He's no Al Gore, but Kermit the Frog may have summed it up best: "It's not easy being green."
Just a few years ago, hotels that encouraged patrons to use linens and towels for more than a day -- and the guests who did so -- were applauded as being environmentally friendly. But now, experts in "green" travel say, it's time to start trying a little harder.
Lucky for travelers, the hotel has to do most of the work. Your main task is to choose wisely.
"There are many shades of green," said Glenn Hasek, publisher of the website Green Lodging News. Five years ago, forgoing fresh sheets for a day might have been enough. "In 2008, no. I think the bar has been raised about what is green."
Only a small fraction of the more than 47,000 U.S. hotels are enrolled in formal green programs. So far, just 11 hotels have been constructed to the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, standards, and there are only 314 Energy Star-certified properties designed to reduce energy consumption.
But other hotels are adopting such eco-friendly habits as using glass or biodegradable paper cups instead of Styrofoam, installing carpeting and furniture made from recycled products, and retrofitting with low-flow showers and toilets.
"Eco-chic" suites are now being offered at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in San Francisco and Washington. Sponsored by Lexus, these $869-a-night suites include the use of a low-emission hybrid luxury car. The suites are decorated with organic materials and stocked with eco-friendly toiletries and organic wine. Coffee tables are made with leather recycled from Lexus vehicles.
"It's a phenomenon that has really started to take off in the last year, year and a half, but there are many hoteliers that have been green-minded for years," Hasek said. "The fact that there's a relatively low number of certified hotels is by no means a true reflection of how many hotels are actively pursuing energy or water conservation."
Environmentally sensitive
With a little research -- on such websites as Environmentally Friendly Hotels and "Green" Hotels Assn. -- would-be travelers can find places that follow green practices while offering competitive room rates. Such travel websites as Orbitz and RezHub.com also are starting to designate hotels that follow green practices.
