|
EVERGLADES CITY - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
today welcomed Ivey House Bed & Breakfast to the Florida Green Lodging Program.
The hotel is the first in Collier County designated and the 47th in the state.
The Florida Green Lodging Program is a voluntary state initiative that provides
the lodging industry with technical assistance, and encourages hotels and motels
to adopt cost-saving green practices that reduce waste and conserve natural
resources.
“With nearly 50 percent of Florida’s visitors staying in hotels, the lodging
industry plays an important role in conserving Florida’s natural resources,”
said DEP South District Director Jon Iglehart. “Reducing water use, conserving
energy and decreasing solid waste is both environmentally and fiscally
responsible.”
Owned by David and Sandee Harraden and managed by Guest Services Management,
LLC, Ivey House is located in a quaint fishing village on the northwest border
of Everglades National Park. The Ivey House installed water efficient faucets,
showerheads and toilets and implemented a towel and linen reuse program to
conserve water. The bed & breakfast also installed energy efficient lighting and
switched to high efficiency air filters to improve air quality.
“The Ivey House is very proud to be the first in Collier County to receive
the Florida Green Lodging designation,” said Michael Jacobs, Ivey House Resident
Manager. “Opportunities such as the Green Lodging Program are making a huge
difference in today’s society and we hope that through our efforts we can help
to spread the principles and practices of being green.”
On July 13, at his Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change,
Governor Crist signed three executive orders initiating state energy-use
policies, including one that requires state agencies and departments to hold
meetings and conferences only at hotels with the Green Lodging designation
starting January 1, 2008, whenever possible. The Summit was a bold first step to
explore groundbreaking technologies and strategies that will place our state at
the forefront of the growing worldwide movement to reduce greenhouse gases.
Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes
environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and
prevent pollution. As reward for designation, Florida is recommending Green
Lodges to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscious
lodging and convention facilities. With the addition of Ivey House Bed &
Breakfast, the program has 47 hotels designated and more than 160 applicants.
For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.
For more information about Ivey House Bed & Breakfast, visit
www.iveyhouse.com.
|
