Monday, December 24, 2007

Genuine or Greenwashing: Water-Saving Hotels

A quick post from Rhode Island's TF Green Airport ...

The Green Girlfriend and I stayed in the
Providence Biltmore Hotel this weekend. Cards in the bathroom trumpet the hotel's "Green Program," detailing efforts to change sheets and wash towels only when necessary.

But like every hotel The Green Miles has ever stayed in, there was no recycling available in the hotel. Not in the room. Not anywhere else on the floor. Not even in the lobby.

And all over the room? Incandescent light bulbs. Considering hotels nickel and dime you for internet service, movies and room service, why is the Biltmore passing up the chance to save $3 per bulb per year on light bulbs?

I first saw the sheet/towel card nearly a decade ago. At this point, it's not eco-friendly, it's standard operating procedure. If a hotel can't bring anything more to the table than that by 2007 yet is still trying to get credit for being "green" ... sorry, Biltmore. The Green Miles' verdict? Greenwashing.

I wish I could link you to a site to help you find green hotels, but it doesn't look like there's a great one. Grist's Ask Umbra can give you a good rundown of what to look for in a truly eco-conscious hotel.

3 comments:

DC Metro said...

You know, the towel thing always seems a little off to me, because the hotels are not really being that green, they are just trying to save on their massive laundery bills.

When they incoprporate other things like green energy, better lightbulbs, then they are doing something beyond their self interest!

Amanda from DCMetrocentric.com

Crafty Green Poet said...

You're so right, its quite laugable really. There is a list somewhere of green hotels in the UK, which is quite useful. The whole hospitality industry though could do so much more

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work.