These days, making environmentally conscious choices is one of the most important things you can aspire to do. Not only will being eco-friendly be good for the environment, but it can also have a positive impact on your overall health as well. Whether it’s the clothing you purchase, the car you drive, the food you consume, the products you use in your home, or anything in between — whatever choices you make to be more eco-friendly will have a positive impact on the environment. While forming habits to become more eco-friendly will eventually become second nature, it might not come so easily when branching out of your normal activities, such as booking a hotel. Here are five tips for scouting out eco-friendly hotels for your next trip.
1. Check Out its Walkability
When it comes to being eco-friendly, reducing your carbon emissions is one of the first things you should consider. If you’re wondering how this can tie into the hotel you choose, it can be as simple as finding one that’s got a great walkability score. A great location is always a bonus when it comes to lodging, but it’s even better news when you might not have the desire or means to rent a vehicle for the duration of your stay. Many hotels such as Embassy Suites Charleston SC offer great locations and encourage foot traffic to nearby attractions, making them an easy choice for just about every traveler.
2. Look Over Menus
For many travelers, one of the main attractions for accommodations is the food. When your goal is to find an eco-friendly establishment, knowing what to look for on their menus will help determine if you’re on the right track. Be on the lookout for locally and/or responsibly sourced, organic, and/or non-GMO menu items. You might even notice that certain hotels hold partnerships with local farms or source products from local farmer’s markets as well.
3. Research Sustainability Practices
Sustainability can mean many things depending on the situation. It could be on a more personal level, such as intentionally purchasing better-quality clothing that will outlast lower-priced pieces or replacing energy-sourced appliances with more efficient models. However, in terms of hotels, be on the lookout for things such as non-chlorinated pools, a reduction in water usage and/or water recycling, alternative energy sourcing, composting of food waste, eco-friendly cleaning products, and energy-efficient maintenance protocols.
4. Find Ties to the Community
When you think of eco-friendly practices, your mind likely goes to the things most commonly discussed. Like a reduction in carbon footprint for instance. However, don’t forget about things like a hotel’s tie to the community. This alone can have a huge impact on its eco-friendly rating. Not only do strong ties to the community provide jobs and keep money local, but it can also be that the hotel provides business to other local businesses or independent contractors as well. Keeping the business, no matter how large or small, centered around its community is a win for all involved. Be on the lookout for indications of environment-related fundraising events, charity drives, school programs, or participation in community activities as well.
5. Look Into Smoking Policies
Another way to determine where a hotel is on an eco-friendly scale is to research its smoking policy. Most hotels do still have designated areas where smoking is allowed. Therefore, be sure to check on how that impacts guest rooms. While you’re checking out a hotel’s smoking policy, don’t forget to look for amenities. For example, HEPA-filtration systems for guest rooms. Finding an eco-friendly hotel is becoming easier and easier. However, it’s always good to have an idea as to what to look for before you book your stay. Remember that being eco-friendly can mean many things, some of which might carry more weight than others do.
With plenty of research, you should have no trouble at all finding the perfect hotel for you.
Author: Finnegan Pierson
