Eco hotel is a hotel or accommodation that has made important environmental improvements to its structure in order to minimize its impact on the environment. The basic definition of a green hotel is an environmentally responsible lodging that follows the practices of green living. These hotels have to be certified green by an independent third-party or by the state they are located in. Traditionally, these hotels were mostly presented as Eco Lodges because of their location, often in jungles, and their design inspired by the use of traditional building methods applied by skilled local craftsmen in areas.
Tucked away in Palm Springs Movie Colony neighborhood, the boutique Avanti Hotel has mid-century style and 21st-century eco-friendly features. Some of the eco-features you’ll find at Avanti include recycle bins in all guest rooms and around the pool deck area. From personal amenities to housekeeping they strive to use natural, recycled and/or recyclable products. ECRU body products and Caldrea kitchen products are provided in the guest rooms. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products and laundry detergent free of perfumes and dyes are used by housekeeping. Even water from ice chests is used on plants and landscaping is predominately drought tolerant. Styrofoam coffee cups are not ever a consideration.
Today, eco hotels also include properties in less natural locations that have invested in improving their green credentials. An eco hotel must usually meet the following criteria
- Dependence on the natural environment
- Ecological sustainability
- Proven contribution to conservation
- Provision of environmental training programs
- Incorporation of cultural considerations
- Provision of an economic return to the local community
Green hotels follow strict green guidelines to ensure that their guests are staying in a safe, non-toxic and energy-efficient accommodation. Here are some basic characteristics of a green hotel:
- Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning agents and laundry detergent
- 100% organic cotton sheets, towels and mattresses
- Non-smoking environment
- Renewable energy sources like solar or wind energy
- Bulk organic soap and amenities instead of individual packages to reduce waste
- Guest room and hotel lobby recycling bins
- Towel and sheet re-use (guests can tell housekeeping to leave these slightly used items to reduce water consumption)
- Energy-efficient lighting
- On-site transportation with green vehicles
- Serve organic and local-grown food
- Non-disposable dishes
- Offers a fresh-air exchange system
- Graywater recycling, which is the reuse of kitchen, bath and laundry water for garden and landscaping
- Newspaper recycling program