Green Lodging vs. GreenWashing

For a lodging establishment, the perception of being seen as a green and eco-friendly place to stay is a good thing.

But actually being green and responsible is a different matter that needs a lot more time, money and effort.

For consumers, the trick is in being able to differentiate between green lodging and greenwashing.

Greenwashing, as per its wikipedia definition, is "the deceptive use of green PR or green marketing in order to promote a misleading perception that a company's policies or products are environmentally friendly."

So how does this work? How can you tell when a large hotel or a nice and cozy B&B is green or just pulling wool over your eyes?

Well, there's green certification, for starters.

But this brings its own set of problems, because travelers need to learn about the different certifications and what each one means.

Many states have their own certification programs, and there are organizations (USGBC, Green Seal, Green Globe, STI, etc.) that provide third-party green lodging certification.

Apart from the confusion over the lack of a common standard, there's also the fact that only a small number of properties have green certification in the first place.

You could simply look at the basics - waste management, fluorescent lights, solar power, water conservation, use of local produce and goods, etc.

But what it really needs is a "green state of mind." Let's consider a few specific examples to explain this difference.

More than any other city, Las Vegas is the poster child for consumption and excess.

Extravagant resorts with luxury hotels and restaurants, clubs, shopping streets, 24-hour casinos and an incredible amount of lighting and heating and air conditioning make it well-nigh impossible to use available resources sustainably.

How, then, does a massive project like City Center get five LEED certifications? And how can the Palazzo claim to be the world's largest LEED certified building?

It's all about the waste-free construction (or renovation) and the design which minimizes energy use by using natural lighting, power saving devices, etc.

They use water conservation techniques and harmless cleaning products, and a whole lot of other things that reduces their overall carbon footprint by a big amount, as compared to the older resorts on the Strip.

But if you stick by an absolute standard of being a part of the surrounding eco-system without harming it, are these mega-resorts harmless? Not even close...

The practical takeaway here is that if you must visit urban meccas like Vegas or Miami, then these new LEED certified resorts and hotels are the best choice you have as an environmentally concerned citizen.

The rest of it is greenwashing, including casino resorts who claim to be green because they recycle or use fluorescent lighting.

Go back up a bit and read that part about 'being a part of the surrounding eco-system.'

The ultimate goal of being a green business - whether a hotel or B&B or a large golf resort, is to ensure you don't overuse resources and harm the surroundings.

This means you consume only so much that nature can provide in a sustainable manner. The water levels shouldn't fall because you water your lawn or don't use low flush toilets.

You don't use toxic material, so you don't dump toxic waste.

You use solar heaters or wind power or heat pumps to avoid Co2 emissions from your energy use.

You have a green roof that reduces the need for heating and cooling.

You have a restaurant that uses local produce and has organic dishes on the menu, you offer bike rentals, a vehicle charger for electric cars, discounts for guests who use hybrids, etc.

The goal here is to look into every aspect of the business, and aim for complete harmony with the surroundings and a carbon-neutral footprint.

Achieving something like this is not easy, especially since it has to be done without raising costs or impacting guests' comfort or luxury.

One good example is the Bardessono in Yountville. It is a luxury hotel, spa and restaurant in Napa Valley that offers guests stunning luxury and facilities while still making sure it remains true to its green principles.

Bardessono is one of only three hotels in the world with a Platinum LEED certification.

If you're a small-town B&B or Inn, you may not be a super-duper Platinum LEED like the Bardessono or have the world's largest LEED certified building like the Palazzo.

But you can still have that 'green state of mind,' like the Adventure Inn in Ely, MN.

They're doing most everything mentioned above, that puts them fair and square in a 'green state of mind.'

- replaced 2 old buildings with a new solar powered one.

- collect rain water in barrels on the roof to water their flower beds.

- use compact flourescent bulbs for lighting, and soda and vinegar for cleaning.

- they shop locally, and offer an electric hook-up for cars.

If you visit their website, they make it pretty clear that they're going out of their way to reduce the inn's carbon footprint and provide guests with a green stay.

That's the key issue here, because you want to find a place to stay where the people are genuinely concerned about the environment - as opposed to a business which has a few token green practices but doesn't know or care about their overall consumption.

That's the real difference between green lodging and greenwashing.