Ten ways to green your hotel stay

Many hotels are trying to go green

Are you familiar with the term "Eco Hotel?" Once popularly known as Eco Lodges – because they tended to be in out of the way places, like jungles and rain forests – the focus of these facilities has greatly expanded to include accommodations in many popular tourist destinations as well.

A general checklist of criteria now exists to define an eco hotel. These facilities should:

• Show natural environment dependence
• Make proven contributions to the environment
• Display eco-friendly activities and effects
• Provide an environmentally-related economic benefit to their community

The popularity of volunteer vacations and ecotourism has helped generate the increase in hotels' green activities. Many new construction projects use local renewable and sustainable resources, with local hardwood and stone types forming a large part of the building materials list. Newer styles are also influenced by how well they fit into the local environment and flavor of the area.

There are now online sources to help you find green hotels around the world. You'll be surprised at the number of good sources you'll discover for finding eco-friendly accommodations almost anywhere on the planet.

Some of these sources also rate these hotels much like the classic hotel rating services. If you want to go green in high style, you'll find some great options. Should you have budget challenges, you'll learn about the best choices available for a modest bank account.

Even many classic "flagged" hotels, in structures built before eco-friendly became a mantra, are changing operations and procedures to go green for their own benefit and for the comfort of their guests.

Following procedures and recycling efforts that you use at home, many hotels are attempting to reduce waste, improve recycling practices, and avoid any environmentally harmful activities.

Ten ways to 'green' your next hotel visit

If you can find an eco hotel that works, you've already made a statement showing your dedication to going green. But, whether you'll be staying at a hard core eco hotel or at more classic accommodations, there are simple things you can do to green your hotel stay.

1. Turn off all lights when you're not in your hotel room. Just as you refrain from lighting up rooms that you're not using when at home, carry this habit with you when traveling.

2. Bring your own towels when possible. While this may be a bit impractical for a two week trip to Europe, a weekend or three day vacation gives you a perfect opportunity to use your own towels, save the energy and water required for daily washing of hotel towels.

3. Bring soap and shampoo in your own travel containers. You can refill these whenever you travel to save packaging and reduce waste.

4. Turn down the AC or heat whenever you leave the hotel. Once again, use your home green mentality when you travel.

5. If you like to use the hotel soaps and shampoos, try to use all of them. Using only one-half of those tiny bottles only adds to the waste by generating more liquids that need disposal.

6. Try to avoid the otherwise welcome mini-bar. By consuming small bottles of soft drinks, water, and alcohol, you are creating, rather than reducing waste and packaging.

7. Try to avoid using those throw-away plastic cups. If your hotel provides real glass ones, you'll still be eco-friendly using them. But, if you have those clear, wrapped plastic cups, they are unwelcome waste just waiting to be created.

8. When possible, unplug all devices, including lights, when you leave the room. As you may know, electricity is still continually delivered even when things are turned off.

9. Set hotel room appliances in power-saver mode if they have one. TVs, microwaves, and irons may have a power-saver option. Set yours to this status when not using them.

10. Instead of using plastic bottled water or ordering pizza, use room service or dine out. If everyone in a 400 room hotel reduced wasted packaging, the positive environmental effects would be wonderful.

Using some or all of these simple tips contributes to a feel good, green hotel stay. When combined with the many hotels taking eco-friendly actions, your trip will be just as enjoyable as ever. The environment will also appreciate and reward you for your commitment to help.