| Are you among the growing number of travelers | | | | encourages, promotes and supports eco-friendly |
| who prefer to stay at eco-friendly hotels? If so and | | | | measures within the hotel industry. |
| you are planning to stay near LAX, there are a | | | | Green hotels are a great choice for travelers who |
| couple of hotels you should know about. | | | | care about the environment. In the past, few people |
| The Radisson Hotel at Los Angeles Airport receives | | | | thought much about the massive impact the hotel |
| great ratings from "green" organizations, including the | | | | industry has on the environment. Today, word is |
| California Green Lodging Program in Sacramento, the | | | | finally getting out and spreading about why going |
| Green Hotel Association in Houston and Green Seal of | | | | green with lodging matters so much. According to |
| Washington, DC. This means the property engages in | | | | California's Department of General Services, as much |
| a variety of eco-initiatives. Some of the | | | | as 30 pounds of waste may be generated per hotel |
| environmentally friendly measures these organizations | | | | room per day, and up to 80% of that waste |
| use to audit and evaluate hotels include water | | | | contains materials that can be recycled. In addition, |
| conservation, recycling, reduction of waste, | | | | the hospitality industry spends more than $3 billion a |
| environmentally safe cleaning, energy conservation | | | | year on energy, with electricity accounting for 60 to |
| and maintenance, among other things. The Radisson | | | | 70% of a hotel's energy bill. Energy efficient products |
| hotel at Los Angeles utilizes 32 eco-initiatives. | | | | and practices can dramatically reduce hotels' levels of |
| The Hilton Los Angeles Airport and Towers at LAX | | | | energy consumption. |
| also passed the rigorous audit administered by the | | | | The amount of water used by typical hotels per |
| California Green Lodging Program. This hotel holds | | | | room each day is also astounding. A hotel uses 218 |
| State of California Green Hotel Certification. It also | | | | gallons of water per day for each occupied room. |
| offers convenient "park and fly" package deals that | | | | Hotels that invest in water-efficient fixtures can |
| can save you money on airport parking as you go | | | | drastically cut water consumption. As for food, hotels |
| green. | | | | generate some 112,000 tons of food waste per year. |
| The Westin Los Angeles Airport hotel holds State of | | | | Instead of ending up in landfills, food could be |
| California Green Hotel Certification. Another option for | | | | donated to charities or composted. |
| "green" lodging at LAX, the Los Angeles Airport | | | | Clearly, hotels have a huge impact on the |
| Marriott hotel was Energy Star Certified in 2003. | | | | environment, and every green effort made by hotels |
| One of the biggest myths held by travelers is that | | | | should be applauded. When a hotel recycles more |
| staying in "green" hotels equates to a bigger price tag | | | | waste, reduces water consumption, cuts energy |
| for lodging. The Super 8 Motel at LAX is a great | | | | usage and chooses to make environmentally friendly |
| example of the many "green" hotels available for | | | | purchases, it's more than just a way for them to |
| budget-minded travelers. This hotel is a voluntary | | | | save money. It's also a way to support the health of |
| member of the Green Hotels Association, a group | | | | the environment and the people living in it. You can |
| designed to bring hotels that are concerned about | | | | show your support of hotels taking green initiatives |
| environmental issues together. The Association | | | | by booking with them when you have a choice. |