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!

Get a free newsletter and help plant a tree at the same time!

Hey guys! Go to www.greenlivingtips.com and sign up for their newsletter of useful green living info. For every new subscriber - they plant a tree! Look for the floating box to make it easy to sign up :)

Peace and crispy mesculine mix...

Annette Warner

What's your Green IQ?

Take the quiz and find out :)
http://www.greeniq.com/

In what areas of your life are you ready for change? What step can you take to open the door to new possibilities? It starts with you.

Great, reverberated insight eh? Simple, but not altogether doable for many. Be conscious of a new beginning opportunity, and remember every little effort is change. And it helps.

Peace and crispy lettuce
Annette Warner

Subscribe to some awesome green living tips!

I received these green living tips from all over everyday...and I encourage you to sign up for them via email. Creative and thoughtful ideas from coast to coast will be yours for the clicking!

http://www.idealbite.com

107 small steps

This is not originating as a copy and paste..cus I could not find it duplicated online anywhere to do it. But I pulled it out the center of a magazine called “body and soul” that I love to read and took the time to hand type all these ideas in here…so everyone could have it to pass on to replace these stupid chain emails like we all get.. And the list was sponsored by Sunchips. (And the list isn’t even on the sunchips website…wtf?) – I'll keep adding to it, but the original lsit was 100 strong ideas. Pass it on! Annette

107 Small Steps that can make a difference.

Get an energy audit
Donate used computers
Use cloth napkins
Switch to energy saving bulbs
Hang dry your clothes
Make your next outfit vintage
Ride the bus
Pay your bills online
Say no to plastic bags
Plant some bamboo
Unplug appliances when off
Taste test a local wine
Say bye to your leaf blower
Rediscover your library
Switch off your computer
Plant a garden
Buy rechargeable batteries
Start a compost heap
Put back unused napkins
Bring your own coffee cup
Learn to love weeds
Read about green weddings
Carpool
Keep car tires inflated
Support local farmers
Use both sides of paper
Turn heating down 1 degree or don’t even use it
Return old cell phones
Drive smart - plan your trip
Wrap water heater in blanket
Install low-flow shower heads
Wash clothes in cold water
Lights off when you exit a room
Use a lunch box – not a paper bag
Give cloth diapers a chance
Pick up litter and recycle it
Take shorter showers
Choose green-e products
Buy the largest size practical
Tune up your car’s engine
Donate used books
Seal drafts around windows
Leave your car at home for a day
Don’t idle car for more than 10 sec
Think before you print
Look for energy star appliances
Unload your car of excess weight
Don’t buy veggies in trays
Choose and energy efficient vehicle
Fix leaking faucets
Wipe spills with reusable towels
Install low-flow toilets
Make your own cleaning solutions
Hold your own “buy-nothing” day
Reuse jars and containers
Clean windows with old newspapers
Build with salvaged wood
Share magazines
Wrap presents in old calendar pages
Make rags from old t-shirts
Send e-cards for holidays and special occasions
Buy spices in bulk
Capture rain water for gardens
Return unused sugar packets
Drive the speed limit
Make note pads from used paper
Don’t accept plastic utensils
Take a break from TV
Give a donation instead of a present
Buy a bike and use it
Buy organic cotton
Say no to tissue wrap
Star a green team at work
Don’t boil more than a teacup’s worth
Read about carbon credits
Appoint an office lights monitor
Use your legs, not the elevator
Stop chasing “the latest”
Invigorate your green passion. Spend time with nature
Start a toy-swap with friends
Ease up on meat products
Buy items for durability
Buy seasonal produce
Take bubble wrap back to packaging stores
Upgrade your furnace
Snip six-pack strings
Use low-phosphate detergent
Avoid chemical flea collers
Choose sustainable flooring
Offer art schools your “trash”
Use a bucket, not a hose
Learn how to med your socks
Eliminate impulse buying
Take extra hangers to dry cleaners
Teach kids thriftiness
Don’t sign up for mailing lists
Slow down-consume less
Fertilize with grass clippings
Consider using a solar cooker
Eat simply – choose whole grains
Send resumes, press kits and music addresses via email
Use natural light whenever and however possible instead of electricity
Buy as few 'petrolium' based products as possible. (added May 27th)
Even if you have a small yard - consider having a couple of chickens. They are great for the environment and your health. They will also do your composting for you. (added May 28th)
Buy used furniture and repaint (with enviro friendly paint - of course) and repurpose. (added May 28th)
Carry a cooler in your car when you must drive - so food shopping can be acomplished early in the morning along with other errands without doubling back to go home and put stuff away. (added May 28th)
Make your own french fries from real potatoes - not store bought in packages. (added May 28th)

Everyday earth saving tips

This website hosts a number of ideas under different categories of earth saving interest. No effort is too small. Even a newby greenie can find something to do, to help save our earth. Visit and let us know what you think! Click here to visit Every Day Earth Saving Tips
Annette Warner

Green Tunes!

1. Fall on Me / REM
2. Planet Earth / Duran Duran
3. Suddenly I See / KT Tunstall
4. Around the World / Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. Warning / Green Day
6. I Need to Wake Up / Melissa Etheridge
7. Idiotech / Radiohead
8. (Nothing But) Flowers / Talking Heads
9. Poison in the Well / 10,000 Maniacs
10. Let the River Run / Carly Simon


Have you written a song about our planet? Let us know and let us hear! We might just share it here :)

Annette Warner

KT Tunstall - Green Effort

Last September, Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall partnered with record label Virgin to create a 100% post-consumer waste recycled and chlorine-free booklet for her CD Drastic Fantastic. She also began work on the greening of her London home, as well as completing a carbon-neutral U.K. tour.

We Salute Green GoGirls!

Welcome to GoGirlsGoGreen Blogger. This is the place we will recognize the GoGirls Going Green! We salute these artists who apart from composing songs, have done their bit for the environment.

Going green has become a focus in recent years for many artists who are trying to help save the environment with everything from carbon offsets, to giving away autographed compost bins, to philanthropy.

With Earth Day celebrated on April 22 each year to mark the anniversary of the modern environmental movement, GoGirls wants to be a part of that movement by recognizing and accounting for all the members that do their part.

Share with us how you GoGreen Girls!
Cuz playing green rocks!

Annette Warner