Eco-friendly: These hotels make going green a pleasure

Seeing green: the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., is one of the nation’s most eco-friendly.

By Mark Chesnut

Yes, we all know that we should protect the environment. But that doesn’t mean that you have to suffer when traveling on business. Happily, hotel companies are making it easier than ever to enjoy great luxury and convenience, while also minimizing negative effects on Mother Nature.

It’s increasingly easy to find eco-friendly accommodations around the nation and around the world. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, for example, has a fleet of BMW bicycles that allow guests to save money on fuel. The Hyatt Regency in Burlingame, Calif., serves sustainable, fresh and local products in its restaurants. 70 park avenue, a Kimpton Hotel in New York City, has been named Corporate Citizen of the Year by the HotelWorld Global Hospitality & Design Awards, thanks to its green practices that include in-room recycling bins and efficient lighting. And the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is recognized by the Green Key program, a Denmark-based international organization that rates hotels and attractions based on their ecological practices.

Among the highest marks go to three very special hotels, which have ranked in the top LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum category. The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina, consumes 41 percent less energy than a conventional hotel by using ultra efficient materials and technology, including solar panels and salvaged material — all while maintaining a decidedly upscale and stylish ambiance. In the same category is Bardessono, a luxurious retreat in California’s Napa Valley that uses beautiful salvaged woods, organic linens and cleaning supplies and locally sourced products.

The boutique-style Hotel Skyler in Syracuse, New York, rounds out the top-ranking Platinum LEED hotels in the United States. In addition to energy-saving technology, the hotel is graced with a stained glass window reclaimed from a nearby church, and the bar serves sustainable wines, beer and liquor.

With so many noteworthy, stylish and luxurious choices in the fast-growing world of eco-friendly accommodations, we can all reduce our footprint just a bit while still pampering ourselves on the road.

Related resources

• Greensboro hotels
• Napa hotels
• San Francisco hotels
• Syracuse hotels

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America. He always turns the lights off when he leaves his hotel room.

Tagged: California, Caribbean