I’ve written about green travel before, but now it’s time to focus on Michigan’s efforts in this area. Whether you call it green travel, low-impact travel or ecotourism, you’re really talking about minimizing the impact of travel and the tourism industry on the environment. In Michigan, “Green Lodging” is a phrase used to characterize hotels, motels, resorts and B&Bs that are leading the pack when it comes to conserving energy, managing waste, improving air quality and trimming water consumption. As the green movement gains traction, more and more travelers are seeking out—and rewarding them with their business—the properties that are proactively doing their part to help the environment.
A voluntary certification program created through a partnership of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Michigan Energy Office, Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) is available to travel properties free of charge. GLM offers assistance and public recognition to properties that embrace green business practices and demonstrate that environmental goals are a priority. So what does that really mean? For starters, it means that these hospitality and lodging properties bring a green orientation to these aspects of their operation: air quality, communication/education, solid waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, purchasing and waste handling.
A green property is one that infuses environmentally friendly practices throughout its operation from top to bottom. Reward a green property with your business, and you can expect to see evidence of their commitment all around you. Your room is likely to have water-saving fixtures, a program for voluntarily reducing laundering of towels and sheets during your stay, Energy Star-qualified TVs and appliances and refillable soap and shampoo dispensers. A green property will probably also offer guests options for recycling. Other non-guest room efforts in a green property may include energy-efficient lighting, light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs, water-efficient fixtures in public restrooms, Energy Star-certified office equipment, recycling programs, routinely scheduled maintenance programs for heating and cooling equipment, weather-efficient doors and windows, proper insulation and environmentally compatible cleaning products.
It’s simple: If you are serious about protecting the environment, green properties give you a chance to make a statement underscoring your beliefs by the properties you choose when you travel. In other words, choose a green property and make your travel help make a difference. But does green cost more? It may, but greener doesn’t always mean more expensive. Still, improvements of this kind have a price tag. My guess is travelers who are committed to traveling green will think the improvements are worth the slightly higher charges.
Finding GLM properties? That’s probably the easiest part. As of this writing, dozens of them are scattered throughout Michigan. Actually, northern Michigan has the edge. In fact, the difference is about two to one. Visit www.michigan.gov/greenlodging for a current list. Even though there are scores of GLM properties in our state, we have a long, long way to go, given the number of hospitality and lodging choices in the state. But a few dozen is a great start, and if the traveling public begins to look for green, property owners will no doubt see the same color. In the future, their business could depend on it.
For more information about green travel in general, visit Travel Green Wisconsin’s website and Green Hotels.
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