Sunday, May 25, 2008

Choosing a green hotel

I know as musicians, or even groupies...many of you do a lot of traveling. Some of you stay in many hotels. I thought I'd offer up this excerpt and some food for thought on what questions to ask when considering your stays if you are wanting to assure you are staying somewhere environmentally supportive while traveling.

There are a number of Web sites that list environmentally friendly hotels, B&B's and lodges around the world; these are a good place to start. Keep in mind that each site has its own guidelines for rating properties, so you'll want to do your homework to make sure that the hotel meets the standards you're looking for.

A few questions to ask before booking your hotel:

Is the hotel locally owned and operated? If not, is it at least staffed by local employees?

What kind of recycling programs does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)?

Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day?
What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers, and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power.

How does the hotel contribute to the local community?

Peace and lots of blue, clean, and fresh water!

No comments: