Truly Eco-Friendly Hotels

The term “eco-friendly” gets thrown around a lot in the travel industry, but here’s how you can know that you’re staying in a truly green hotel.

While some so-called green hotels only go as far as not washing your linens every day, some hotels are going the extra mile by obtaining LEED certification.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, involves a certification process that examines a building’s energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and environmental impacts.

There are only a few certified hotels open in North America, but several more are being built.

The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa in California is a gold-standard LEED hotel, relying on recycled carpets and tiles, solar energy, and chemical-free landscaping.

Another certified property is the Hilton Vancouver Washington, which runs on 30 percent less energy than required, and heating and cooling sensors that shut off when you’ve left the room.

For more information on green hotels, check out Hotels Taking the LEED on Green Building.

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