Coming off a recent article on how to avert a crisis of conscious when traveling in hopes to remain eco friendly, here is some information on environment friendly hotels with a list of some of the top hotels with the greatest 'green' initiative.

If your main goal is to make less of an impact on the Earth while still receiving the amenities and comforts of a standard hotel, then this information will do you some good! Hotels have begun to understand and capitalize on the hundred of thousands of people who choose to lead a 'green' lifestyle. Now they are finding ways to draw back visitors from vacation rentals through energy and water saving practices, programs to reduce the amount of waste they create, and many other methods.

When searching for the most environment friendly hotel in your destination make sure that after you gather your information online you contact them to verify everything. Don't be afraid to ask about which certificates they have acquired or for a more in depth explanation of all the 'green' methods they practice.

Here are some of the practices you should be looking for and how they help you lessen your carbon footprint while still enjoying the hotel perks!

1. Energy Conservation:
-Some hotels purchase their energy from companies that use windmills, water mills, solar energy, or biofuels to produce their energy.
-Several hotels have even incorporated their own solar power panels in their structures to produce as much energy in that manner.

2. Water Conservation:
-Not many but still some hotels showcase Xeric Gardens, which are sustainable and water efficient landscaping alternatives. The lessen the negative effect on the Planet by preserving nature's resources by using less water while still providing a lush garden of native blooming flowers and foliage.
-Hotels have instituted water purification systems and have also begun to budget the amount of water used in cleaning, this allows for a spotless hotel while still remaining conscious about efficient usage.
-There are also many hotels that have become more effectual in the battle to conserve water and natural resources by being aware of leaks, drips, turning off the water supply to rooms not in use, lowering pool water levels to reduce the amount wasted from splashing, replacing shower heads, and even utilizing water conserving ice makers.

3. Towel and Sheets Reuse Program:
-This has become standard in the majority of hotels but it is still important to make sure the one you are choosing offers it because this falls under energy AND water conservation!
-Instead of getting fresh towels and sheets daily, which in turn requires the endless cycle of washing and drying in industrial size machines and wasting an obscene amount of energy by doing so, you use the same ones until you decide they truly need to be replaced by new ones.
-This program alone can save approximately 17 gallons of water a day per occupied room! That's quite a bit!

4. Recycling Programs:
-This practice is so simple that every hotel should be instituting it in their establishments
-Hotels have taken steps to managing their large amounts of waste by placing recycling bins throughout the hotel ground and in each individual guest room.
-Many hotels have even begun to rely on non-disposable items to reduce the amount of waste their hotel produces overall.

5. Durable Amenity Products
-Another critical thing to look into is the hotels amenity policies.
-Many hotels have begun to purchase their products locally to support their communities and chose only non-disposable, durable, biodegradable, and recyclable products.
-Occasionally when items must be purchased through suppliers, they are purchased in bulk and some hotels even require that when the products are shipped there is no shrink-wrap, bubble wrap or any other non-recyclable containers used.
-Further, hotels have also started to conserve their products and provide them on a need-to-have basis instead of being placed daily in every room. Also, electronic newspapers are available or offered only upon request.
-Some hotels require that their spas use natural and organic products and very few hotels for now, but some, do not use any products that have been tested on animals.

6. Organic and Eco-Friendly Meals
-While some hotels allow for an abundant amount of options for meals the majority of hotels now serve only organic or eco-friendly meals.
-Hotels have begun to support local farmers or markets and purchase free range and free trade food to serve to their guests.

7. 'Green' Education
-The overall greenness of hotels is being greatly promoted through PR and participation in 'green' programs.
-Further, hotels not only train their staff in green and eco-friendly methods but also require the use of eco-friendly cleaning products and cleaning methods.
-While all hotels offer non-smoking room, many have begun to switch to only offering non-smoking rooms.

It doesn't stop there either, decreasing a hotels carbon footprint and evolving into more environment friendly practices does not solely rest on the hotel so many establishments have begun to educate guests on how to also be 'green'. From signs throughout the hotel, notices in rooms, and pamphlets at front desks, hotels have begun to take the inactive to educate everyone on how to help our environment.

By checking into all of these practices that a hotel is capable of incorporating into their establishment is vital so that you can rest easy on vacation knowing that you are still implementing your environment friendly practices while still enjoying those luxurious hotel perks we all love!