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