Going Green – And Then Some

Florida’s lodging industry is not only taking the ball and running with it, they are prompting others to participate in the game. As Florida’s Green Lodging Program continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the Doubletree Grand Key Resort in Key West, a recently designated member of the Program, wanted to share the “going green” philosophy with the rest of the community. As a result, Doubletree General Manager Michael Knowles requisitioned 500 recycling bins to hand out, free, to Key West residents.

“We wanted to share our commitment to environmental sustainability with residents of the city of Key West,” said Michael Knowles. “So, we ordered the recycling bins to give away in conjunction with our Green Lodging designation.”

Launched in 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program continues to be one of the Department’s most successful greening endeavors. Around this time last year, the Department was proud to have designated 30 Green Lodging facilities. But in just a year’s time, that number has grown to more than 204 resorts, hotels, motels and Bed & Breakfasts throughout Florida that have received the Green Lodging designation – and more than 365 applicants are in the application process.

As diverse as the Florida Green Lodging Program properties are, ranging from quaint four room Inns to thousand room luxury resorts, the changes they are implementing are universal in helping to protect Florida’s resources. Many are opting to replace current appliances in guest rooms with those that are more energy efficient while offering guests the option to reuse towels and linens, so they too can do their part to preserve Florida’s resources.

Others facilities provide low-flow showerheads and faucets, glassware instead of plastic in guest and meeting rooms, and have switched to environmentally friendly fertilizers and pesticides. Still others have taken it a step further, reusing gray water, recycling cooking oil for use in lawn equipment, and donating food waste to local farmers.

With data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation showing nearly 5,000 lodging facilities in Florida, totaling about 400,000 guest rooms and serving 35-40 million guests annually, properties in the Florida Green Lodging Program are important players in the Department’s effort to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources.