The DC Traveler

Going green is all the rage, and you know, it should be. But you can’t really have a totally green vacation when visiting Washington, DC.  But you can reduce your carbon footprint, without too much effort.

Can you find a “green” hotel to stay at? And even if the hotel claims to be green, are they really all that green?  Or are their claims simply a PR team spinning out eco-friendly press releases on glossy recycled paper?

Most major hotel chains have developed policies or are developing goals that help build sustainability into their business plan, to reduce waste, energy and water use, as well as a commitment to build more environmentally-friendly properties.  But finding a green hotel in Washington, DC is not always possible.

So here’s ten tips for doing your part to help save the planet. 

Even if you are staying at a green hotel, try to:

1. Park your car or skip the rental car counter and take public transportation. Washington DC’s Metro subway system can get you to most tourist destinations, quickly and efficiently. 
2. To avoid cabs, check if the hotel has a courtesy van to and from the airport, Union station or the nearest Metro station. If you must take a cab to and from the airport, try to share with at least one other rider.
3. Reuse towels, by hanging them up to dry.  Most housekeeping staffs understand that a towel on the floor gets changed, hanging towels signals you’ll reuse it.
4. Request that sheets are not changed every day during your stay. 
5. Walk or rent a bike versus taking a cab.  DC is a great walking and biking city in most seasons, even the summer. And even though it can get really hot and sticky, you can still save some gasoline and reduce your personal carbon footprint. Plus, the extra exercise is always good for you.
6. Recycle glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Even if your room doesn’t have a recycle bin, take your recyclables to the hotel’s restaurant and ask them to toss them in their back-of-house recycle bins.
7. When you leave your room, turn off all electrical devices, including the lights, TV, radio and the AC/heating unit.
8. Recycle your daily newspaper or leave it in the lobby for others to read. If you are not planning on reading a paper during your stay, ask that one not be delivered to your room each morning.
9. Select paperless check-in and check-out, and save a few pieces of paper.
10. Report any dripping faucets to the hotel’s maintenance staff.

Bonus Tip - Don’t throw out your plastic water bottle, refill it, versus buying a new one every time.  Close to 88% of all plastic water bottles are not recycled and end up in landfills. That’s over 26,000,000,000 (26 billion) each year.

Here’s just a couple of Washington, DC hotels that claim to be a bit greener than others:

• The historic Willard InterContinental Hotel, which I recently reviewed, is powered by 100% wind energy.  It’s energy supply comes from renewable wind energy credits, making it the first U.S. urban luxury hotel to be fully supported in a sustainable manner.
• The Hyatt Regency Washington, has been Green Seal certified. Green Seal reviews and certifies hotels on their efforts to recycle, conserve energy, reduce fresh water resources, replace hazardous substances with alternatives, and have an environmentally friendly purchasing process.
• Residence Inn at 333 E Street, SW, boasts 50% of its electricity comes from renewable sources. For extended stays, they change linens twice weekly, replace towels only upon request and have a guest recycling station on the 2nd floor. Guests can also rent a hybrid “Flex car” on an hourly basis. They also have eliminated all Styrofoam from their food service.

And for all kinds of green travel ideas, check out Traveling the Green Way, an informative green-focused travel blog from b5media. 

Images - We recycle sign, bottle,

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