Brooklyn is quickly becoming one of the greenest areas of New York. You can easily find accommodations, eateries, attractions, parks and shopping venues that are helping to preserve the environment. With a great, environmentally friendly hotel to call home while you are visiting, Brooklyn is a great destination spot.]]> With its quaint and inviting atmosphere, Honey's B&B has embraced the idea of green living to the full. All of the linens within the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchen are 100% cotton. The owners use environmentally friendly cleaning products, have an advanced recycling scheme in operation and the natural, organic ingredients they use in their breakfasts are all bought locally. The accommodations available at Honey’s B&B vary from a queen/double room with a shared bathroom to a two bedroom suite with private bath. You also have the use of the common room, the fully equipped kitchen and the internet. Close by are various green eateries for evening meals and snacks.
Honey's B&B is the place to stay if you're looking for an eco-friendly place to stay while visiting Brooklyn, NY. Home to numerous green businesses nearby, make this your home as you explore all the environmentally friendly options Brooklyn has to offer.
Brooklyn is home to the first eco-eatery in NYC. The Habana Outpost is a totally green restaurant that implements more energy saving initiatives than any other in New York. It uses solar power for all of its energy needs and even uses biodegradable plates, cups and cutlery to serve its vegetarian menu. Other great places to eat in the area include Foodswings, a vegan restaurant that also delivers, and the Bliss Café, well known locally for its vegetarian fare.
While many of Brooklyn’s attractions are slowly becoming greener, the Brooklyn Brewery and the Brooklyn Bowl are by far the leaders to date. The brewery, for example, uses locally grown grains and 100% wind power for its energy. The Brooklyn Bowl uses wind powered electricity and is the first L.E.E.D certified bowling alley in NYC.
There are plenty of green markets to choose from in Brooklyn where you can find organic foods or crafts. Each neighborhood has a weekly Farmer’s market, but there are also green markets at Borough Hall, Forte Green Park and the Grand Army Plaza of Prospect Park. The Habana Outpost also has a large associated market.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park is due to partially open in winter 2009 with its recycled rainwater irrigation system, onsite recycling facilities and other green initiatives. Very few NYC parks recycle their waste which makes the Bridge Park something of a first. Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is also a ‘green’ park and is well worth a visit.
Whether you're looking for good, organic food or fun environmentally-friendly activities, you'll find lots to do in Brooklyn. And while you are here, make Honey's B&B your home away from home.
]]>The big island of Hawaii is a very popular destination for many travelers each year. Even though you are in paradise doesn't meant that you need to leave your green standards behind. There are many eco-friendly options for you to stay in, eat at, and enjoy on the Big Island. You only have to be willing to look for those green options for your travel.]]> Waianuhea Bed and Breakfast is one of the places that you want to consider when you travel to the Big Island of Hawaii. This B&B offers bright, lovely rooms with views of the ocean or the beautiful, luscious green grounds. It also offers many different amenities and green features to add to your experience when you stay there.
Waianuhea B&B, located on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a wonderful spot to call home as your explore the island of Hawaii. Hawaii's bounty includes lots of organic foods as well as eco tourism activities -- ways to explore that don't hurt the environment.
One of the best amenities of the Waianuhea B&B is the hot gourmet breakfast that is offered each morning. This breakfast is made with local and organically grown food that you will love. Some of the green features found at this B&B include being an off-grid property that uses a solar system for power, and uses rainwater catchment system for the guestrooms. Recycling and composting is also a way of life at this B&B.
The Big Island offers many different sustainable and/or organic places for you to check out for lunch and dinner. Holualoa Gardens is a restaurant that features fresh bread, pastries, and locally grown produce in their ever-changing menu that is a delight to whomever sits at their tables. At Merriman's you will find "Hawaiian Regional Cuisine" that uses fruits and vegetables from local farmers.
If you are looking for some fresh island fish, you will want to consider going to Fujimama's Restaurant and Sushi Bar. With their attention to sustainable foods and great tastes, you will find a great place to eat. Evie's Organic Cafe and Bakery offers pastries and casual food that is both organic and tastes good. Fresh Kona coffee is available at many local coffee shops, as well.
Now that you are full of some healthy and good food, you are ready to venture out and find some fun and green things to do. No matter what type of outdoor activity that you enjoy doing, you will be able to find an eco-friendly tour company that offers exactly what you are looking for.
From water sports to land sports, you will find Hawaii to be one of the best places possible to do these activities in a more environmentally friendly way. Farmer's markets abound on the Big Island that offers you sustainable and organic foods that you can purchase. Whether you hike the volcanoes, surf in the ocean, shop, or do one of the many different activities available, you will find that you can do most anything greener on the Big Island.
The paradise found on the Big Island of Hawaii doesn't have to make you feel guilty about traveling. Hawaii can be a green destination with several green choices in lodging, food, and activities for you and your family. Whether you just relax or exert energy in fun and green activities, you'll find Hawaii is a great vacation choice. Plan your trip today. And don't forget to stay at Waianuhea B&B.
]]>The oldest city in Denmark is not stuck in the past. Ribe, Denmark may have the trappings of the eight century, but their attention to the environment brings them into the present and even the future.]]> From lodgings to restaurants to activities, you will find that Ribe is more than just another old city. This Viking town is full of places for you to learn, but also has green lodgings and food that can help to take some of the guilt out of traveling. Where should you stay in Ribe?
Denmark's oldest town is an actively green community. From alternative energy sources to organic dining, you can have a wonderfully green vacation in Ribe, Denmark. Make >Danhostel Ribe your home as you explore the area.
The Danhostel Ribe is a hostel located in Ribe and near the Wadden Sea National Park. This hostel has Green Key certification, due to their attention to being green. Their initiatives include energy and water conservation measures, recycling, composting, eco-friendly herbicides and cleaning products, organic and eco-friendly food, and more.
Furthermore, they are not spartan as you would expect from a lodging that is so green, however. They offer a great breakfast buffet every morning, wireless Internet, climbing wall, kid activities, and more to help keep you comfortable while you are visiting Ribe and the surrounding area.
When you are ready to venture out for lunch or dinner, you don't have to leave your green standards behind. The great thing about Denmark in general is that restaurants use local produce and meats in their menus. Whether organic or not, this may vary depending upon the restaurant, but you will largely find that Ribe and the surrounding areas offer sustainable foods that you will enjoy.
Some restaurants that you will want to consider include Restaurant Aben Himmel (at Den Gamle Avlsgaard) which serves local and organic foods, Restaurant Kolvig and the restaurant in Hotel Dagmar servelocal products like lamb and calf. You will be delighted with the different food choices that are available in and around Ribe that are filling, sustainable, and tasty to allow you to have the energy for all of the activities that you will want to take part in.
What should you do in Ribe? The most obvious activity is visiting all of the historical locations that are in this old city, but there is a lot more to this city and the surrounding area. The Town Market in Ribe is a great activity for the entire family. Held every Wednesday from May to September, you will find all sorts of unique and specialty items that you cannot find anywhere else in the world, including local crafts and art.
If you have children, you will want to let them visit the children's area where children buy and sell toys, books, and more, too. All sorts of outdoor activities are available in the area, from cycling to boating to fishing to swimming and more, to allow you to find the perfect activity for you and your family to take part in.
Denmark's oldest Viking town is not stuck in the past. It is full of fun and exciting activities that you can enjoy apart from looking at old buildings, churches, and monasteries. It offers eco-friendliness as well, which makes it an ideal destination for those of us who appreciate green initiatives when we travel. Whether you are making your way around the world or just want to check out Denmark and all that it offers, you will find that Ribe is an excellent place to visit.
]]>One of the most popular destinations in the United States is Denver, Colorado. The Mile High City is known for its beautiful vistas, fun activities, mountains, and more. Most people don't know that it is a green city as well.]]> Denver's commitment to being environmentally friendly is seen through its airport (Denver International Airport -- DEN, some of its cabs, and through various venues like lodging, restaurants, and parks. The Denver city and county governments are behind the various green initiatives, initiatives that are good for both the citizens and visitors.
Denver is one of the best playgrounds in the U.S. If you are looking for a green, active vacation, Denver has to be high on your list. And while you are here, make The Cambridge Hotel your home. Eat at sustainable restaurants, visit museums that focus on the environment, and shop at green and organic stores/markets. You'll have a great time during your visit to Denver, Colorado.
Wondering where to stay in Denver? Though you have many choices in and around the city, your greenest, central choice is The Cambridge. This hotel is located in the center of the city and includes many of the amenities that you might need, including high speed internet, and cable. Their dedication to the environment is clearly seen in their green initiatives that include a linen and towel program, energy conservation measures, and recycling program. They offer studio and one bedroom suites that will allow you to have the space that you want and need. The hotel is committed to taking care of the environment and you.
When you are ready to get a bite to eat, there is no shortage of environmentally friendly restaurants. Don't miss Rebellion Pizza during your visit. Their pizza dough is made from scratch using organic ingredients, and as possible, the toppings are organic and sustainable.
The Citron New World Bistro has a menu that features all organic ingredients and many of these ingredients come from local Colorado farms. Their "Green Menu" includes free-range chicken, wild-caught salmon, and other organic and sustainable choices for you. For Italian, the Cucina Colore is a great choice. Their menu items use local seasonal organic ingredients in Italian favorites like eggplant parmesan, lasagna, and more. French 250, the Black Pearl Restaurant, Watercourse Foods, Kate's on 35th, and Potager are other choices that you can consider in your search for organic and local food.
Furthermore, Denver is home to the largest park system in the country with over 200 parks to choose from, and they offer visitors a great opportunity to hike, bike, ski(Winter Park Ski Area), and generally enjoy the outdoors. If you want to learn more about renewable energy and climate, Denver offers three different centers that provide tours and exhibits. These include The National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
The Pepsi Center, home to sporting events and concerts, recently went 100 percent green by purchasing renewable energy and creating a recycling program. If you are in mood for some shopping, don't miss the many farmers markets, The Green Monkey Baby, The Natural Sleep Store, or Swank Space. These stores and more offer organic and sustainable products that are kinder to you and to the environment.
The Mile High City is known for its outdoor activities, but its attention to the environment is something to be envied as well. No matter what kind of activity or inactivity that you like to do, you will find green and environmentally friendly choices in Denver. Eat, stay, and play green in Denver. The Cambridge Hotel is your green home-away-from-home. You will love it, and Denver.
]]>Ithaca is the second-greenest city in the United States, bested, possibly, by Burlington, Vermont. This green dedication makes it an excellent location for you to visit for a weekend -- or longer.]]> With the various local eco-friendly lodging choices, restaurants, and activities, you are sure to find that it will fit your green desires and give you a chance to relax and recharge from your normal, hectic life. You'll also learn more about what an eco-friendly city looks like.
While green lodging is found in many part of the U.S. Ithaca's Frog's Way B&B stands out as one of the greenest experiences available. Not only will your hotel be a sustainable one, but also you can enjoy myriad green activities. Water falls. Farms. Restaurants. There is so much to do in and around Ithaca, NY, you'll need more than a few days for your visit.
Frog's Way Bed and Breakfast offers the intimate atmosphere that you expect from a B&B, but in a much more environmentally friendly way. Local, organic, and homemade foods are offered for you to enjoy while you are staying at the B&B. In addition, they have energy and water conservation measures in place that are kinder to the environment than normally seen in lodging properties, and they generate their own electricity to keep the hot tub hot for you. The B&B was built using local materials and environmentally friendly finishes. Just because this B&B is environmentally friendly doesn't meant that it's spartan, however. They offer high speed Internet, ample sized rooms, and beautiful scenery for you to enjoy.
While you will most likely enjoy breakfast at the Frog's Way B&B, you'll want to find nearby places to eat for your lunch and dinner, as well as snacks. The Moosewood Restaurant is world famous for its vegetarian cooking and has inspired many cookbooks, prepared foods, and more that use sustainable foods that are good for you and the environment. The Taverna Banfi has a variety of Tuscan delights that are based around the fresh local ingredients from the Finger Lakes region. For a cup of coffee or a snack check out Gimme Coffee that offers fair trade coffee and local, hormone-free milk; they use renewable energy.
Ludgate Farms is a family owned and operated farm and market. They offer local, organic produce, local cheeses and other dairy products, and other organic and natural grocery items. If you want to take home locally grown and made foods, and even crafted gift items, this is a great place for you to visit while in the area.
Another place to visit is Taughannock Falls. These falls are even higher than Niagara Falls and offer a jaw-dropping view that you will love. The natural sites found in and around Ithaca, including the many gorges and over 150 waterfalls, offer a wonderful way to spend a day, an afternoon, or a week. Delight at the many eco-friendly activities you can enjoy in the Ithaca area.
An interesting, off-the-beaten-path to visit is The EcoVillage at Ithaca. It is comprised of 60 homes in two neighborhoods that are dedicated to being eco-friendly. It can be a great way for you to learn more about being environmentally friendly. There are two wonderful things about this Village: it's only two miles outside Ithaca, and Frog's Way B&B is part of it!
Ithaca offers it all for you. Whether you want to just relax and shop or you want to be active, you will find that Ithaca offers it for you in a very green way. The Frog's Way B&B, Moosewood Restaurant, Taverna Cafe, Gimme Coffee, Ludgate Farms, EcoVillage at Ithaca, and Taughannock Falls -- and the many natural locations in and around the area-- give you the perfect green place for you to visit and enjoy. Green it up in Ithaca today. Make Frog's Way B&B your home as you explore the Ithaca environs.
]]>Laguna Beach, California, is known for its beautiful beaches and scenery, but there is another reason that you want to consider visiting this area. The green and environmentally friendly side of Laguna Beach can allow you to have a beautiful location to visit without having to worry about the effects that you have upon the environment. From lodgings to restaurants and activities, you will find that Laguna Beach gives you a green beach trip you will love.]]> Casa Laguna Inn and Spa is the environmentally friendly hotel you want for your green Laguna Beach holiday. It offers you not only the amenities you expect from a luxury hotel and spa, but also it has some solid environmentally friendly features that help to take some of the guilt out of traveling. It's energy efficient, offers local and organic foods, conserves water, and treats you to organic spa products. The Inn's green efforts show you, as their guest, they are concerned about the environment and are doing their part in protecting the environment for the future. They give you beautiful rooms, fresh air, and ocean views that will delight you every single minute that you are staying at Casa Laguna Inn and Spa.
Make the Casa Laguna Inn and Spa your luxurious and green base of operation for playing in Laguna Beach, California. You can vacation and be pampered while being environmentally sensitive when you choose locations like Laguna Beach, and Casa Laguna Inn and Spa.
Organic and sustainable restaurants in the Laguna Beach area allow you to eat healthier and eat foods that are better environmentally. The La Sirena Grill offers you Mexican food that is solely made with local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. From fresh salsa to hand-made tortillas and more, this is a restaurant you do not want to miss if you are in the area. If you are looking for more casual food, The Stand Natural Foods is the place for you. Fresh, organic, and local foods are used in hundreds of different ways to create everything from sandwiches to tamales to dips and more. Other organic and sustainable restaurants include Sapphire Laguna, the Lumberyard, Nirvana Grille, and more, so you are sure to find many options for you to eat healthier and greener.
Now that your stomach is full, it is time to get out and do some fun (and green) activities. From an eco-tour with OC Wildlife and Beach Tours to visiting the natural and organic Laguna Canyon Winery to surf lessons and more with La Vida Laguna, you will find that there are a variety of activities that you can take part in when you are in and around Laguna Beach. If shopping is more your thing than doing activities, you will find green options there, too. From Areo with their recycled bulb vases to the Fingerhut Gallery that features Dr. Seuss' earth friendly works that are printed on cotton paper with vegetable dyes to the Endangered Planet Gallery and more, you will find green shopping options for you as well.
When planning a trip to Laguna Beach, California, plan it green. From where you stay to where you eat and do, you will find that Laguna Beach offers it green and environmentally friendly. Plan that trip today!
]]>Taking a trip Down Under can be great fun and very exciting. It can also be very green and friendly to the environment. From where you stay to where you eat to what you do, you can enjoy your trip to Sydney, Australia and lessen your impact upon the environment. This can help to take some of the guilt out of your travel and give you some pride in knowing that you are helping the environment.]]> When planning your trip to Sydney, you will find that there are many choices in lodging. One that you will want to consider if you want to be green, however, is the Manly Lodge. This hotel is centrally located to Downtown Sydney and the beach, and offers you all of the amenities that you want and need when you travel. From ensuite bathrooms to wireless Internet to complimentary breakfast and more, you will be delighted with what they can offer you. When you combine the amenities with the fact that this hotel uses 100% green electricity, organic foods, fair trade products, Australian made products, and more to be environmentally friendly, you will find that the Manly Lodge is the perfect place for you to stay during your visit to Sydney.
[text goes here]The Manly Lodge in Sydney, Australia, is the perfect place to start your green Australian holiday. Green hotels, organic restaurants, and eco-friendly harbor cruises join forces to make for a wonderful environmentally friendly vacation.
When you are ready to venture out of your hotel for a bite to eat, you want to look for restaurants that offer organic and sustainable foods. One place that you will definitely want to visit is The Peasants Feast Restaurant, which is Sydney’s only 100% organic restaurant that offers foods that are great for those looking to eat healthier and eat foods that are better for the environment. Another place that you want to go for a snack, breakfast, or lunch is Le Pain Quotidien. They offer organic bread and pastries that are full of organic fruits. Etch Restaurant is a "don't miss" on your list. They offer a menu based around the produce that is available seasonally and use locally grown produce in their dining, as well as beef, lamb, and seafood from the area.
You may think that there is no way to be environmentally friendly when choosing activities, but that is not the case. The Magistic Cruisesmart is an eco-friendly fleet of boats that can allow you to get a special view of the Sydney Harbour, including the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and more. The Sydney City Farm is a place that you can visit to learn more about how to be eco-friendly, from growing organic foods to saving water to renewable energy and more, you will find that this farm is an excellent place for you to see what green looks like.
Being green Down Under is not as difficult as you may think. From the Manly Lodge that has 100% green energy to The Peasants Feast that offers 100% organic foods to the many activities that you can do that are better for the environment, you will find that Sydney offers you all that you need to have fun and be environmentally friendly.
]]>Whether you are traveling alone, as part of a couple, or with your family, one place that you will surely want to consider visiting is Ecuador. Ecuador is known for its beautiful rainforests and fun activities that will offer you everything you want and more in a vacation or trip destination. As far as eco-friendliness, Quito, Ecuador, offers many different restaurants, activities, and lodgings in and around the area to allow you to travel without guilt.]]> The La Selva Jungle Lodge is located deep in the Amazon rainforest, which offers beautiful scenery and fun activities for you and for your entire family. Their all-inclusive packages vary in activity and length to allow you to create the perfect vacation for you. Whether you want to just relax or you want to see everything possible in the area, you will find the perfect package at the La Selva Jungle Lodge for you. It is not only fun and exciting to stay here, however, it is also eco-friendly. From their organic and eco-friendly foods to their humanitarian organization to their water and energy conservation measures, you will find that The La Selva Jungle Lodge fits both your eco-friendly style and goal for a fun vacation.
Traveling to Ecuador opens the possibility of wonderful eco-friendly traveling. The green lodging to stay in while in Quito is La Selva Jungle Lodge. Eat organic foods there and other establishments around town. Enjoy birdwatching, a side trip to the Galapagos Islands, hiking the rainforest or mountains, or just relax at the Lodge.
If you are looking to eat outside of the lodge, you have a few different options around the area. One is El Cucayo. It is located in the foothills of Quito and offers organic, as well as locally grown and pesticide-free foods. If you just want a cup of coffee, El Cafeto offers you 100% organic Ecuadorian beans to give you an organic cup of coffee that you will enjoy. Las Palmeras' menu includes fresh products that are grown right outside in their organic garden. You can't get much fresher than that.
As far as activities, there are all types of eco-friendly activities that you can take part in. From bird watching to walking through the rainforest to swimming to visiting the Galapagos Islands to hiking to mountain biking and more, there are many natural activities that you can enjoy in and around Quito, Ecuador. All types of eco-tours are given in this area of the world, from learning about the history of the area to learning about the geography to learning about the environment, you can find many different activities that are both good for the environment and the mind.
Quito, Ecuador, offers you a wonderful dip into eco-tourism that you will love. Whether your travel style is more active or more sedate, you will find that there are eco-friendly ways to make your vacation into what you want in Quito. From eating organically to enjoying the beautiful environment to learning more about being eco-friendly, you will find it all in Quito, Ecuador. Plan your trip today. And start by booking your room at La Selva Jungle Lodge.
]]>Atlanta, Georgia, is known for many things. From the site of the 1996 Summer Olympics to the Atlanta Braves to Stone Mountain to being the capital of Georgia and more, Atlanta is a thriving city where millions of tourists visit each year. One thing that most people don't realize about Atlanta, however, is that there is a thriving eco-friendly movement in this city as well. From lodgings to restaurants to stores to playgrounds and more, quite a bit of focus is being put on making Atlanta greener and better for the environment. When you travel to Atlanta, you want to be sure to check out these eco-friendly locations to help support their efforts and reduce your own carbon footprint while you travel.]]> Where do you want to stay in Atlanta? One of the most environmentally friendly lodgings in Atlanta is Stonehurst Place. This bed and breakfast offers you the ultimate in hospitality and green features to help you have a restful and relaxing trip, all served up in elegant surroundings. From the homelike atmosphere that beckons you into the door to the eco-friendly environment, Stonehurst Place offers it all for you. Some of the ways that they are friendlier to the environment than other lodgings include being smoke-free, using solar energy, reclaiming water, recycling, and offering sustainable and organic foods. All of these features do not mean that you will be roughing it, however. You will also be greeted with Wi-Fi and high speed internet access, Ipod docking stations, flat screen TV’s and other luxuries that will keep you comfortable.
Atlanta, Georgia, may not be associated with eco-tourism by most people, or where you think of going for a green get away, so you may be pleased to learn about the eco green attractions, green lodging, environmentally friendly playgrounds, and organic shopping you can treat yourself to in Atlanta. Stay at Stonehurst Place for the ultimate in eco-luxury.
The future of alternative energy will be brighter if the playing field with oil is leveled. The reasons for alternative energy are numerous, and the reasons to reduce our oil consumption are just as numerous. Who's betting on oil futures? It's time we bet on the U.S.'s future. Environmentally friendly and sustainable hotels can help lead the way.
I'm challenging President Obama to set the U.S. course for ending all foreign oil imports by 2025.
]]> It's time for Obama to do with the Energy Program what Kennedy with the Space Program. Give it a goal and a life, make it an agenda item for everybody in the U.S. and for every business.Maybe with capital injection from the market Energy Technology can follow the same path as Internet Technology did. If it does, we'll benefit in wonderful ways, in ways we can't even imagine today. A formal program is the only way we'll move beyond petroleum.
It's important for national security, for our health, and for the planet that we quit relying on oil. And it's important to cut our reliance on oil when other energy sources could get the job done. Save oil for things oil does best, or things only oil can do. As I stop to think of the numbers of things I use today that are a result of the Space Program, it gives me hope that the Energy Program will spawn at least as many useful things for our daily lives.
The way I see it is we need to have an "all-in" bet on energy, we have to focus on getting our energy efforts moving toward self-sustaining levels. And we need to do it now. Obama and his team can work out the details, but my thoughts for what the Program should entail include:
It's going to take strong direction to turn the U.S.'s reliance on oil to other, cleaner alternatives. I believe Obama can do it, but will he? Fluctuating oil prices keep many interested businesses from seriously investing in alternative energy research and development, the R&D that is necessary to make us an independent world leader again. It's up to Obama to stabilize oil prices, and at a high enough rate to get people's attention, and encourage the development of alternatives as well as conservation in our lifestyles.
An Energy Program is a complex and far reaching program. We can talk about many of the issues and arenas it will impact, but not as many points as you might get from Hot, Flat and Crowded, by Thomas L Friedman. We can't let the complexity keep us from tackling the Program either.
Another aspect of having an Energy Program is to get encourage individual action by people and businesses. Using the national power distribution system is important, but so is having independent power generation capability. Solar panels and wind turbines popping up on rooftops and in yards will aid the proliferation and viability of alternative energy. Utility companies won't need as much generation capability if there is an abundance of small generation around the country to take up the slack.
How does this apply to the hotel industry? Hotel owners and operators can be part of the solution by finding ways to incorporate energy savings and alternative energy usage in your operations. Excite your employment team about the benefits of conserving energy. Involve your staff in finding solutions to where and how alternative energy can be employed at your property. And don't forget to excite and involve your guests in doing their part to conserve.
How does this apply to the hotel industry? Hotel owners and operators can be part of the solution by finding ways to incorporate energy savings and alternative energy usage in your operations. Excite your employment team about the benefits of conserving energy. Involve your staff in finding solutions to where and how alternative energy can be employed at your property. And don't forget to excite and involve your guests in doing their part to conserve.
President Obama, cut our ties to oil and take the steps that are necessary for the U.S. to be self-reliant in regards to energy, for the U.S. to reduce it's carbon footprint, for the U.S. to improve its world leadership. I'll be with you in your Energy Program.
]]>In the Lighting Basics for Your Basic Bulb Purchase article I covered how lumens, color rendering index (CRI) and color temperature work together to give you the kind of lighting you want or need. Hotels want the best of color balance and energy efficiency for the best guest experience possible.]]> I have information, but I'm not sure I have answers. I hope the light bulb manufacturers improve their packaging so people can buy with confidence.
Is your hotel buying energy efficient lighting with adequate information? Can you make heads or tails out of how a manufacturer describes its bulbs? You want energy efficiency and quality lighting for your guests.
This chart was an attempt by JasonMorrison.net to compare LED to CFL and incandescent bulbs. As you can see they just don't compare yet.
| Bulb - warm | Power | Lumens | Lumens/W | Color Temperature | CRI |
| Incandescent | 40 | 465 | 11.63 | 2850 | 100 |
| Incandescent | 60 | 850 | 14.17/W | 2850 | 100 |
| CFL | 15 | 950 | 63.33/W | 2700 | 82 |
| CFL | 10 | 520 | 52/W | 2700 | 82 |
| LED | 5 | 200 | 40/W | 2800 | 85 |
My personal conclusion is to strive for the highest lumen rating as possible and pay attention to the color temperature when possible. But packaging varies so you will often feel you are buying blindly. I feel like manufacturers keep us in the dark, if you'll excuse the pun.
A rule of thumb you can use in deciding which CFL you want to replace your incandescent bulb is CFLs produce the same light and about a quarter of the wattage. As LED bulbs become more cost effective I suspect we'll see better lumens at a better price to go with the better quality.
Because efficiency is of importance, looking at the lumens/W, as shown in the above chart, is an important consideration. The direction of light emission is also important in your evaluation of what bulb you want to use. Incandescent and CFL bulbs cast light omni-directionally, and LEDs cast light in a "semi-directional", or hemisphere pattern.
This aspect of light bulbs is important to make sure you get the light output you want and expect. The 1.5W LED I bought at Sam's Club recently had no indication of output, energy efficiency, nothing to help me understand how bright or what color it would be. It's too dim to use for anything other than as something like a night light. That experience, combined with looking at the new CFLs that talk at length about lumens and wattage, spurred me to write this article. I figured if I was confused by all this different terminology, you might be too.
A complaint I occasionally hear about CFLs is the glow up period, or delay in getting to full brightness. Though much shorter than in the late 80s, the glow up period still exists for most CFLs. It can take up to 3 minutes to glow up, and the color cast maybe slightly different initially.
Did you know the average American household has 28 light sockets, and about 10-20% of their electric bill is from lighting? How does that relate to a hotel's energy consumption? Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, saved $8,000 the year it changed to CFL lighting; it had 43 guestrooms during that year. Now, how does your hotel compare in rooms and potential savings?
With energy efficient lighting you not only save money in the daily operational cost, but also you save money in the maintenance side of the house by not spending as much time on changing bulbs as you do with incandescent bulbs. The savings comes from the fact that CFL and LED bulbs last so much longer than incandescent bulbs. The saving's a factor that is important to note.
As energy efficient lighting evolves so does the confusion about what you are buying. How does at 75W incandescent bulb compare to a CFL or LED bulb? There isn't an exact translation. LED technology hasn't developed enough yet to create an equal bulb, though it is getting closer. CFLs are almost there but you really need to pay attention to lots of details to make sure you are getting what you want.
You want your guests to have the best experience at your inn, and to participate in your greening efforts. Change the lights in your guestrooms and common areas, not just your offices and backstage areas. There's an energy efficient light bulb for your various needs, be they activity or color balance to fit your decor. And now you can wade through the terminology that's used in so many different ways, and confuses the casual shopper.
]]>As energy efficient lighting evolves so does the confusion about what you are buying. How does at 75W incandescent bulb compare to a CFL or LED bulb? For years the most I had to rely on was the wattage comparison on the packaging, but there's more to the comparison than that. And sometimes there's not even that information to rely on.]]> What else do you need to pay attention to other than the obvious energy savings, as illustrated by the wattage? What does it take to have a pleasing light for good guest experience? Color temperature (spectrum of light), CRI (color rendering index), and lumens.
How is a hotel expected to tend to a quality guest experience and energy conservation if manufacturers provide inadequate information for good decisions? Buying energy efficient light bulbs isn't as easy as it should be. How do you compare an incandescent light bulb to a CFL to an LED? What do the different terms mean?
| Color Temperature | Kelvin | Use |
| warm/soft white | <= 3200K | daily living; bedroom, rec room, living room, family room |
| cool/bright white | 3200-4000K | work; garage, hobby room, kitchen, bathroom |
| daylight | >=4000K | detail; reading or where you want accurate color rendition |
The activity you expect in a given room helps guide you as to the color temperature you select. Some decorators may also determine the color temperature impacts their design so try to persuade you about the bulb you select.
The CRI of incandescent and LED bulbs are pretty close, while CFLs are missing a bit in the blues. You want your CFL to have a value as close to 100, over 80 for sure, for good color quality. But a high CRI in itself doesn't imply good color rendition. It gets pretty complex, which for the purpose of this article isn't important. The bottom line is to have a CRI above 80 for better color rendering of people and things in general.
Some CFL manufacturers label their bulbs with a 3 digit code to specify their CRI and color temperature. The 1st digit represent the CRI measured in tens of percent, while the second 2 digits represent the color temperature measured in hundreds of Kelvins. For example, a CFL with a CRI of 84 and a color temperature of 2800K would be given a code of 828.
This is what decorators really pay attention to. The early CFLs had a low CRI value, but today you can buy CFLs with higher CRI values, even in the daylight range. Avoiding CFL lighting in your hotel because you want color to be "true" is costing you lots of money. You can have your energy conserving CFLs and accurate color rendition. And as LED bulbs get better you can save even more money with your energy bill.
ambient lighting: 400-800 lumens
general room lighting: 800-1700 lumens
reading: 1700-2800 lumens
You may see the term lux, which is the abbreviation for lumens per square meter. 1000 lumens lighting a one square meter area is referred to as 1000 lux. And if that same 1000 lumens lit 10 square meters the reference is 100 lux. The larger the area you want lit the more lumens you need.
So now you know some of the terminology you'll possibly see on light bulb packaging. I'll discuss how it fits together in the sequel to this article, Using Energy Efficient Light Bulbs.
When I first started hearing about the triple bottom line I thought it was the new accounting method that dealt with environmental issues in addition to the standard business money issues. Now I know why my accounting and CPA friends didn't know what I was talking about when I queried if they'd had that class in school. It's only now, in the past several years, become a college course.]]> So, what is the triple bottom line (TBL)? How does TBL relate to sustainability or to "green"?That's what the book, The Triple Bottom Line: How Today's Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social and Environmental Success -- and How You Can Too, by Andrew W Savitz and Karl Weber, addresses.
Sustainable development for a hotel involves the same issues as for any sustainable business practices. Profit can't be the only measure of a business's success. People and planet need to be accounted for as well. Economic, social and the environment all blend together to create a sustainable business. Hotels will prosper and thrive by adopting a sustainable attitude toward operations and development. It's the long-run that matters, and you won't get there if you only look at the short-run.
The quick definition of TBL is economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Gunther Stent, Philosopher of Science, observed from his studies of discoveries and inventions through the centuries, that "many ideas are premature, but few are unique." The TBL, a term coined by John Elkington, is one such idea; business needs to take an accounting of, and is responsible for, the full range of its social, environmental, and economic outputs. In other words, people, planet, and profit need to be part of the equation of a business's success.
The authors address "green" versus "sustainable" and conclude "green" is both too narrow and overused term and abused concept. Sustainability encompasses the TBL, not just the environment. Since all three elements of TBL are entwined it's important to incorporate all three into any business plan and action. I am looking for a way of helping develop environmentally friendly hotels, and I think this is one idea that will help.
And what is sustainability? It's the art of doing business in an interdependent world. It's the common ground of business, the public and environmental interests. And the sustainability sweet spot is that common ground, where the pursuit of "profit blends seamlessly with the pursuit of the common good". This book helps you find ways to make both shareholder and societal interests overlap. And it is about conducting business in a way that benefits all players -- employees, customers, business partners, communities and shareholders -- at the same time.
But we need to go beyond the notions of being less bad through conservation and minimization, and of being more good through maximization or optimization. Adopting the cradle-to-cradle notion as outlined in the book by the same name means not wasting resources, it means using and reusing a resource, as done in nature. And optimization applies not just to natural resources and the environment, but also to people and their working and living environment; reduce accidents, improve air and lighting quality, and create a healthier and happier work environment.
Like every environmental book I've read, the hospitality industry isn't really addressed, though a tour company was an example of sustainable thinking, a model more businesses can emulate. Rather than put the burden on their clients to get to the starting point of the tour, often requiring car rental, they moved the starting point to the local train station and took the clients to the tour point from there. That solution made the tours more appealing to a broader group of people and reduced auto emissions from the number of cars rented to one bus; that's sustainable thinking.
This book isn't a doom-and-gloom look at what happens if you don't modify your business, your company, to adopt TBL, to be sustainable, though that message is interlaced through the book. This book is about how businesses that adopt the sustainability mind set and incorporate it into their business operations and planning are more successful than those that don't. It also shares ideas of how to do this, and how others have gone before you on this path. This reasonable and optimistic approach is quite pertinent today as we struggle with a flagging world economy, and with pressing environmental and social issues.
One of my favorite examples of a successful conversion to sustainable business is the story of negotiations between PPL (Penobscot Power and Light, based in Allentown, PA, and generating electricity in Maine) and the Penobscot Nation, environmentalists, fishermen, and government officials to address problems and issues with damming Maine's Penobscot River. It's a beautiful story of compromise, joint ventures, and caring. It's a great example of how corporate sustainability plays itself out in real life with real people. I imagine there are hotels around the world that can learn from this story to improve their standing in their community and to improve business.
The author challenges our comfort level of how we think about and conduct business. Most of us wouldn't knowingly hurt others in our dealings, but if we don't investigate where our supplies come from we may be doing just that. Harm comes from polluting the air, land and water through agricultural and manufacturing processes; it comes from putting young children to work in dangerous and sub-standard work conditions making rugs, fixtures, or even dismantling electronics; and it comes from bringing outsiders in to do work locals can do with proper training. We're challenged to not bury our heads in the sand but to examine what happens up- and down-stream from our hotels with the furniture, fixtures, equipment and staff we use.
The book's message is about conducting business in a way that benefits the people you hire, your customers and business partners, the communities, and your shareholders all at the same time. The message is conveyed by showing how interdependent our world is. Another way of looking at the message is calling sustainability the art of doing business in an interdependent world.
The claim that good business and sustainability are increasingly equated with each other, is substantiated by a quote of UBS' investment bankers: "Environmental performance indicators appear to be a good indicator of strong operational performance. Strong environmental indicators in the presence of below-average profitability may signal an investment opportunity in our view." You don't need to take my word for it, or even the authors' word for it, there seems to be concrete evidence based on performance indicators. Sweet!
I learned from The Triple Bottom Line that sustainable development must be an integral part of a hotel's core business, and works up and down the supply chain. As the authors expresses it, no-one will get away from doing something about it. Sustainability is easy to overlook or take for granted when the financial bottom line is often perceived as the only measure of success, but it's becoming a fundamental principle of sound management and can't be overlooked any longer. It's not overlooked by successful, far-thinking businesses. I also learned that even well run businesses, those with with years of success behind them and good intentions, can fall hard if they ignore the principles of sustainability.
So I now know that the TBL is an accounting method, one that's rising in use as more students are taught the principles. It's a way of thinking and running a business. It's a critical key to a business's success. I hope more hotels will adopt triple bottom line accounting and attitudes as they work toward renewed success in the years to come.
]]>How do hoteliers interact -- communicate and share ideas -- on a regular basis with others? Especially around the topic of sustainability. Is there a place hoteliers can go to discuss the daily sustainability issues that arise? I sure couldn't find any, so I created two of them: one for hoteliers, and one for consumers who want to talk about the topic.]]> There is an increasing number of conferences and meetings that address the subject. There you hear different perspectives on how others go about being sustainable, or how they think you should go about it. But when you attend such meetings and conferences you don't have enough time to talk about your specific issues and concerns, not to mention travel is expensive and uses a lot of resources! And you don't often enough have the opportunity to talk to others about their hotels' challenges in sustainability. Besides that, you have a hotel to run so can't attend all of them anyway.
While the "green movement" is spreading and moving faster, there still isn't a place that's easy for people to go to talk about sustainable tourism from either the hotelier's perspective or the traveler's point of view. With that in mind I created a Facebook Group called Sustainable Hoteliers for Travelers and a LinkedIn Group called Sustainable Hoteliers. There's a Twitter option too.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a "quiet corner" where you can talk to others about your successes and challenges in making your hotel sustainable? A place to talk to other like-minded people who understand the challenges of running a hotel and who are on the path of making their hotel a sustainable one go to go to talk. Such a "quiet corner" exists online. Find out how others have addressed issues, challenges and mistakes that have come from their pursuit of sustainable operations. Share your experiences, thoughts and attitudes with others.
Sustainability is a path, not a destination. It's a goal of operating a hotel with the most efficiency. It's a goal that is a moving target as the world around us changes. That efficiency is reflected in the triple bottom line's 3Ps -- profit, people and planet. If you have waste you have lost efficiency. Your waste stream is your barometer for how efficiently you operate your hotel. It's time for a paradigm shift, a shift from thinking about your bottom line to your triple bottom line. That shift will let your sustainability path lead be a smoother one.
Each hotel has a different set of challenges and solutions. There's no point in recreating the wheel, at least not totally from scratch. Take bits and pieces from what others have done so you create and apply the best solutions for your hotel's situation. Sustainable Hoteliers is the place to do that sharing and growing.
Choose your favorite social media site -- Facebook or LinkedIn -- to find Sustainable Hoteliers. Sustainable Hoteliers is open to aspiring and active hoteliers, and hotel-related consultants and professionals. Join the Facebook Group, or the LinkedIn Group. Meet others who are on the sustainable path and make it a more productive and rewarding process for yourself and others.
You also have Twitter options if you don't have as much to say -- EcoLady and Green Hotels.
]]>I've been advocating and educating for green hotel operations for twenty years. My efforts to develop green hotels started morphing into efforts to develop sustainable hotels about nine years ago. With sustainability a focus I have my radar tuned to pick up interesting tidbits about other businesses' sustainability growth.]]> A few years ago I saw an article about Massachussets grocers were composting their food scraps and compostable paper products too. I suggested then that restaurants adopt the same strategy as part of their their waste management efforts. Today, 3 and a half years later, hotels with restaurants are starting to compost.
Sustainable hotels that adopt composting reduce their waste stream and improve their efficiency. Part of a hotel's sustainable development plan is to reduce waste of all kinds, and compost bins fit that plan. Decomposing vegetable matter in landfills produces methane which then contributes to air pollution. The compost loam makes a great additive to improve garden soil, retain moisture, and grow healthier plants.
Composting Hotel Organic Waste Video
Hotels that have integrated composting into their sustainable actions have either started their own compost piles at the property or found a company or farmer to collect their food waste for them. Part of the dock area has been set aside for the purpose of a container that won't leak the liquids that seep from vegetable matter. Some of these hotels use the compost loam in their own gardens, others let the company that collected the scraps keep it for their own use.
Don't think composting is done only by a certain type of hotel, or in certain areas. I have seen all types of hotels participate in composting programs, and these hotels are located all over the country. The DoubleTree in Portland was the first hotel I knew of that composts. Now I can add to that list DC's Fairmont and Willard hotels, the Palace in San Francisco, Casa Laguna in Laguna Beach, CA, Stonehurst Place in Atlanta, GA, and Waianuhea B&B in Honokaa on the big island of Hawaii. There are many more you can find by using EnvironmentallyFriendlyHotels.com.
Links to composting tips:
And to worm bins:
Look for ways you can compost your vegetable matter scraps. Lighten your waste stream to landfills. Reduce air pollution. Improve the soil for someone's garden. That's one way of tackling the triple bottom line for your hotel - profit, planet and people. And it's an ECOnomically Sound approach to business.
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