It won’t be a thorough guide and they won’t check out the practices themselves but it is a good step forward for everyone. If anyone makes a choice to support a green hotel over a hotel hog, it’s a good thing. Right?

The guide became watered down over time because I want to acknowledge and encourage places to do little things that are more responsible and healthy for guests. If you have a choice of only a few places and one does one or two good things while the other places do nothing? Choose the one making some effort.

Travelers regularly want to know what hotels are completely smoke free or use safe cleaning products but don’t care about all the other stuff. So I created a green rating to allow me to give one leaf to places that are non-smoking, for example. The downside is that for some, it “clutters” the guide because there are more chains and places that are not really green or eco hotels.

The easiest and first solution is to create maps that highlight places with the higher green hotel ratings. I figured it was best to create maps to cover all the higher rated places in the US so you can decide what is best for you and how selective you want to be.

Map of 6 Leaf Rated lodging
Map of 5 Leaf Rated lodging
Map of 5 & 6 Leaf Rated lodging
Map of 4 Leaf Rated lodging
Map of 4, 5 & 6 Leaf Rated lodging

I didn’t think it was worth going down to the lower ratings. The quantity rises and if green is really your priority, the lower ones aren’t doing enough. You can still use the regular guide to pick those over places that do nothing at all.

Please let me know of any thoughts or suggestions on ways I can take it further and be even more useful.

By Adam Longfellow

Solar electric at AllStays.com

I have had a green hotels feature on this site for years, long before it was trendy, popular or hip. As owner of AllStays, I don’t just talk it up like it’s a gimmick. I have conserved power in every way that I could for many years and this was the next obvious step. I immediately installed solar power onto my AllStays RV as well. I have not used a generator or lacked power while traveling on research since installation in early 2007.

Solar power on AllStays.com RV

Now is a great time to go with solar power. Now is a great time to watch your electric meter run backwards. 2009 introduced some 30% tax credits along with a few great state credits (totalling 40% in New Mexico for example) make it finally worthwhile. In fact, if you calculate the return on producing cleaner power and retail rate of electricity that the electric company may pay you, the investment will do much better than bank interest rates these days. Four times better at the time of my installation. Keep an eye out (and ask your representatives) for new incentives such as zero or low interest loans or deals to put it into your property taxes. Now is the time.

By Adam Longfellow

Monkey Forest Ubud - Photo by Flickr's D.Meutia

Bali prides itself on its commitment to protecting flora, fauna and the environment.  It has developed a number of places of interest that tourists flock to see each year.  If you are going or planning a trip to Bali, you should try to hit at least a few of these places. Here is an outline of some of the major venues and programs:

BALI MARINE PARK – The Government of Indonesia has declared 24 marine protected areas throughout the country. There are plans to expand this to 85 reserves covering 30 million hectares. Recent initiatives include plans for the management of important marine habitants such as coral reefs and mangroves for sustainable use and conservation.

Safari Park - Photo by Flickr's Roodee

BALI ELEPHANT SAFARI PARK – Don’t leave Bali without visiting these truly unique and spectacular Indonesian Elephants. Located in the cool jungle forest of Desa Taro, (20 mins north of Ubud Bali), the Elephant Safari Park offers you the chance to feed and interact with these wonderful creatures in a natural setting.

Bali Bird Park - Photo by Flickr's A.www.viajar24h.com

BALI BIRD PARK – Taman Burung Bali Bird Park, Singapadu, near Batubulan. Taman Burung houses over 1000 birds, including varieties from all over Indonesia. One of the aims of the park is to breed endangered species in captivity, including the indigenous Bali Mynah.

BALI BARAT NATIONAL PARK – Almost the whole of the western tip of Bali, covering an area of over 750 square km, has been set aside as a conservation area. Included within the park’s boundaries are open savanahs, rainforests, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and Pulau Menjangan (Deer Island), a small island off the north coast of Bali. The park is a haven for a wide range of animals and birds, especially the endangered Bali Starling.

Butterfly Park - Photo by Flickr's Sam Fraser-Smith

BALI BUTTERFLY PARK – Taman Kupu Kupu, Jl. Batukaru, Sandan Wanasari, Tabanan Regency. Recently opened, Indonesia’s only butterfly park is helping to study, breed and preserve many kinds of butterflies from Bali and all over Indonesia.

BALI BOTANICAL GARDENS – Kebun Raya Eka Karya, Bedugul Bali. Established in 1959 these gardens cover over 120 hectares on the slopes of Gunung Pohon (Tree Mountain). The gardens contain a huge collection of trees, nearly 500 varieties of orchid and are rich in birdlife.

Reptile Park Ubud - Photo by Flickr's sektordua

BALI REPTILE PARK – Step out of time into the fantastic world that awaits you at the Bali Reptile Park. Enter the dawn of time when Dinosaurs ruled the earth, Komodo Dragons stalked their prey and Crocodiles emerged from the swamps.

BALI SANGEH MONKEY FOREST – Near the village of Sangeh Bali. This forest, of approximately 6 hectares, is filled with giant nutmeg trees that can grow up to 40m high. The main attractions here are the hordes of Balinese monkeys that inhabit both the trees and the temple, Pura Bukit Sari, located in the heart of the forest.

Monkey Forest - Photo by Flickr's ColbyOtero.com

UBUD MONKEY FOREST BALI – Ubud Bali. This forest is smaller than the one at Sangeh but the monkeys are just as wild.

BLAHMANTUNG WATERFALL BALI – Near Pupuan, west Bali. Dropping over 100m, this waterfall is spectacular, especially during the rainy season.

Gitgit Waterfall - Photo by Flickr's elvranharris

GITGIT WATERFALL BALI – 10km south of Singaraja Bali. Not far from the main road, Gitgit is an impressive 40m waterfall that gushes into a deep pool.

Did any of these pictures inspired you to go and explore the eco parks in Bali? Now is a great time for deals so them before they are gone.

Even though most of us are consuming large amounts of them, as much as twelve layers of them on our food every day, I don’t believe that pesticides are good for us. I generally think that anything that kills something else can’t be good for us either. If there is an alternative method out there that is not a pesticide, I’ll try it. Some methods work better than others.

The first rule is cleanliness. Try to keep clutter and debris under control. Ants don’t usually bother going into a place unless they can find food crumbs or scraps or if you’re in the desert, a easy water source. Tree branches are a preferred method of travel so if you keep them away from your house or rv, both from above and from touching the side of it, it will help. When I was battling the severe ant problem at the San Diego KOA, I finally had it so they weren’t entering from any place on the ground. They no longer went over my tires or up my electric and water hoses. But they were still getting in. Then I realized that they were forming a line up a nearby tree and then plunging off it onto my roof. At my house, mice were using the trees to run from one section of the house to another. So I stopped all that by trimming my trees. If possible, move the RV slightly so it isn’t under the tree any longer.

Caulk and seal openings. Once you find where the pests are getting in, make sure you close up those gaps. It’s good to seal any openings that you can as it helps with controlling your energy costs as well. In my RV, I found some large gaps in the outside electrical compartment that allowed rodents to get up into and scurry around the rest of the hidden parts of my RV. Behind cabinets and through all the pipe spaces, they could get into just about everything. I used caulk and insulating foam to close those gaps. The rodents haven’t gotten in since.

I like to keep my cables off the ground when possible. Another plus with solar (here he goes again!) is that I don’t even hookup very often. If you can run from a hook up point to the RV connections without touching the ground it just reduces the easy roads that pests have into your RV. Or at least pay close attention to where your hoses and cords lay on the ground. No since in putting out the red carpet and laying one right over an any mound if you don’t have to.

Sometimes your compartment doors don’t close completely and leave an entrance gap. This may be due to age or a part of the design. If it’s a compartment where a mouse could get in or cause damage to the contents of that compartment, you may want to eliminate that gap. I have lined a compartment door with reflectix to make the door close up tight. This is insulating and light weight. You could cut to fit a dense foam pad. These are sold for gardening on your knees, garage floors and play areas.

Cover vents with hardware cloth or gutter screen material. This is not regular screen. You don’t want a weak material or one that restricts air flow in any way. This a metal material with larger square openings that are maybe a quarter inch to half inch in size. It keeps out mice, birds, snakes, etc. I cut the pieces to fit under all vent caps and covers and then they are held in place by the covers themselves.

Ant invasion

Find out where they are coming in if you can. If you find the spot you can use non-pesticide products like food grade diatomaceous earth (DE), moist coffee grounds, baking soda, talcum powder, cayenne, salt, garlic powder, Tide laundry soap or Comet cleaner. Use these products in the corners, cracks and places where you see the ant trail coming in. These are not really for outside use since they just disappear in the rain and wind.

On the outside, you can squeeze lemon juice into the opening and leave the peel. You can then block the entrance point with toothpaste, duct tape or a petroleum jelly.

If there is a nice long line of ants already there waiting to get in, you can first remember your trip to Disney World and then snap out of it and spray them with a 40/40/20 mix (in this order) of water, alcohol and dish soap. Other households items work too like WD40, Fantastic and other cleaners. The first one is a bit better since you don’t have as many chemicals as in the later ones. Then spray around the foundation or your tires and cables that touch the ground with a mix of 2 oz. table salt and 1 oz. white pepper in one pint of water.

If you find the mound either in your yard or near your parking spot, you can flood it with club soda, diluted orange juice, Lemon joy and peppermint, or food grade diatomacious earth (DE) or white vinegar. Dilute the orange juice as one part juice and two parts water with a dash of soap. Instant grits can be put on the mound as well. Ants will eat it and not be able to digest it. It works but seems kind like a long nasty way to die if you think about it.

If it is your home or stationary RV, you can set up baits. You want the ants to live and take it back to their nest to kill the queen. It doesn’t do any good to kill them at the bait location. A bait could be:

• mix of apple sauce, Crisco, sugar water, fishy canned cat food, peanut butter, honey or jelly along with about 2 percent boric acid or borax. You could also use 5 percent diatomacious earth (DE) or a packet of Equal (aspartame).
• half baking soad and half powdered sugar
• half instant grits and half a packet of Equal
• one third baking soda, one third powdered sugar, one third powder Vitamin C.

Birds

Birds may try to build nests in air conditioners or under protective covers. I haven’t had any problems myself with birds but they do like to hang out on the underneath side of the RV and behind the tire covers.

Mice

Poisons aren’t the best method for a few reasons. One is that they could be found by children, pets, animals tor birds that you don’t really want to kill. A second reason is that the mice may die in a place that you can’t easily get to. Then you have the dead smell for a while or the possibility that it has hantavirus and it could develop into a health hazard. The virus comes out in the urine and waste of a dead mouse.

You could get a mouse hunting cat. Or maybe not shoo away the neighbor cat as much. Let them wander around and get the mice for you.

The best way is the old fashioned snap trap. You can buy them with a plastic scented bait already built into the tab. I’ve used these and caught many mice with them. You could also use an old trap with many other things like Slim Jim, a Tootsie roll or whatever works for you. Make sure to put the trap close to a wall.

I don’t really have anything specific that I do to protect the engine compartment other than checking it often myself. The longer anything sits quietly and by itself, the more likely it will be have unwanted inhabitants. I have used fabric softener sheets in the past tucked here and there but those sheets are not exactly eco-friendly. The same goes with mothballs. Keeping them under control around the area will usually keep them from causing damage or at least reduce the chance of damage to your engine wires.

When you dispose of the mouse, spray it with something like Lysol, put it in a plastic bag and put it in a closed trashcan so other animals can’t get to it.

What methods have you used effectively to keep pests under control? How do you protect the engine compartment? Have you had wires eaten in your RV?

In short, we harm the very waters that we rely upon for survival. This in turn harms the fish we eat. All in order to have cleaner dishes without scrubbing or doing any work ourselves.

The alternative soaps like Seventh Generation, Ecover and others are said by some to not clean your dishes as well. I use Seventh Generation, Ecover and Trader Joes brands myself and do not notice any problems. Those that are not happy with them are instead heading out of the state to nearby Idaho to buy their Electrasols and Cascade and others which have up to nine percent phosphates. This ban will expand to statewide in 2010.

This is just one part of a larger problem that I’m trying not to rant too much about. As more people inhabit this planet and consume all kinds of crap, it all winds up back in our drinking water. A recent test of five major cities again showed that our water is filled with all kinds or prescription drugs. Whether we like it or not, if you live in a large city, you’re getting anti-depressants, stimulants, and everything else on the pharmacy shelf in some quantity. Remember the scenes in moves when criminals flush drugs down the toilets? That’s coming back to all of us. Our infants to grand parents are drinking Viagra. You might say you buy bottled water? Bottle water is not magical. It still comes from this planet and the ground that we pollute in increasing amounts. Water filtration can not yet take this stuff out so it winds up in those as well in some small amount.

Which do you choose? More sparkling dishes or your future health and the planet?

Just a reminder to turn off your lights for one hour this Saturday March 28th. Of course it’s a good idea to do it any time you don’t need a light but let’s all do it together! From homes to businesses and even some big hotel chains, it’s a worldwide event for Earth Hour.

Some people call me cheap or frugal. Frugal sounds a little better than cheap but I guess I’ll take either. Every penny you save and every little thing you do to save on trash or energy use really does add up in the long run. Going green when you can means you’ll have more green in your pocket too.

Return maps and handouts in good condition for another use whenever possible. Try to avoid taking them if you don’t need them in the first place. Many times, you can look at them at the counter and then leave them if you don’t need any of the information. Or carry your own notebook to make notes. Instead of wasting a whole calendar, schedule or brochure when you only need to note one particular time or event. If I do take something like this, I put it to use later on to help start a fire.

Take advantage of book exchanges and library give aways. Donate yours and take another. Many libraries have a section in the back where magazines are free. You usually don’t even have to be a member.

Change to rechargeable batteries whenever possible. Buy a solar recharger and charge batteries in the sun on your dashboard as you drive. I have just about eliminated regular batteries now. They cost more upfront but you’ll quickly be ahead as you won’t have to buy those 4-packs, 8-packs or even 32-packs any longer.

Change to LED lighting. There are cheap ones, poor ones and great ones out there now.

Buy your own tote bags or cloth bags and use them while shopping. This reduces the number of plastic bags you consume and trash. I have a set of bags that I’ve now been using for years and will for many more.

Plan your meals with the consideration of re-using cups, plates and reducing the overall amount of cleaning needed. Rinse dishes right away as this uses less water and effort than when the food has dried and hardened. Or use the largest dirty pan or bowl, let water sit in it with all the other dirty dishes and silverware. Most things come clean by themselves sitting in the water so you don’t have to scrape as much or waste running water.

Switch to online banking. You can receive many bills by email and pay online. You save the money for stamps. Your bank should allow this for free. If they charge for it, find a better bank. This reduces the paper you receive and send out as well as the security impact of not having as many bills in your mailbox or waiting for you when you are gone.

Stop buying bottled water. Use refillable water jugs. Get your own water filter and drinking jug. Many bottled water companies just use local tap water and it’s no better than what you can do yourself. It’s a rip off. You can get collapsible ones as well to save space.

Turn off the water heater at night or on days when you don’t need it. In my case, I leave it off all the time except for when I plan on using it. If possible, try to time washing dishes and showering around each other and only turn it on when you need it. Most hot water heaters will heat the smaller RV water tanks in less than a half hour.

Consider where you park. Try shade in warm weather and park in the sun in cold weather to use natural solar gain. Note how your windows are on your RV. Wherever the most glass is, like your front cab, will take in the most heat in the sun. If it is windy, point the most enclosed end of you RV into the wind. This reduces draft and the rocking and  a rolling in the wind. This is a reason why we like to be able to pick our own spots, which many RV parks do not allow you to do. They assign you one without you seeing it. I really don’t like when they do that.

Use your blinds, window covers and buy some reflective insulation material at the big hardware stores and make your own to fit any window that doesn’t have good covers already. Covers are good for both heat and cold and they do make a big difference.

Use another blanket and lower your furnace temperature. Most RVs warm up real quick when the sun comes up. Or maybe you are taking off and driving for the day so you can use the engine heater at that point.

Do you have any more ideas on going green and saving money at the same time?

Ngong House, Nairobi, Kenya

A treehouse of luxury, this is one of the best. Whether this is your getaway destination or you are are awaiting your safari, four poster beds, exquisite linens, gourmet food and evening campfires make you want to stay longer.

Cedar Creek Treehouse, Ashford, Washington

Only ten miles from Mount Ranier National Park, this private bed and breakfast cottage is up in a 200 year old Western Red Cedar. The tree grows right through the kitchen and up past a skylight that brings in the sun and the view of the birds.

The Bamboo Treehouse, Rincon, Puerto Rico

This vacation rental sits in the lush tropical hills of Rincon. It is just minutes from beaches, sunsets, surfing, scuba diving and even whale watching. The house sleeps eight and there are also private hooches for couples. The property is 24 acres of bamboo and hardwood forest with trails.

Out N’ About Treehouse Resort, Cave Junction, Oregon

Stay here in Cave Junction and you’ll get a treehouse, a full breakfast and everything you need to live better than the birds. Options vary from a suite to a perch or even a yurt in the trees.

River of Life Farm Tree House, North Fork River, Missouri

Set on 350 acres, this private tree house is perfect for a fly fishing retreat. It includes access to the miracle mile of rainbow trout fishing in the Missouri Ozarks. The Mark Twain National Forest is right next door for more hiking. Or perhaps you are into hiking and solitude. You can watch and hear the river from the deck as you relax and forget about the world’s troubles. The cabin can sleep up to 6 but is perfect for just a couple.

The Tree House, Point Reyes, California

This getaway in West Marin is on the tip of the Inverness Ridge with a view of the Point Reyes Station. Relax with several room options above the fog.

Nahiku Treehouse, Maui, Hawaii

Settled in the trees on a four acre piece of land on the East coast of Maui, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Haleakala volcano.

Green Magic Nature Resort, Vythiri, India

500 acres of tropical rainforest surround you here at the eco lodge and ethnic houses. Access to the tree house 86 up above the ground is by an indigenous lift made possible by a counter weight of water. Double beds and a bathroom with flushing toilet and shower await you. Food comes from an organic farm.

Treehouse Village Resort, Kavieng, Papua New Guinea

This eco resort 20km from Kavieng sits with beach-front bungalows and a main TreeHouse suite. Meals are served over looking the Pacific Ocean in your suite or on the beach. You can do nothing at all or enjoy a variety of activities such as snorkeling, diving, fishing, hiking or canoeing.

Secrets on the Lake, Montville, Australia

Ten individual treehouses just north of Brisbane in Queensland Australia offer privacy and a world class stay. Hand carved walkways lead you to your retreat with cedar furniture, luxurious bathrooms and kitchen facilities.

So go climb a tree, relax and let us all know what you think.

What? You guys expect me to use this towel … again?

Why wasn’t my room pre-cooled before I checked in? Don’t you guys know it’s hot in Florida?

I admit it, I am a spoiled brat. I chalked up all of these problems to poor service, swore I was never staying at said establishment again, and proceeded to huff and puff. Then it happened; I spotted the card on the shelf that read “You are Staying in a Green Hotel.” It then began to list the numerous things that they did differently from some other establishments. The first two were my first, and biggest, gripes: skimping on the air conditioning and not automatically picking up ‘dirty’ towels.

After I put some thought into it, it didn’t bother me quite as much. It was nice to think about how I put my own little two cents into saving the environment. Because I was so confused about this whole green hotel thing I thought I would enlighten my readers and share some of the things that I learned about green establishments.

Why Would a Company Want to Go Green?

There are a whole bunch of reasons why a hotel, or any company for that matter, would want to go green. Some business owners really do care about the environment. Some hotels are looking to cater to the type of clientele that cares about such things. There are also other benefits like lower operating costs and positive public recognition.

How do Hotels Go Green?

There are so many things that a hotel can do to be more eco-friendly. For one, closing drapes can keep the room cooler and eliminate the need for so much air conditioning. Also, washing towels and linens every other day rather than every single day cuts down on electric use by fifty percent, not to mention water. At the same time, it saves an establishment a whole chunk of change on laundry detergent, as well.

Energy Star appliances are another way they can start to be more eco-friendly. These are appliances that are specially rated for their low energy use. Energy Star appliances can include anything from refrigerators, microwave ovens, computers, television sets, washing and drying machines-you name it. You might even have some Energy Star rated appliances in your home right now.

Energy efficient lighting fixtures and compact fluorescent bulbs also prove useful, and a pretty cheap way for hotels to go green.

There are also certain cleaning supplies out there that lower harmful emissions and make air cleaner and fresher (truly fresher, not just smell that way).

Consider staying at a green hotel the next time you book a trip. It may seem like a pain in the rear, and you don’t have to play along if you don’t want to. You might just be able to cut some costs and feel like you are taking your own personal step toward being a bit more eco-friendly. I know I did.