hotel hopes to win a similar label for its operating practices.
Only 50 hotels have earned the LEED label, Rick Fedrizzi, chief executive of the Green Building Council, said.
Bank of America, which built the hotel, announced a $20 billion, 10-year environmental initiative in 2007. The bank's new tower in Manhattan earned LEED Platinum, the highest rank for green design.
Here, a Ritz-Carlton employee will adopt the persona of Mother Nature, tucking in kids staying at the hotel, giving eco-tours, appearing at local events.
But York said he knows of no other rooftop hives uptown.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/22/1390920/hive-rise-living-atop-the-ritz.html#ixzz0lr65MusA
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