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

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.

Alaska’s North Country Castle Bed and Breakfast, Anchorage, Alaska

Owners of this bed and breakfast are committed to being eco-friendly. From serving locally grown and organic foods to minimizing energy usage, they have received the local Anchorage Green Star Award.

The Ambrose, Santa Monica, California

The first hotel to earn LEED-EB Certification, the Ambrose focuses on being green in all areas from energy and water conservation to alternative transportation and organic foods.

Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast, Boulder, Colorado

Intending to be a lodging leader in the area for sustainability, the Briar Rose serves organic breakfasts, uses organic sheets, environmentally friendly cleaning products, recycles, conserves energy and makes every effort to eliminate their trash that is going to landfills.

Alexander’s Inn, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Hacienda Nicholas Inn, Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Madeleine Bed and Breakfast Inn, Santa Fe, New Mexico

All three of these Santa Fe Inns are committed to using sustainable practices and products in their operations. From no-VOC paints to all natural cleaning products and more.

Casa Gallina – An Artisan Inn, Taos, New Mexico

Three adobe guest houses make up Casa Gallina, this charming lodging option just a few minutes from Taos. Optional breakfasts feature local and organic items. The complex uses wind energy credits for power.

Ocean Haven, Yachats, Oregon

This small five unit complex is on the ocean in Oregon, 18 miles from the nearest small city. Each unit has a kitchen with organic coffee and eco-friendly cleaning products.

The Inn Above Onion Creek, Kyle, Texas

The Inn is a unique built from scratch property based on ecological principles, right from it’s foundation on top of  a hill to take advantage of the breeze. From recycling water to composting, this small inn does whatever it can to put a lighter footprint on Texas.

Alpine House Inn and Spa, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

The Alpine House was inspired by the small family operated hotels in the villages in the Alps and Scandinavia but with a Wyoming twist. Green initiatives are many from natural cleaning products to local organic food and recycling. Free bikes are provided for guests to use in the summer. The Alpine House is the first lodging property in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem to offset 100% of it’s power usage with Wyoming Wind Credits.