Green Travel Blog

Measuring A Green Hotel’s Return On Investment

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:54:54 GMT

The obvious trend for the past few years in the hospitality and lodging industry has been green amenities and sustainable buildings for green hotels, meetings, and conventions. This trend is due in large part to the rising demand of consumers requesting greener hotels and feeling good about their travel. Many hotels have responded to this rising demand, and they have worked hard at improving the sustainability of their hotels, and some chains have even started building new LEED certified hotels. Environmental upgrades come with a price, and hoteliers are running a business, so they must look at every cost from a business standpoint. It’s great to have dozens of green amenities, but if those amenities are causing your business to fail, then you need to re-evaluate the expense. Fortunately, the return on investment for green amenities can be quantified and measured.

Cost Savings

Aside from being committed to helping the environment, hoteliers are often drawn to the idea of green amenities reducing fixed costs such as energy and water bills, waste management bills, and overall production costs. However, installing solar panels or a food composting center don’t always translate into savings. Hoteliers must manage their green amenities with efficiency, choose the right amenities that fit their brand and business needs. If your hotel spends a lot of money heating an indoor pool, solar panels may be a good option. The way to measure the ROI for green upgrades is to weight the up-front cost with the long-term cost savings. If the upgrade costs $25,000, but the yearly savings is $8,000, it would only take about 3 years to recover the cost of the upgrade.

Government Rebates

Sometimes the cost savings is not too significant, and it could take over 10 years to recover the initial investment of an upgrade to a green amenity. One way to pay for big-ticket energy-savings items is through government rebates. From the federal government to local utility companies, incentive programs can make green affordable. This web site, dsireusa.org, which is a database of programs for renewable energy.

Environmental Savings

Sometimes your return on investment isn’t quantifiable by traditional methods. When your business or hotel decides to become a green hotel, the intrinsic value of such an effort is very strong. Customers that value such amenities and initiatives may choose your hotel over another hotel, because of your green program. In order to record this, ask guests to fill out a short survey or train the desk agents to ask the guests if your green amenities were one of the reasons they chose your hotel. This will help you quantify your green program by knowing how much of your business is being attracted by your green amenities. If you’re a consumer reading this, make sure you take the initiative to let the hotel manager know that you chose their hotel because of their environmentally friendly program.

Committing to a solid green amenity program is really a win/win situation for a hotel. They save money and help the environment. And even if they don’t save much money, they’re efforts will be appreciated by the public, which could lead to increased hotel bookings.

Green Hotels and the Triple Bottom Line

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:06:00 GMT

More and more hotel chains and independently owned hotels are becoming more sustainable and more energy efficient due to the rising trend of green lodging and green amenities. More travelers are seeking green hotels, and hotel brands are picking up on this customer preference. Eco-efficiency is what many hotels are focusing on with their green amenities, which is simply the practice of doing more while using less resources. Producing less waste, using less energy, and in turn, producing less pollution is the name of the game for hotels, and their bottom line is improving because of it.

This chart shows what many people refer to as the “Triple Bottom Line”:

When combined, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity work together to positively affect the bottom line of a hotel that with these three characteristics. Guests of hotels are seeking out green hotels with amenities that promote environmental stewardship and programs that promote social responsibility, especially on the local level. Of course, these two factors can and will produce economic prosperity, but sometimes an element of economic success must already be present to be able to offer green amenities. Installing solar powered heating systems, energy efficient appliances, food composting facilities, and offering organic foods come at a high cost, so only hotels that have already achieved a level of economic success will be enticed to invest in new, greener technologies.

Still not convinced that your hotel should go green?

A study by A.T. Kearney, Inc, found that in 16 of the 18 industries studied, companies committed to sustainability outperformed industry averages by 15% over the six months from May through November 2008.
“Our study indicates that the market rewards specific companies,” said Dr. Daniel Mahler, author of the study. “We find common characteristics among the leading companies that show that sustainability goes far beyond the narrow definition of being environmentally friendly.”

Giving back to the community and your customers

More consumers and travelers are looking for companies that give back. We are in an era where corporate greed is abundant, and we don’t need the government to punish these corporations. We can punish them more severely by not using their good and services. You can still maximize profit while being a generous hotel and giving back to your community. There’s a hotel in New Jersey that donates all of its older linens to the homeless, instead of throwing it away. That’s the kind of program and way of thinking that separates one hotel from the next, and travelers notice and remember those kind of programs.

What are you doing to positively affect your bottom line? If you’ve already committed to providing green amenities as a green hotel and you’d like to be rated by our website, please visit our green auditing system.

Composting And Why You Should Do It

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:56:27 GMT

Today on Green Chat, we’ll be talking about how to compost your food and recycle food efficiently. We’re in the business of helping you find green alternatives to travel and make your everyday travel more environmentally friendly, but being green is a lifestyle. We understand many of our customers that look for green travel are also looking for more ways to make their entire lifestyle more sustainable and eco-friendly. What we eat, what we don’t eat, and how we dispose of it directly affects our environment, and we feel that it’s really important for you to understand the alternatives to throwing your unused food scraps in the garbage. Yard and food waste makes up roughly 30% of the waste stream, so that makes it extremely important to recycle our food waste.

What Is Composting?

Composting is nature's process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Anything that was once living will decompose. Basically, backyard composting is an acceleration of the same process nature uses. By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Finished compost looks like dark brown soil, crumbly and smells like a forest floor.

Types of composting:

Backyard composting — If you have a yard and a balance of browns (fallen leaves or straw) and greens (grass clippings and food scraps), you have all you need to make compost.
Worm composting (vermicomposting) — If you have a tiny yard or live in an apartment or have an abundance of food scraps, this type of composting is for you.
Grasscycling If you have grass clippings and don't want to use them in a compost pile you can leave them on the lawn to decompos

Composting Resources

We will have some more great information after today’s Green Chat, so I will post the transcript on our Twitter profile and Facebook page once it’s over.

Green Home Improvements Tips From Green Chat

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:43:21 GMT

Yesterday, we had a great green chat on Twitter talking about green alternatives for home improvements and home improvements that make your home more sustainable. If you still haven’t joined us on green chat, you can do that by visiting our Twubs page which aggregates all conversations on Twitter with the #greenchat hash tag.

Here is the transcript for yesterday’s green chat, just in case you missed it: February 17th, 2010 green chat transcript

Our Top Twitter Contributors and Green Friends from Yesterday:

@KidBean - 43
@RezHub_Will - 42
@GreenTravelHub - 38
@easyecotogo - 23
@IttyBittyImpact - 18
@lilgreentree - 18
@newhomegreen - 17
@thegreenbeanie - 15
@VandWsMommy - 9
@efolgate – 6

Some Topics We Chatted About:

Tankless Water Heaters: tankless water heaters, such as the Rinnai, have gained a lot of popularity for their water and energy saving possibilities. They are about two to three times more expensive than traditional water heaters, but we believe they are a good long-term investment to save on your utility bill and make your home more eco-friendly. Some of the users in green chat have tankless water heaters, and they were overall satisfied with the performance. Once it is rolling, it virtually never loses hot water, so you could have the washer on, the dishwasher, and be taking a shower and never lose hot water.
Insulation Upgrade in the Attic: upgrade your attic insulation to a higher grade, and your heating and cooling system will be much more efficient in the hotter and colder months.
Improve your outdoor landscaping with native plants: Planting native plants will reduce the amount of water you need to irrigate your landscaping.
Concrete countertops: Granite countertops are beautiful, but the process of excavating it from the earth is so invasive and not good for the environment. Concrete countertops, if done right, look beautiful and have the solid-stone look. There are also countertops on the market that are made of recycled paper.
Use recycled materials when creating an addition to your home.
Solar Panels: Use them to heat your water or your pool.
Use low or zero VOC paint: Sherwin Williams and other major brands are now creating more eco-friendly paints made of less harsh pollutants. Look for zero VOC paint, and you’ll be breathing easier!

Do you have any tips for greening your home improvements or making home improvements that make your home more green? Submit a comment with us to keep the green chat conversation going!

Check Out These Elite Green Hotel Certification Programs

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:12:02 GMT

The hotel industry is finally starting to catch up with the increasing consumer demand for sustainable, eco-friendly hotel accommodations. We want to know that our travel is greener, because we choose hotels with green amenities. At RezHub.com, one of our missions is to make travel more affordable to you and make it easier to find green hotels around the world. But now the question is, which hotel properties are legitimately environmentally friendly? A few elite green hotel certification programs have sprouted up, and we recommend them as credible and legitimate sources for certifying hotel properties to be green and sustainable.

More...

The Ultimate List of 60 Tips for Green Travel

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:06:02 GMT

There are many different articles and lists floating around about ways to make your travel more green, and we are in the business of doing everything that we can to help you engage in eco-friendly travel. So, we compiled a master list of tips for green travel. Feel free to bookmark and share this article for future reference. More...

Get Out Of The Cold And Into the Sun With These Great Caribbean Deals

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:59:25 GMT

Great deals on Caribbean destinationsMore...

The Movie “Food Inc.” and Green Chat

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:44:10 GMT

This past Wednesday we talked about the movie “Food Inc.” by Robert Kenner on our weekly Green Chat that happens every Wednesday on Twitter at 2pm eastern standard time. We had a great discussion about the movie. I watched it last week for the first time, and I must say that it was a huge eye opener for me in terms of how little consumers think or care about how animals are raised for consumption and the manufacturing process that occurs. As consumers, we must stick up for ourselves and fight for what is right. A few large companies are dominating the food industry, and they aren’t treating workers humanely, they aren’t treating animals humanely, and they’re genetically engineering crops to be resistant of herbicides.

Some of the Major Issues Brought Up In the Movie:

Inhumane and unsanitary treatment of animals
Inhumane and unsanitary treatment of workers
Genetic altering of plant crops (specifically soybeans)
Mass production of food leads to cheaper prices and unhealthier options for lower income families
Monopoly on the food industry by few companies
Corn being used in virtually everything we find in the supermarket

To see the transcript of our Green Chat, click here

Here’s a great video from ABC News Nightline about the movie Food Inc. I like it because they interview the other side of the spectrum of people who work for governmental regulators and big agriculture companies, which is something the movie fails to do. They claim that they contacted the companies mentioned in the movie and government officials but no one wanted to be interviewed for the movie.

<\/param><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt="">

What Can We Do?

Instead of complaining about how the government supports these large agriculture companies and how they produce low quality food for us, we need to respond by choosing alternatives. CONSUMERS have the ultimate power when it comes to making choices at the supermarket. Buy more fresh produce and meat at your local farmer’s markets. Look for food co-op’s, which are easy to find in this local food and organic directory. Like the movie says, we have the chance to vote for change three times a day.

In regards to the travel industry, we want to see change when it comes to the travel industry being more green and sustainable, so travelers need to vote for this by choosing alternatives. Renting a hybrid car, choosing a hotel with green amenities, and driving rather than flying when possible are all ways that we can vote for change in the travel industry.

Friday Deals: Ski Resorts under $100 per night

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:52:46 GMT

There is still plenty of time to get your ski vacation in before the end of winter. It has been a snowy winter so far, and ski conditions have been overall good. We know you like great deals, so here are a few ski resorts with deals for under $100 per night!

The Westgate Park City Spa and Resort - $89/night

The Westgate Park City Spa and Resort is a luxury winter resort situated approximately 33 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport.The hotel amenities include a basketball court, game room, heated indoor and outdoor pools, children’s club, marketplace, deli, outdoor whirlpools, ping pong tables, salon, fitness center, tennis court, onsite parking, and a scenic waterfall. Guests may also enjoy dining at the Westgate Grill, the onsite Pizza Hut Express, and room service. Guestrooms feature one king and one full-sized sofa bed with a mountain and/or valley view. The rooms are approximately 360 square feet, and they include kitchenettes with microwaves, dishwashers, refrigerators, two-burner stovetops, dishware and cookware, jetted bathtubs, and high-speed Internet access for an extra fee.

To book now, click here.

Harvey’s Lake Tahoe - $79/night

Surrounded by the stately Sierra Nevada mountains, Harveys Lake Tahoe is situated on Lake Tahoe's picturesque south shore. This premier resort is a gem for vacation-seekers looking for the perfect combination of active sports (foremost skiing and hiking), gambling, and relaxing. Harveys features six innovative restaurants, including the popular Cabo Wabo and 19 Kitchen-Bar. A cabaret theater and live music entertain guests nightly, and the 24-hour casino is sure to please anyone eager to gamble. Hiking trails surround the resort, and other opportunities for outdoor recreation abound nearby.The hotel also boasts a full-service health club, year-round outdoor pool and hot tub, with tennis, golf, and seasonal water sports nearby. Additional services offered at Harveys include a full-service wedding chapel, convention center, business center, video game arcade, specialty shops, Hertz car rental service, concierge, 24-hour room service, wheelchair access, and complimentary valet and self-parking. Lake Tower rooms are 525 square feet, featuring Drexel Heritage furnishings with two armchairs and a writing desk, cable TV, Internet service, stocked refreshment center, clock radio, and telephones in the bedroom and bathroom. The bathroom is done in imported marble with two separate vanity areas, including a separate tub and shower, and a second TV. The newly remodeled Mountain Tower is the original hotel tower with upscale decor rooms at approximately 370 square feet each.

To book now, click here.

Vancouver Hilton MetroTown - $99/night

The Four-Diamond Hilton Vancouver Metrotown is located across from the Metrotown Shopping and Entertainment complex and approximately 10 miles from Vancouver International Airport. This Hilton is also close to the Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel, Deerlake Park, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, and the Burnaby Art Gallery. Hilton Vancouver Metrotown hotel is a short drive from downtown Vancouver, which is home to the Vancouver Canucks Hockey, Stanley Park, Science World, Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Flight and Transportation. Hotel amenities include the fitness center, outdoor pool, and Jacuzzi. Crystal Bar and Grill offers steaks, local seafood, and award-winning wines and Sunday Brunch. All rooms feature high-speed Internet access, coffeemakers, hairdryers, oversized tubs, irons and ironing boards, executive work desks, two-line phones, dataports, and voicemail.

To book now, click here.

Technorati Tags: ski deals,ski resorts,Park City,Lake Tahoe

Green Hotel, The Hotel Felix in Chicago, Receives 4 Green Branches

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:49:41 GMT

We have recently rated Hotel Felix in Chicago based on our green score rating system, and found out that they are a VERY green hotel. Their commitment to running an eco-friendly hotel and doing business in a highly sustainable, green building is outstanding. Chicago is one of the busiest cities in the world and millions of travelers on business and leisure come to visit Chicago every year. It’s time for the hospitality industry in Chicago to start stepping up their green hotel amenities, and Hotel Felix is leading the way. We had the chance to get in contact with the great people at Hotel Felix and audit their green amenities based on our green branch scoring system.

Here are the green amenities that Hotel Felix Provides:

Offers organic food

Support or Use Alternative Energy Sources

Uses non-toxic earth friendly cleaning agents

Participate in an Energy Conservation Program

Gives to non-profits

Compact Fluorescent Lighting

Conserves Water

Use Energy Star Appliances

Low-Flow Showers/Toilets

Recycles: Newspapers, Disposables, Service Items, and/or In-Room Recycling

Fresh-Air Exchange System

Participates in Green Programs and/or Educates Others About Green Programs

Uses Green-Keys

Silver LEED Certified Building

Hotel Felix is the first hotel designed to be Silver LEED certified. The building has northern exposure, which helps with heating the building in the winter months. They preserved the original structure, which prevented them from filling up landfills with non-biodegradable materials, and they have a designated “recycling room” for the hotel to sort through and organize recyclable materials.

To learn more about their eco-amenities, visit their website: Hotel Felix Chicago You can also follow them on Twitter and become a fan of their hotel on Facebook

To book a reservation for Hotel Felix, visit this green hotel’s page on RezHub

Find Your Next Green Hotel By Landmark

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:35:04 GMT

Have you ever booked a hotel thinking it was right next to all of the attractions and landmarks you wanted to visit on your vacation? Then, you actually get to your destination and realize that the hotel is 30 minutes away from everything you wanted to do. RezHub’s Landmark hotel search solves this common problem. It’s one of my favorite features about the website, because price is important only relative to the location if you are visiting for leisure. You may be willing to pay extra for a hotel that’s closer to a particular landmark, stadium, historical site, or amusement park.

To search by landmark, here’s what you’ll need to do:

Visit the RezHub landmark search page
Select your destination
Select your city
Select your Landmark
Pick your discount hotel

As you can see, I chose Florida as my destination, Orlando as my city, and Universal Studios as my landmark. This is what it should look like when you’ve completed those steps:

Green Hotels Directory

One great feature about the landmark hotel search is it lists the green score ratings for every hotel near the landmark of your choice and highlights the pin in green. So, if you’re looking for a green hotel at a certain price near a certain landmark, this is a great feature to use without sifting through all of the search results.

Let us know if you’ve ever used this feature, we’d like to hear about your experience!

Transcript for Wednesdays Green Chat

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:18:09 GMT

If you haven’t heard yet, we moderate a Twitter chat every Wednesday from 2pm to 3pm under the hashtag #greenchat. We talk about various different green living and green travel topics relevant to current events and what you want to talk about.

What’s the Best Way To Follow the Chat?

Go to our page on Twubs.com
Sign in with your Twitter ID
Become a Member of our Twub
Start participating in the conversation. Twubs has a text box that allows you to send Tweets, and it already appends the hashtag #greenchat for you.

What Did We Talk About Last Week?

How to be green and conserve energy during the cold months of winter
Ways to make your workplace more green
Best ways to dispose of your old electronics and gadgets

Here are some great Tweets from the Chat:

Ways to green the workplace . . .

crgjr23: Very easy one: setup a recycling program. You can take it far as you want, but start simple and educate. #greenchat

AimeeWilliamson: At the office, we recyle everything possible. We also have a watercooler and everyone brings their own water bottles. #greenchat

How to stay green and keep warm in the cold winter months . . .

luxuryeco: Wearing two pair of bamboo socks helps me!! #greenchat

AimeeWilliamson: I like to layer - even indoors! - to avoid turning heat on. RT @GreenTravelHub: What can we do to stay green during cold weather? #greenchat

Transcript

If you missed this week’s Green Chat, feel free to catch up on what we talked about with this transcript: 1-06-10 Green Chat Transcript

Recap of our Twitter Chat from Yesterday About Green New Year’s Resolutions

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:47:34 GMT

<\/param><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt="">

Amazon Kindle: The Perfect Eco-Friendly Device

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:07:53 GMT

More...

Hyatt Hotel and New Jersey Woman Help The Community And Recycle

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:43:26 GMT

Christmas is only one week away, and even if you don’t celebrate the religious significance of the holiday, you can always celebrate the season of giving. Christmas brings out something inside of us that wants to give, not only to our friends and family, but people struggling in our community. I ran across an article about a woman from New Jersey who helped the Hyatt hotel in downtown Morristown, New Jersey recycle their used linens to give out to the homeless.

Mary Marzano, owner of Green Recoverings in Maplewood, New Jersey, delivers gently used linens from major hotels such as the Hyatt in Morristown, to the Salvation Army in Newark for re-use by the homeless and less fortunate. Not only is this is such a great charity and ministry to the homeless, it’s also an extremely green and eco-friendly service. Millions of pounds of linens are tossed in the trash, and ultimately the landfill, each year by hotels and consumers. Yes, they are used linens, but they’ve all been washed and sanitized, so it’s perfect for someone who doesn’t have the money to afford linens or someone who has no home at all. Here’s a quote from Mrs. Marzano:

"Bedding is expensive -- we take it for granted," Marzano said, noting hotels discard many tons of linens per year. "They just push them right in the Dumpster. I couldn't let that happen."

Because of such high standards of quality put forth by luxury hotel brands such as the Hyatt, The Plaza, and Hilton, they throw away linens all the time due to discoloration.

"There might end up being a discoloration, so it's not a clean white pillow case. We can't use that in a guest room," said Tom Blundell, general manager of the Hyatt Morristown. "It's still a good pillowcase. ... but eventually, it all lands up in the trash."

We thought this would be a great story to share around the holidays, because it fulfills two huge needs: The need to give back to others, and the need to recycle and re-use goods that are a treasure to someone else. This holiday season, think twice before throwing something away. You never know who might want what you consider to be junk.

How To Avoid Green Washing At Your Business

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:40:38 GMT

Being green or going green is a hot trend in many different industries lately, because our awareness of how our action are affecting the environment has been heightened over the past decade. Marketers know that consumers want to be more green, so they have picked up on the trend that some consumers will be more motivated to purchase a product or patronize a business with solid green practices. However, a good thing can easily turn into a bad thing when used by someone with the wrong intentions.

What is Green Washing?

Greenwashing is the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or company practice.

How To Avoid Green Washing

Be Transparent: Don’t hide anything from the consumer. Tell them exactly why you consider the product or service to be green. List all ingredients and explain the manufacturing process. Every company that claims to be green or sell green products should have a section on their website dedicated to explaining why their product or service is green.
Be Specific: You can explain all day long why you are green, but it’s so easy to be vague and use platitudes to mask the fact that you aren’t really green. Give real examples and quantitative data about what makes you environmentally friendly.
Reach Out To Your Community: If you are claiming to be a green company, then you should be involved in the community. Volunteer for eco-friendly projects, donate money to environmental organizations, and purchase carbon offsets. Your company is using a lot of energy and resources no matter how green your practices are, so the best way to offset that usage is to back to the environment.
Black Up Your Claim: If someone challenges your claims, have research and proof to back it up.
Avoid the “Lesser of Two Evils” approach: A good example of this is eco-friendly herbicides or pesticides. Using these chemicals, even if they are less harmful to the environment, are disturbing the natural order of the environment.

Hotels Going Green and RezHub Green Score Rating System

Are you a hotel manager/owner and thinking of improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of your hotel? The benefits are great, but you must watch yourself, because it’s very easy to fall into the trap of green washing. Our green score rating system is sophisticated enough to make sure hotels with green amenities are being evaluated fairly. Getting a high ranking is not easy, and we made it tough for a reason. Hotels shouldn’t be labeled “eco-friendly” unless they have a comprehensive green strategy. If you would like your hotel to be rated by our green score rating system, be sure to contact us. After January 1st, we will be rolling out an automated process for hotel managers and owners to log into our website and apply for a green score rating without manually contacting us. More details to come on that in the future.

Our Exhibit At The 2nd Annual Green Lodging Conference in Orlando, Florida

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:16:25 GMT

For the past three days, we have been making new friends and learning about green lodging at the 2nd Annual Green Lodging and Hospitality Conference in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Centre Hotel. The event was put on by the TREEO program of the University of Florida.

What Were We Doing There?

We set up an exhibit to inform hoteliers about our automated green auditing application that we will be rolling out January 1st, 2010. This will allow hoteliers to come to our site and submit their green amenities to us for review of a green score rating without emailing or calling us. Here is a video cast of Will (our technology director) explaining it while we are on-location at the conference.

<\/param><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt="">

If you represent a hotel in our database, and you are starting or have completed a green amenities program for your hotel, we’d love to rate your hotel! Check back after January 1st to learn more about our automated process!

How To Make Your Holiday Decorations More Green

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:54:41 GMT

Every year in December the energy usage in the United States spikes because we light up the skies with outdoor lighting and lawn ornaments as a symbol of the upcoming holiday season. Kids love decorations, and let’s face it, adults love them too. There’s nothing more fun than driving around the neighborhood to check out everyone’s decorations. But with today’s technology, there are so many ways we can save energy and make our decorations more sustainable.

Here is a great video that aired on the Early Show a few days ago about going green with Christmas decorations.

<\/param><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt="">

More Tips For Making Your Holiday Decorations More Green:

Wrap gifts up in the comics section of the newspaper (Kids love this)
Buy a timer for your lights, so they are never left on the entire night.
Home Depot will give you a credit towards LED lights for turning in your old lights
Break out all of your serving ware instead of using plastic and styrofoam for holiday parties.
Avoid using decorations like tinsel and fake snow that cannot be re-used.

You’ll Save Money

One of the great added benefits about going green is that you often save money. How many of you dread getting your utilities bill in January? It can be sky-high with all of the energy usage from Christmas lights and heating your home. Following these tips will help you save a lot of money this holiday season and allow you to have more money to buy gifts and have fun with your family!

Tips For Going Green This Thanksgiving

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:27:24 GMT

If you haven’t already heard, Green Travel Hub hosts a chat event every Wednesday at 2pm EST. called “Green Chat”. It is hosted on Twitter, and we follow the hash tag: #greenchat. The best way to follow our green chat is by becoming a member of our Twub, which is basically an application that organizes hash tag conversations for you. We actually won’t be having a green chat this week because of the Thanksgiving hoilday, but we will be back next week! Last week, we discussed how to make your Thanksgiving holiday more green. Here are some of the tips that came from the chat.

Travel by car this week if you are traveling less than 300 miles. Rent a hybrid car if you want to make your travel extra GREEN.
Get your car tuned up and check fluids and tire pressure before driving to save fuel.
Car pool to dinner with other family members.
Car pool with friend and family on Black Friday to get good deals. It always helps to be in a group, because you can spread out and grab all of the good deals.
Choose an eco-friendly airline like Jet Blue or Southwest Airlines.
Don’t deep fry your turkey. You’ll pollute the air and many people don’t dispose of the oil grease properly.
Avoid using plastic/paper eating utensils and plates on Thanksgiving.
Support your local fruit and vegetable farmers and buy fresh produce from a farmer’s market.
Use recycled aluminum foil to wrap your turkey.
Use organic spices for cooking

There are so many ways to make your Thanksgiving more environmentally friendly, and the best way is to be the least wasteful as possible. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the blessings in our life, and one of those blessings is a beautiful planet to live on. Let’s all be mindful of that this holiday! From all of us at RezHub.com, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Drive safe on the roads this weekend!

Top 5 Green Hotels in Boston, Massachusetts

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:58:33 GMT

Boston is rich in historical tradition, and it’s a sports fanatic’s dream. Bostonians are also very environmentally conscious, and many hotels in the Boston area have stepped up to the plate to provide hotels with a strong green initiative. Here are our top 5 based on our green score rating system.

Seaport Hotel and Seaport World

green score rating: 4 out of 5

Seaport’s fresh and inviting surroundings reflect its rejuvenating location on Boston’s historic waterfront. Stunning views, convenient location and a gracious

city, make this hotel a great place to stay! Seaport participates in earth-friendly housekeeping, they use energy start appliances, use fresh-air exchange systems, compost food, and recycle all plastic, disposables, and paper!

Come check the rates at this green hotel

The Back Bay Hotel

green score rating: 4 out of 5

The Back Bay Hotel is located at the former Boston Police Headquarters, offering an unusual fusion of old and new with a historic building and spacious elegance, updated with exquisitely detailed design and world-class service.

The Back Bay Hotel looks to preserve the environment by recycling, providing earth-friendly housekeeping, fresh-air exchange, offering organic food, composting food waste, and participating in energy conservation programs.

Come check the rates at this green hotel

The Lenox Hotel

green score rating: 4 out of 5

Since 1963, the Saunders family has been at the helm of the Lenox, overseeing day-to-day operations and a series of meticulous restoration. The Lenox Hotel is situated one mile away from Fenway Park, Museum of Fine Arts, Swan Boats/Public Gardens, and Hynes Convention Center.

The Lenox Hotel has many green features including earth-friendly housekeeping, re-usable service items, non-toxic cleaning agents, conserving water, giving to non-profits, low-flow showers/toilets, and compact flourescent lighting!

Come check the rates at this green hotel

Nine Zero Hotel – A Kimpton Hotel

green score rating: 3 out of 5

Renovated in 2002, the Luxurious Hotel Comprises 190 Rooms Spread Over 19 Floors. Guests Are Invited Into the Air-Conditioned Foyer With 24-Hour Reception. Situated in the Ladder District in downtown Boston, the Nine Zero Hotel - a Kimpton Hotel is minutes from the Logan International Airport, and steps away from the Boston Common, Beacon Hill, the Financial District, and the Faneuil Hall.

Kimpton Hotels are well-known for their green initiatives, here are some that this hotel boasts: earth-friendly housekeeping, participating in energy conservation programs, offering organic food, conserving water, giving to non-profits, and using re-usable service items.

Come check the rates at this green hotel

Hyatt Regency Boston

green score rating: 3 out of 5

Experience the excitement of the city at Hyatt Regency Boston. Just one block from the Boston Common and within walking distance of attractions, shopping and theaters, our downtown Boston hotel is ideal for leisure or business. Tour the Freedom Trail, shop at Faneuil Hall, visit museums, or catch a game at Fenway Park.
Delight in this newly renovated Boston Commons hotel – just steps from Chinatown and connected to the T. Rejuvenate your body and spirit in our spa, sauna, Eucalyptus steam room, pool, sun terrace and lounge. The first Boston member of the Green Hotels Association, our award-winning accommodations are eco-, family- and pet-friendly. Contemporary-style rooms, delicious dining and more await you at this luxurious Hyatt hotel in downtown Boston.

The Hyatt participates in earth-friendly housekeeping, energy conservation, bulk soap & toiletries, recycling, conserving water, re-usable service items, and composting food.

Come check the rates at this green hotel

RezHub Creates Social Media Hub and Green Chat On Twitter

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:58:10 GMT

Social Media Hub

At RezHub.com, we understand that you lead a busy life, and as green conscious consumers, we know that you hate when companies waste tons of paper on direct mail, flyers, and other marketing mediums that waste paper. That is one of the reasons we are committed to using social media to spread the news about RezHub, because it is a very efficient and eco-friendly way to send updates to our loyal customers. We also know how confusing it can be to keep up with all of the different social networking websites and the different profiles of many different companies, so we have developed a one-stop social media hub for all of our social networking presences on Twitter and Facebook. Here is a screen shot of our social media hub:

We have embedded our Twitter stream for #greenchat, which I will explain below and our news stream from the Green Travel Hub Facebook Page. This makes it more convenient for you to keep up with RezHub.com and all of the daily updates and content that we provide to you on Twitter and Facebook. Why should you follow us? Because we will be offering exclusive content, deals and coupons, and discussing green topics that educate all of us on the green movement.

Green Chat On Twitter

Two weeks ago we experimented with starting a discussion about green travel, green living tips, and any other current events about the environment or eco-friendly initiatives. We decided that Twitter would be a fun medium to hold this discussion, because it allows for anyone to jump in on the conversation through the use of Twitter hash tags. We picked the hash tag, #greenchat, to start our conversation, on October 21st, at 2pm EST., the first #greenchat was held. We have had several participants, and we have discussed topics such as these:

Tips for making your holidays more green
Green travel tips
How to make your hotel stay more green
How to make your Halloween more green
Are companies exploiting the “green” angle?
Sharing our favorite green blogs/websites and gadgets.

We also found a great web application to organize, moderate, and archive our green chat discussion. The name of the website is Twubs.com, and you can visit our green chat twubs page here. You can join the twubs green chat discussion here:

From the twubs website, you can contribute to the conversation on Twitter, and one of our favorite features is that Twubs makes it easy to check out videos and pictures that are shared on Twitter during the green chat.

Here are a few example of tweets from our prior green chat discussions:

We hope this discussion will continue to expand and become more viral over Twitter. If you are interested in joining in, schedule time at 2pm EST on Wednesdays to be at your computer or smart phone. Visit the Twubs website and type in #greenchat to find us, or do this on Twitter Search, and you will see a running stream of tweets with the hash tag #greenchat. Then, simply tweet something that is green/eco-friendly and include our hash tag, #greenchat! It’s that simple.

Technorati Tags: green chat,social media,facebook,twitter

Top 5 Green Ski Resorts Around The United States

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:31:32 GMT

Ski season is coming up, and many of you are getting ready to hit the slopes. Why not pick a resort that is environmentally responsible? You’ll feel better about choosing a ski resort that tries to protect the environment, which is the same environment that gives you the ability to go skiing and snowboarding! Here are 5 great ski resorts with a great, green initiative.

Park City Resort, Utah

photo credit: Flickr

I have heard great things about skiing in Park City, Utah, and it’s also very snow boarding friendly. For the past three years, Park City Ski Resort has performed an energy efficiency report to help reduce its carbon footprint and also cut down the cost of energy consumption. Thanks to the audit, Park City has trimmed the resort’s carbon footprint by over 15,000 tons. According to their Web site, this is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 2,492 passenger vehicles or the electricity use of 1,802 homes for one year. In 2004, Park City began using renewable energy to power. They have also purchased more energy efficient snowmobiles and reduced their paper wasted consumption.

The Aspen Skiing Company

photo credit: TreeHugger

Aspen is considered to be the Mecca when it comes to skiing, and it’s also one of the most green ski resort towns. The Aspen Skiing Company owns four different mountains in Aspen: Snowmass, Aspen, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk. They began their eco initiatives back in 1997, and they have been the model for other resorts to follow their green initiatives lead. They were the first to purchase wind power and they are one of the only resorts with a green building policy. ASC has the largest photovoltaic system in the industry. ASC also matches contributions from employees for local environmental causes. I also hear the skiing is great, too!

The Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont

photo credit: Flickr

I know that the East Coast just doesn’t compare to West Coast skiing, but if you want to spend a little less money and still get world-class skiing, check out The Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont. They are a leader in the state of Vermont for sustainable building. Smugglers’ Notch is also one of only a few mountains in the Northeast recognized as a member of Sustainable Slopes. The resort has extensive green initiatives , and include wildlife protection, energy efficiency, recycling, and water conservation. Smuggler’s Notch is big on education, too. They post signs prompting visitors how to preserve the environment, and there are many different nature activities that educate kids about the environment.

Technorati Tags: green ski resort,park city,aspen,sundance resort,eco friendly skiing

Smugglers’ also has a carpooling Web site and a free shuttle service serving the resort and neighboring cities.

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Oregon

photo credit: Flickr

Oregon is another one of those picturesque states with great skiing and breath-taking views. Mt. Bachelor Resort recently hired a team of climatologists to conduct studies at Mt. Bachelor. The resort is seeking to drastically reduce their carbon footprint. The team is also consistently analyzing waste and recycling efforts and renewable energy. They are also focusing on smaller efforts that lead to bigger green results. The resort uses recycled cooking oil for biofuel, non-petroleum based cleaners for housekeeping, wax-free recycled paper for insulated cups, and green cleaning agents for vehicles. Mt. Bachelor’s tagline says it all in terms of their attitude towards preserving the environment: “Still as pure as the day it erupted.”

Sundance Resort, Utah

photo credit: Flickr

Want to get really fancy and enjoy a ski resort at its finest? Robert Redford’s Sundance Village and Ski Resort, located in Northern Utah's Provo Canyon, this world-class resort does a great job at greening their resort. Each room is designed with environmental sustainability in mind. Sundance participates in Green by NATÜRA, the first in-room eco-friendly amenities program. Shampoo and conditioner bottles are made from corn-based biodegradable material; and soap and accessory cartons are made from natural recycled paper and printed with soy based inks. The fine cuisine is created with local food and organic alternatives. Guests who stay at Sundance are encouraged to participate in linen re-use and recycling programs. We like that Sundance is unique in offering guests access to a full-time naturalist, available all four seasons. Winter brings various educational programs provided by the Sundance Resort educating guests about the wonderful wildlife ecology in and around Utah. If you want a truly unique experience, be sure to visit this resort.

Top 5 Green Hotels in Portland, Oregon

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:57:55 GMT

Portland, Oregon is a beautiful city and its natural beauty is why it has become one of the fastest growing and most popular cities in the Northwest. The people of Portland strive to do everything they can to preserve their environment, and here are some hotels that are contributing to that effort.

Doubletree Hotel Portland

The Doubletree Hotel in Portland was given a 4 out of 5 green score by RezHub.com for their commitment to green initiatives. The Doubletree Hotel is located across the street from Lloyd Center Mall and approximately nine miles from Portland International Airport. Some green amenities include earth friendly housekeeping, bulk soap & toiletries, recycles disposables, composts food waste, and gives back to non-profit organizations.

This hotel also offers a fitness center, swimming pool, meeting rooms, dry cleaning, a restaurant on-site, and a business center to get work done or fax out important documents. Click here to book a reservation for this green hotel in Portland, Oregon.

Hotel Vintage Plaza – A Kimpton Hotel

The Vintage Plaza also received a 4 out of 5 green score by RezHub.com, which is outstanding, because very few hotels are ever given a 5 out of 5. Occupying a restored 1894 building, and recently completing a four million dollar renovation of guest rooms and lobby space, this hotel is in Portland's shopping and financial district, two blocks from Pioneer Courthouse Square. The Vintage Plaza offers earth friendly housekeeping, they participate in energy conservation programs, recycle, compost food waste, offer organic food, and have a fresh-air exchange system.

Other amenities include a fitness center, a business center, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and they accept pets. Click here to book a reservation or learn more about this green hotel in Portland, Oregon.

Hotel Monaco Portland – A Kimpton Hotel

The Hotel Monaco, considered to be an architectural masterpiece and dedicated to the art community, received a 3 out of 5 green score rating by RezHub.com. The Hotel Monaco Portland is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Portland on the corner of 5th and Washington Street. Hotel Monaco offers green amenities such as earth friendly housekeeping, recycling, conserving water, offering low-flow showers and toilets, uses re-usable service items, and uses non-toxic earth friendly cleaning agents.

Hotel Monaco also offers family rooms, a fitness center, a restaurant, meeting rooms, dry cleaning, and a spa! Click here to book a reservation or learn more about this green hotel in Portland, Oregon.

Hilton Portland and Executive Tower

The Hilton Portland and Executive Tower was given a 3 out of 5 green score rating by RezHub.com. The Hilton Portland is located nine miles from Portland International Airport, at the center of the city's business and entertainment district. It’s also within three blocks of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. They offer green amenities such as giving to non-profits, conserving water, participating in an energy conservation program, using re-usable service items, composting food waste, and they offer a fresh-air exchange system.

The Hilton Portland also offers a fitness center, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, a business center, a restaurant, dry cleaning, and pets are accepted. Click here to book a reservation or learn more about this green hotel in Portland, Oregon.

Silver Cloud Inn – Portland Downtown

The Silver Cloud Inn in Downtown Portland was given a 2 out of 5 green score rating by RezHub.com.The Silver Cloud Inn is a beautiful modern Inn located in the heart of northwest Portland's boutique shopping district. They offer amenities such as earth friendly housekeeping, using reusable service items, educate others about green programs, use a fresh-air exchange system, and conserves water.

They also offer family rooms, FREE breakfast, a fitness center, meeting rooms, a business center, and dry cleaning. Click here to book a reservation or learn more about this green hotel in Portland, Oregon.

Alto Hotel on Bourke Given 4 out of 5 Green Score Rating

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:21:17 GMT

We are always looking for hotels with a strong green initiative, and Alto Hotel fits the bill. They have totally transformed the way they do business by initiatives that promote sustainability and reusability. We were so impressed by the steps they took to improve their hotel with their environmentally friendly improvements, that we awarded them a 4 out of 5 green score rating based on this green score points system. Here are a few improvements they have made:

100% of all electricity used is WIND generated – we use only Green Earth Electricity
Our A/C plant has a 6 star energy rating that uses inverter & movement sensor techology
Rain water is used for public toilet cisterns, gardening and cleaning duties
Hot water is heated "on demand" the energy savings of this is substantial
We have eliminated all plastic bottles for toiletries and replaced them with refillable, pump-action dispensers. These dispensers will hopefully never see landfill and the shampoo, conditioner and hand-soap used in them are biodegradable
Organic [vegetable] waste is composted onsite and does not do to landfill. Used cooking oil is collected and recycled into biodiesel
Guests are given an options not to have their toweling & linen changed daily.
First hotel in the Pacific region to use Saflocks biodegradable key cards made from cornstarch. Even our pens are biodegradable
Complimentary recharging of electric vehicles from Green Earth electricity (100% renewable resources)

Not only is Alto Hotel helping to sustain the environment, but they are also improving the amenities offered to their guests and they are saving money on energy costs and the cost of doing business. Many businesses do not realize the benefits of going green, but it’s hotels like this that are setting a great example for how to improve your business model while helping the environment. Visit their website for more information and book a green hotel stay if you plan on visiting Melbourne, Australia

5 Popular Ecotourism Locations To Visit

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:32:59 GMT

The Galapagos Islands

credits: Scott Abelman

These islands are just off the shore of Ecuador, and Charles Darwin made these islands famous when he did much of his scientific research on these islands. The Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Conservancy websites will give you a good idea of what to expect and how to responsibly visit this beautiful and delicate ecosystem.

Alaska

credits: trinchetto

Alaska boasts some of the most beautiful and breath-taking scenery in the world. With over 365 million acres of sparsely populated land, the Alaska ecosystem remains preserved and virtually untouched. You can hike Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park or visit the Tongass and Chugach rainforests. It’s common to sight beautiful birds, wolves, bears, and bald eagles in Alaska. If you love the outdoors and plenty of fresh air, Alaska is the place for you. The McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali National Park has a 3 out of 5 green score rating on RezHub.com.

Costa Rica

credits: Donna62

Costa Rica is well-known as one of the premier ecotourism destinations for travelers looking for a great ecotourism experience. The Tabacón Hot Springs are known for their healing properties and natural beauty. The Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort offers several value packages for those wanting to combine luxury and outdoor activities during their trip. Search for green hotels in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Kenya

credits: eir@si

For a different ecosystem experience, visit the desert plains of Kenya. You’ll get to see animals in their natural habitat that are normally only seen in zoos such as zebras, gazelles, lions, giraffes, and elephants. There are over 50 parks to choose from.

New Zealand

credits: vtveen

Did you watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy and think to yourself, “Wow, that is beautiful!” All three movies were shot in beautiful New Zealand. New Zealand is a nature traveler's paradise, particularly so for those seeking outdoor adventure. Urupukapuka Island offers snorkeling, nature walks, hiking, and plenty of beaches. Tourism New Zealand offers many resources for vacation planning.

Click here to find more discount green hotels.

Green Travel Hub Favorite Articles Of The Week

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:34:54 GMT

Sometimes it’s hard to find all of the best articles to read when there is so much great content on blogs and travel websites. At RezHub.com, we are always trying to make your life easier, so here are some of our favorite articles of the week!

Book reuse program starts at destination hotels and resorts: Destination Hotels & Resorts, popular for their eco-minded mentality toward hospitality, has just launched a new company-wide campaign called “Read & Reuse” – designed by the brand’s “Green Teams” to address the thousands of pounds of books travelers leave at hotels and resorts each year by collecting books to be donated to local libraries, schools and non-profits
Top Green Cities in the World: What are the top green cities in the world? There are plenty of others in the publishing and green world who have created scientifically calculated (and not so scientifically calculated) lists of top green cities.
6 Fun, Green Outdoor Activities: Remember when you were young and played outside all day long? I do. I used to come home from school and put on my roller skates and I would not come back until dinner time and then after dinner I would go out again. If I wasn’t roller skating I was riding my bike. I had an ugly old bike with a banana seat and curved handlebars but I loved that thing. Many children don’t do that anymore and they are missing out. Not just on exercise and fresh air but a true appreciation for being outisde.
Cell Phones Made of Waste Wood? There is just something about a wood case that gives electronics an heirloom feeling. Perhaps if cell phones were a bit warmer, a little heavier, a little earthier, people might keep them longer than the average 18 months before upgrading again.
Would you buy an electric, hybrid vehicle? I am anxiously awaiting the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Apparently, I am not alone. According to the “Electric Vehicle Consumer Survey” conducted by Pike Research, 48 percent of consumers said they are “’extremely’ or ‘very’ interested in purchasing a PHEV with a 40-mile range on a single charge”.
We Don’t Need A Green Everything: Not everything needs, or should, be labeled or branded as being “green”. Have you guys noticed how every company on the face of the earth is starting to label their product, no matter what it is, as “green”? I have – and one that stands out as of late is an “Eco-Friendly Paintless Auto Dent Repair” business. Really?

Hope you liked the articles that we selected. Do you have any others to share? Post them in a comment below!

Travel Photo Of The Day: Key West, Florida Sunset

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:00:25 GMT

credit: blueid_bbw via Flickr

The Keys and Key West, Florida are a hidden gem off the southern tip of Florida. Many travelers think of Daytona Beach, Destin, Orlando, and South Beach in Miami when they think of traveling to Florida. The Keys are a chain of small islands off the southern tip of Florida. I recently visited Marathon Key, and I had not been to the Keys in 10 years. It reminded me of what I have been missing. The sunrises and sunsets are breath-taking, and the ecological wildlife is like no other. From the dock of our condo, we saw stingrays, sea turtles, tarpon, and dolphin!

What To Do In The Keys

Fishing: If you love to fish, The Keys is the place for you. You can bring your own boat, charter a fishing boat, or just fish off the shore. You’ll catch anything from Mahi-Mahi to Mangrove Snapper.
Ecological Parks: There are many ecological parks that allow you to swim with dolphins, pet stingrays, view shark and sea turtles up close.
Visit Key West: Key West is the last key of the chain of islands, and it is the most popular. Ernest Hemingway was a resident of Key West, and you can even tour the house he lived in. Key West is full of culture, and it’s a great place to eat great seafood or have a fun night out. The Southernmost tip of the United States is also located in Key West.

Water Sports: If you are up for adventure, there are plenty of businesses that offer parasailing, jet ski rentals, scuba diving lessons, and snorkeling charters. The Keys has some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in the world!
How To Get There
Key West has a small airport, but you will typically pay a lot more money to fly directly to Key West. I suggest flying to Miami International Airport and renting a hybrid car. Depending on which Key you stay, the drive from the airport will be about 45 minutes to 2 hours, but the scenery on the way is unbelievable. If you drive to Key West, you’ll cross the famous seven mile bridge, which is literally a bridge seven miles long that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico.
Best Time To Go
Hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th, but the peak hurricane season is during the months of August and September. You’ll take a risk of getting more rain during this time, but the prices may be cheapers at hotels and tourist attractions. March, April, and May boast the best months for weather in the Keys, but there really isn’t a bad time to visit. It just depends on how hot you’d like it to be while staying there.
So, have we convinced you to visit yet?

10 Tips For Saving Money While Traveling Green

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:50:54 GMT

In today’s post we’ll be combining two things that we love: saving money and traveling green. Recently, we highlighted a study that revealed that most Americans are not ready to pay the extra money for traveling green. Well, we believe that the premise of this study is a little skewed, because there are plenty of ways to save money while still traveling more green. Many travelers have this notion that traveling green means visiting eco-friendly locations. While this is one element of traveling green, it’s certainly not the breadth of what traveling green entails. Traveling green means doing everything you can while you travel to keep your carbon and waste footprint as light as possible. Here are ten tips that help you save money and travel green at the same time.

Pack a small, carry-on suitcase. By packing lighter, you are reducing the weight of the airplane, which will effectively reduce the amount of emissions the plane exerts while in flight. And if you carry on, you’ll avoid checked baggage fees that many airlines have adopted as a source of additional revenue. I recently flew to Los Angeles and my bag was slightly too big to carry on, so United made me pay an extra $20 to check the bag, each way!
Stay with friends, family, and acquaintances. I don’t recommend this is you want to have a real vacation, but it’s a great thought for business travel if you’ll be in a city with a friend or family member that you can crash with. You’ll save money on a hotel, and you’ll avoid all of the pitfalls in green travel by not staying in a hotel. Hotels use an enormous amount of energy and resources each day, so skipping out on a hotel stay every now and then will help.
Use a Home Exchange Service. It sounds weird to let a stranger stay in your home while you aren’t there, but if you have a nice house in an area desirable for tourists, you could equally find an upstanding couple willing to lend out their home in the mountains or on the beach for a week. Again, the idea here is that you avoid staying in a hotel, plus you get the benefits of cooking meals and getting a feel for a local neighborhood. There are many home exchange services, just type in “home exchange” in Google, and find a reputable agency to help you make the deal.
Bring a Water Bottle. The re-usable water bottle should be a staple item for any green traveler. Not only can you save a lot of money on drinks while you are traveling, you’ll help the environment by not throwing away a water bottle every few hours.
Maintenance Your Car. If you’re traveling by car, you’ll spend some extra money to maintenance your car before travel, but you’ll make that money back from the fuel savings. Get an oil change, inflate your tires to proper pressure levels, change the air filter, and fill up the first time with premium octane fuel. Your car will thank you by performing better and eating less gas.
Travel With A Partner. Do you travel a lot for business on the road? Do you have other professionals andhttp://www.rezhub.com/or co-workers that drive similar routes as you? Then, car pool together a few times. You’ll be able to get work done while your partner is driving, and you’ll save money on gas.
Use Public Transit. If you are traveling to a big city with good public transit, don’t even think about renting a car. When we backpacked in Europe, we used the rail systems in London, Paris, and Rome, and it was much quicker and much more efficient to use that rather than a cab or a rental car.
Buy Toiletries In Bulk. We all know that buying in bulk can save you money, but the containers toiletries come in are not travel friendly. Instead of buying travel-sized bottles every time you travel, buy clear, re-usable travel bottles and fill them up with shampoo, body wash, hair gel, hair spray, etc.
Turn The Air Up and Unplug Appliances While Away. Don’t turn the air or furnace off while you’re gone. in hot weather, you’ll run the risk of mold growing in your home, and in cold weather, your pipes could freeze up and burst. But, you also don’t need it as low as if you were in your house, so kick it up or down a few notches, depending on the weather. Appliances use energy when they are plugged into the wall, even if they aren’t turned on. Unplug all of your stuff before you leave. This will also protect your electronics and appliances if you live in an area prone to lightning strikes.
Choose a Green Hotel. RezHub.com offers a sophisticated green score rating system to rate hotels based on how “green” they are. We do the research for you, and all you need to do is decide on which hotel to make a reservation!

Are Americans Reluctant To Pay More For Green Travel?

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:05:41 GMT

Recently, the July edition of Travel Horizons co-authored by the U.S. Travel Association and the YPartnership, came out with a study stating that Amercian travelers are more aware of sustainable travel, but they are remain unwilling to pay more for it. As a travel booking company that focuses on helping travelers make their travels more environmentally friendly, we were intrigued by this new study and what it meant. Familiarity with green travel terms and awareness of what “green travel” means have increased dramatically in the past two years, but according to this study, only 9 percent of consumers say they are willing to pay more to use travel service suppliers that offer eco-friendly options for travelers, and only three percent have purchased a carbon offset when booking travel.

Still Good News For Companies With A Green Initiative

A quote from their press release:

“Although consumers are reluctant to pay more to support green travel service suppliers, they are definitely paying attention to those who are green, even in this down economy,' said Peter Yesawich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership. 'Travel service suppliers should therefore continue to adopt green practices that have a minimum impact on consumers' wallets.”

Other key findings:

While consumers believe travel service suppliers should be good stewards of their environment, over half (54%) also believe that individuals themselves have the greatest responsibility for preserving and protecting the environment.

We completely agree with this!

Six out of ten (58%) travelers say they believe that environmental programs by travel service suppliers could have a positive effect on the environment.

They Do! To increase awareness of green travel, we donate 20% of our profits to eco-friendly organizations to help us improve our environment.

The majority (51%) of consumers will continue to patronize 'green' travel service suppliers regardless of an economic downturn. In fact, nearly half (48%) of travelers say that continuing to support environmentally-responsible travel service suppliers is a necessity, even in an economic downturn.

This is also true, and RezHub.com can help you find green ways to travel without spending more money!

Less than one-third (29%) say it is easy to find out about environmental policies and initiatives of travel service suppliers.

You can visit our green travel hub page to find out more about who we are and our environmental policies and initiatives.

We know that getting Americans to think about green travel more is a challenge, but it does NOT need to cost more to travel green. The broad misconception about green travel is that you need to travel to an Eco-Spa or a remote jungle location to experience “green travel”. This is simply not true. You can choose a hotel with a high green score rating, choose a direct flight, drive rather than fly, and make good use of the three “R’s” while traveling: reduce, reuse, and recycle. None of these actions require you to spend more money if you do your research, and RezHub.com can help you with all of your green traveling needs!

Technorati Tags: green travel,green score rating,travel,eco friendly travel,paying more for green travel

Travel Photo Of the Day: Sunrise In Alaska

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:54:46 GMT

sunrise in Alaska, originally uploaded by Felix63.

Alaska, some like to call it "God's Country" because of photos like this. This was taken by a photographer on Flickr from the deck of a BC ferry very early in the morning.

Visit this 4 green star rated hotel, the Anchorage Sheraton Resort and Spa to maximize your green travel experience!

The Three Components of Green Travel: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:08:48 GMT

eco friendly, originally uploaded by sreenisreedharan.

There are two separate definitions of green travel. One definition includes visiting an eco-friendly destination, but the other definition includes making your everyday travel more green and environmentally friendly by reducing, reusing, and recycling resources while traveling. The latter definition is what RezHub.com and Green Travel Hub are most concerned with. We want to make the process of traveling green easier and more automated, so you can spend more time planning your trip and what you'll be doing on the trip.

Reduce

Here are some examples of reducing your impact on the environment while traveling:

Paying extra to take a direct flight, rather than picking the cheapest flight with multiple connections

Driving a hybrid rental car

Turning off all lights and appliances when you leave the hotel room

Reuse

Reusing our resources is something we often forget to do while traveling. When we get into travel mode, we become more careless and waste much more than we would in our normal lifestyle. Here are some examples of reusing for green travel.

Putting the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your hotel door. This will prevent the housekeeping crew from servicing your room every day, so you can re-use towels and sheets for a couple of days.

Bring your own re-usable water bottle with you while traveling.

Don't open hotel freebies so the hotel can reuse them.

Recycle

Recycling is the most essential part of getting the most out of our planet's resources. Here are a few examples of how we can recycle when traveling.

Give away old luggage instead of throwing it away

Keep the empty shampoo and soap bottles from hotels and fill them up with your own shampoo.

These are the fundamentals of thinking green and living a green lifestyle.

Travel Photo of the Day: The Amalfi Coast in Sorrento, Italy

greentravel@rezhub.com — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:25:59 GMT

IT07 0447 Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, originally uploaded by Templar1307.

Simply amazing! My mother-in-law visited the Amalfi Coast, and her photos made me jealous. Post a comment if you've been here to make everyone else more jealous!

Got a travel photo you want to share with us? Email me efolgate(at)rezhub(dot)com

Travel Photo of the Day: Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:04:37 GMT

Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco, originally uploaded by Jürgen Lison.

San Francisco, California is a beautiful city, and it has many green hotels for your green travel needs. This is a beautiful photo of the Golden Gate bridget with a little bit of downtown to the left and the mountains to the right.

The Chevy Volt Electric Car Gets 230 miles per gallon

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:13:37 GMT

Yesterday, GM announced that their Chevy Volt will get an estimated 230 mpg in the city. Many skeptics who question whether it’s truly 230 miles per gallon looked into how the rating was being judged. Engadget was told that the EPA has released “a new methodology for determining a draft fuel economy standard for extended-range EVs like the Volt,”. This means that the normal standard for rating fuel economy has been changed, and maybe that was warranted given that the Chevy Volt would be the first semi-electric car produced for the masses.

How Could It Possibly Get 230 MPG?

CNN has an article with an example that helps us understand the methodology behind rating the car’s fuel economy. The Chevy Volt and a standard hybrid car are different in the sense that the Volt will strictly use electricity from a battery, then switch to gasoline after it has been driven 40 miles. A hybrid car like the Honda Insight uses a mix of the battery power and gasoline to power the car, but does it more efficiently than a standard car. Here is an example from the CNN article:

So let’s say the car is driven 50 miles in a day. For the first 40 miles, no gas is used and during the last 10 miles, 0.2 gallons are used. That’s the equivalent of 250 miles per gallon. But, if the driver continues on to 80 miles, total fuel economy would drop to about 100 mpg. And if the driver goes 300 miles, the fuel economy would be just 62.5 mpg.

This example made it more clear to me that the less you drive in the Volt, the more MPG you get, and if you drive a long distance, the fuel economy gradually decreases. So, for short commutes back and forth to work, the Volt really will get you 200 to 250 mpg, but for a 400 mile trip, you’ll get about the same fuel economy as a Toyota Prius or Honda Insight hybrid car.

How Do You Recharge Its Battery?

The Chevy Volt runs entirely on its battery for the first 40 miles, then switches to a mixture of gasoline and battery power. GM states that you will be able to charge the battery using a standard electrical outlet, and it shouldn’t cost more than 40 to 50 cents a day in utility charges to fully charge the battery.

How Much Will It Cost?

The price tag will be hefty, $40,000. It will be interesting to see how many people buy the car at this price tag. The cars it will be competing with like the Prius and Insight are about half of the price.

When Will the Chevy Volt Be Available?

Nobody knows at this point. Chevy had originally promised a release date of November, 2010, but they recently submitted a regulatory filing with the U.S. Treasury that means they may be having troubles with funding for a full launch in November.

This is a good attempt by GM to produce a more green, environmentally friendly car, but it looks like it will need some perfecting before electric cars become mainstream. Hybrid cars have recently become more common on the roads, so the popularity curve for electric cars may be shallow for a while.

The Dream Green Vacation Giveaway 2009 Is Here!

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:50:00 GMT

Our Dream Green 2008 giveaway was a huge success, so we decided to offer another great giveaway thanks to our partners, Pacific Beach Hotel and Hertz rental car!

The Giveaway

This year, Green Travel Hub by Rezhub.com is giving away a FREE 4 night’s stay at the Pacific Beach Hotel plus a $350 car rental voucher from Hertz to rent a green rental car. Airfare not included. The contest will last from August 1st, 2009 to October 31st, 2009.

The Website

We have dedicated an entire website for the Dream Green 2009 Contest Giveaway: Click Here.

How To Win

Simply sign up for the RezHub.com newsletter. If you are already a subscriber, enter your email address, starting August 1st, at the giveaway website.

How To Score Extra Entries Into the Contest

Become Our Fan On Facebook. Make sure you send us your email address so we know who gets the entry.

Follow Us On Twitter!

Nominating a Green Hotel That's Not On Our List Yet
Send an email to greentravel@rezhub.com (Please let us know what makes them green).

Posting to our Travel Experts Forum. You’ve been there and done that, you may even have the T-shirt...but what you write about it will provide valuable information to our travelers about their destination. Post in your hometown or any city you've visited to help fellow travelers feel good about where they're going. Click Here to get started. (Hint - You must be logged in to RezHub to post in the forums)

Posting to our Green Travel Blog. Send an email to greentravel@rezhub.com to submit your blog post.

Posting to our Green Travel Forum. From your favorite green hotel, to tips about greening your office to the latest in environmental news; The Green Travel Forum is a place you can share and receive advice on every level of green living. Click Here to get started. (Hint - You must be logged in to RezHub to post in the forums)

Telling your friends! Earn an additional 2 entries for each friend you refer that signs up. Click Here to refer a friend! (If you have a pop-up blocker, hold down Ctrl when you click the link)

Making a booking at RezHub

Making a booking at GreenTravelHub

Send us a picture of yourself in a RezHub.com or GreenTravelHub.com t-shirt. Or send us a video you made about Green Travel. It can be anything from Green Travel Tips, to ways you turned your vacation green. Email to greentravel@rezhub.com.

Find out more about the hotel by visiting the Dream Green Vacation giveaway offical website. What are you waiting for? Start contributing to RezHub.com and Green Travel Hub to start earning your entries into the contest!

Four Practical Green Travel Gadgets

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:11:33 GMT

Do you want to be the ultimate green traveler? You may be renting a hybrid or staying at a green hotel, but does the stuff you travel with help you feel good about your travel? We found some interesting green travel gadgets at a reasonable price, and they have a practical use!

USB Rechargeable Batteries

Instead of carrying around a clunky battery charger pack, buy these USB rechargeable batteries that plug into the USB port of your computer to recharge. They last for 500 charge cycles, and they function like regular AA batteries. Use them to power your portable DVD player or portable alarm clock.

Water Powered Alarm Clock

Yes, it’s an alarm clock powered by water. Fill it up with water, and it is supposed to last for 6 to 8 weeks without refilling! It’s small enough to fit in a carry-on bag, and there are no batteries required! It has a memory chip that keeps the time while you are refilling the clock. I am not sure how much I would trust a water powered alarm clock, but it’s still a pretty cool gadget!

Solar Powered Bluetooth Headset

Why not take advantage of the greatest source of energy we have available to us? Instead of electricity, power your bluetooth headset with solar energy by Iqua. Whenever your headset catches sunlight, it will be automatically recharging. It boasts all of the technology features you would come to expect, and it is compatible with all bluetooth enabled mobile phones.

Cardboard Speakers

These 3” speakers are made of recycled materials, they are biodegradable, and they only cost $14.95. The most convenient thing about them is that they fold up for easy storage. This is a great gadget to have for listening to music on the beach, while you are backpacking around Europe, or just to have around the house. They also come in an assortment of fun colors. From the reviews I have read, the sound quality is surprisingly good for being made out of cardboard and having the ability to fold flat.

While you are thinking about accessorizing your green travel gadgets, we’ll take care of helping you find ways to make your travel greener and more environmentally friendly. Have any other suggestions for green gadgets? Comment below to share with us.

Will Flying Ever Be A Green Way To Travel?

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:22:23 GMT

Because of the massive carbon emissions of a single commercial jet, many travelers with a green initiative believe that flying is the worst way to travel. Airlines know this, and many of them have begun to make the effort to make their flights and operations more environmentally friendly

British Airways: An article was recently written by The Metro, asking if tourism will ever be green, and they interviewed a spokesperson for British Airways. His response was this, "Yes. We are determined that aviation should neutralize and then reduce its emissions. Aircraft are becoming greener all the time and a great deal of research is being done into sustainable fuels. In two and a half years, all European airlines will join the EU emissions trading scheme, which will require airlines to reduce their carbon emissions or pay for reductions in other industries. We are pressing for a global emissions trading scheme to be introduced from 2013."

American Airlines: Terracurve recently reported that American Airlines was the first airlines to to test next-generation technology and procedures that were developed to significantly reduce fuel use and carbon emissions under the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE).

Continental Airlines: started testing and using a bio-fuel that would increase fuel efficiency by 1.1 percent. It was created by renewable resources, and it is estimated to reduce greenhouse gases by 60 to 80 percent.

There is an obvious push in the airline industry to reduce their carbon emissions, improve fuel efficiency, and pay for carbon offsets to help neutralize the impact their jets have on the environment. However, commercial jets still have a long way to go when it comes to being more environmentally friendly. Here are some things you can do to make your flight more green:

Make a carbon offset payment yourself: Check out Rezhub.com and their carbon offset program.

Bring your own snacks. Airlines will use less individual snack packs. Plus, many airlines charge money to eat their food now, so you'll be saving yourself some cash.

Only book flights over 400 miles long. A car trip under 400 miles long is about a 4 to 5 hour trip. This is manageable, and it will probably take the same amount of time as flying when you factor in the time you need to check into the airport. Short commuter flights are optionable, whereas, a trip to Europe leaves you no choice but to take a flight.

Book non-stop flights when possible. One non-stop flight will produce much less carbon emissions than two separate flights with a less direct route.

At Rezhub.com, we simplify the process of making your entire traveling experience more green and environmentally friendly by rating the hotels we promote, offering hybrid rental cars from our car rental partners, and donating 20% of our profits to eco-friendly organizations.

Are The Big Boys of Travel REALLY Going Green?

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:47:00 GMT
I just finished reading an article on Terracurve.com titled Being skeptical: The big online players step up to green travel, sort of. Interestingly enough, it looks as though Expedia, Travelocity, and Hotwire have all launched their own green travel programs. The author discusses the fact that Travelocity and Expedia are reportedly releasing “green travel” booking tools - and how they measure up to conscious-travelers’ demands. In the end it's revealed that “that the “big boys’” efforts come across as half-hearted attempts to reel in customers with the promise of something that is far from complete.” ...More...

The Greening of the Inauguration Plus Traveling Green in DC

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:46:00 GMT
Check out several ways the Inauguration is going green, and our past article about green lodging options in Washington, DC.More...

Our Dream Green Winners Are Back From Paradise

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:15:00 GMT
It's always been the mission of our website to show people that Green Travel does not have to mean going to extremes. The Dream Green Giveaway to the Hacienda Tres Rios in the Riviera Maya, Mexico was created to illustrate just that. The contest ended in October and the winning family just returned from their trip. Check out the pictures and see what the family had to say about the hotel!More...

Make 2009 Your Greenest Year Ever

greentravel@rezhub.com — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:14:00 GMT
Going green is easier than ever in 2009. There are so many simple ways to make a positive impact on the planet, we should all make a resolution to make 2009 our greenest year ever.More...

Video Contest Winner and Entries

greentravel@rezhub.com — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:40:00 GMT
Check out the winning video and all entries from our Video Ad Contest!More...

Video Ad Contest Ending VERY SOON!!!

greentravel@rezhub.com — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:56:00 GMT
Our Ad Contest Ends Dec. 15th, Enter Now!More...

The Power of Pond Scum! - Continental to Test A Promising Algae Biofuel In January

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:45:00 GMT
Continental Airlines announced Monday that they are planning the first biofuel-powered demonstration flight of a U.S. commercial airliner, which will be conducted in Houston on Jan. 7, 2009. The flight will be powered by a special fuel blend derived from both algae and jatropha plants. These sustainable, second-generation fuel sources are a much more viable solution than the more common agriculturally based biofuels - like corn and soy based ethanols.
Article by - MelissaMore...

Green Family Summer: On the Eco-Friendly Road

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:08:00 GMT
The Wilson family's story about how they turned their summer green!
Article by - Jeff Wilson
When the Wilson family’s need to travel butted heads with high-gas prices and climate change, they feared the worst: that their annual summer travels would finally have to come to an end. After all, who can justify the CO2 emissions, let alone the expense, from hitting the American Road towing a camper the way we did in the good old days?
More...

Travel Green This Thanksgiving!

greentravel@rezhub.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:27:00 GMT
Whether you're traveling down the street or across the country this Thanksgiving these simple steps will help make your travel a little bit greener.More...

How I Planned A Green Vacation

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT
I'm going on vacation! And rest assured, it will be a green one. From my hotel stay to my activities to my flight I'll be keeping my carbon footprint as tiny as possible while I travel through the Yucatan Peninsula. Since my blogs are normally full of green travel tips, I thought I'd spend some time showing how simple it really is to plan and take a green vacation. While traveling will likely never be good for the environment, we all have the ability to lighten our load on the planet on any trip we take.More...

Change Your Sunscreen, Save Our Reefs

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:09:00 GMT
Coral reefs are not only some of the most beautiful places on the planet, they’re also an extremely important and extremely threatened ecosystem. Scientists have discovered that the sunscreen we are using to protect ourselves from the sun is actually helping to destroy coral reefs. More...

We're On Twitter! Follow Us!

greentravel@rezhub.com — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:30:00 GMT
We just started tweeting on Twitter. More...

What Will It Cost To Drive?

greentravel@rezhub.com — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:11:00 GMT
Ever wonder how much it's going to cost for gas to get you from point A to point B. Whether you're taking a long road trip, or just gallivanting around town this website will give you a pretty accurate estimate of what the actual cost will be.More...