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FORT LAUDERDALE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
today welcomed the Comfort Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port to the
Florida Green Lodging Program. The property is the 176th in the state to become
a designated member of the program. The voluntary state initiative provides the
lodging industry with technical assistance, encouraging hotels and motels to
adopt cost-saving “green” practices that reduce waste and conserve natural
resources.
“We are pleased to welcome another Comfort Suites to the Florida Green
Lodging Program,” said DEP Southeast District Director Jack Long. “Their
leadership and enthusiasm serves as a great example to encourage other hotels to
adopt environmentally friendly practices.”
To become a designated member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, hotels
must implement a variety of green practices. These practices include, but are
not limited to, water conservation measures through low flow plumbing fixtures,
a linen reuse program, energy efficiency achieved by installing ENERGY STAR®
appliances and programmable thermostats. The waste reduction criteria are met by
providing the opportunity to recycle, purchasing items in bulk, purchasing
recycled materials and by recycling ink and toner cartridges. All designated
members of the Florida Green Lodging Program must also use green cleaners and
high efficiency air filters.
"When the decision was made to go “green” the staff accepted the task and
made it happen,” said Mariano Katz, General Manager of the Comfort Suites Fort
Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port. “We can now proudly state that we are a
member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, and we are proud of our achievement
and the fact that we are leaders in our community.”
This week Governor Crist hosted the 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on
Global Climate Change, building on the foundation of last year’s summit for
Florida’s energy future. During the 2007 summit, 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 Florida Green Lodging Program designation as of January 1, 2008,
whenever possible. This year’s summit explored technologies and strategies to
stimulate economic development in clean technologies as well as “green”
Florida’s business community.
Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program established
environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and
prevent pollution. As a reward for designation, Florida is recommending
designated facilities to companies and trade organizations seeking
environmentally conscious lodging and convention facilities. With the addition
of the Comfort Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port, the program has
211 designated properties and more than 380 applicants. For more information
about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging.
DEP’s Office of Sustainable Initiatives is comprised of three voluntary,
non-regulatory programs that assist Florida industry and citizens in protecting
the environment. The Clean Marina Program, the Florida Green Lodging Program and
the Florida Pollution Prevention Program offer a variety of services including
on-site assessments, consultations, speakers and workshops, all at no cost to
citizens or organizations. The goal of the Sustainable Initiatives programs is
to meet the needs of the present population without compromising resources for
future generations. To learn more about DEP’s Sustainable Initiatives, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/green/. | 
