Environment DEC
From the October 2009 issue
State Unveils Green Hospitality Certification Program
DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis recently announced the launch of a new initiative to certify lodging establishments as "green" for using environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. Forty-three hotels and inns across every region of New York are the first group to sign on for the certification process.
Boosts Green Tourism
"Green tourism is good for our economy and good for our environment," Governor David A. Paterson said. "The new 'Green Lodging Certification' program will certify and assist New York's hoteliers in the transition to environmental sustainability, helping them remain competitive and protecting our environment at the same time. I am pleased that New York will soon have 43 new green hotels, providing travelers with green lodging options while they enjoy all of the natural beauty and tourism opportunities that New York has to offer."
Green hotels can encourage guests to recycle by placing bins like this in guestrooms.
The Green Lodging Certification program combines environmentally sound business practices with financially feasible solutions. Under the program, hoteliers focus on saving energy, trimming waste disposal, using water efficiently and conserving resources, while improving their bottom line. Certification candidates will be evaluated on energy efficiency, environmental management, pollution prevention and resource conservation. Green credentials will be certified by the Audubon GreenLeaf™ Eco-Rating Program (see Related Links below). Like the star rating system for quality, a hotel would be assigned one to five green leaves based on its environmental performance.
Boosts Bottom Line Too
"The Green Lodging Program recognizes hoteliers' environmental best practices," said Commissioner Grannis. "Whether they have been incorporating green practices for years or are just starting out, hotels and inns of any size can participate in this program. Technical support and marketing assistance are available to help them. The bottom line is that environmentally sound management practices lead to greater profitability, keeping New York's businesses competitive and saving jobs."
The certification program is part of a larger initiative to support and market sustainable tourism throughout New York, highlighting the state's diverse natural areas as tourism destinations, connecting travelers to green businesses and assisting New York's tourism businesses to go green. The New York State Green Hospitality and Tourism Partnership, a combination of state agencies, business associations, and academia, worked together to initiate the certification program. Earlier this year, the partnership helped launch the "Green Restaurant Certification" process.
This card, left on guestroom beds, asks guests if they need to have their sheets changed every day. (Photo: Green Hotels)
The Partnership offers technical assistance to targeted industries and works to establish green benchmarking in various tourism business areas, including hospitality, restaurants, outdoors outfitters and transportation. The Partnership also recognizes other comparable third-party certification organizations for hotels and restaurants, including Green Seal, a not-for-profit certifier (see Related Links below).
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYS P2I - see Related Links below) will conduct the program in conjunction with the Partnership, providing technical assistance and site visits. NYS P2I provides direct assistance to state businesses and organizations to green their operations and enhance their bottom line.
More Information
For more information, visit the Greening Your Business and the Green Hotel Certification Pilot Program pages on DEC's website. Also, see the complete press release for the comments of more officials about the program, as well as the current list of participating establishments.
Related Links:
Audubon GreenLeaf™ Eco-Rating Program (leaving DEC's site)
Green Seal (leaving DEC's site)
NYS Pollution Prevention Institute - NYS P2I (leaving DEC's site)
