[sunrico90]

Don't know if everyone is aware of green lodging in the state, see below for process and certified vendors (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling/GreenLodging/GreenLodgingCertifiedHotels.htm (broken link))

http://www.earth911.org/usa/master.a...p&Locator_ID=1

The Florida Green Lodging Program is an effort by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to encourage the lodging industry to conserve and protect Florida's natural resources. Hotels and Motels that implement a waste reduction plan can save money and get good publicity while helping the environment. However, lodging owners and managers need initiative and persistence to succeed.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection outlines the following elements implementing a successful Green Lodging Program.

1. Identify an environmental champion

A successful program needs an enthusiastic person with good communication and organizational skills who can get everyone working together as a team. The “environmental champion” does not necessarily have to be an environmental specialist; many champions have come from areas such as personnel, food and beverage, administrative offices and engineering. The environmental champion will serve as a liaison between the FGLC Program Office and the hotel/motel during the certification process.

2. Obtain top management commitment and submit the admission application.

The most important ingredient for a successful environmental initiative is General Manager commitment. Having official sanction will let employees know that resource conservation is an important work responsibility. Once upper management has decided to pursue certification, complete this application. Once received, the FGLC Program Office will assign a liaison to assist you in the certification process and/or answer any questions.

3. Create a Green Team.

A “Green Team” can be a formal or informal group responsible for ensuring that all environmental improvement practices in which the hotel is participating are being performed timely and correctly. A Green Team is usually comprised of individuals from each area of the hotel/motel, namely: housekeeping, engineering, kitchen, front office, maintenance and upper management.

4. Conduct an environmental assessment

How green is your facility right now? The Green Team should identify and evaluate opportunities to improve environmental performance by conducting a walk through of the hotel property. An Environmental Self-Assessment and Planning Checklist has been designed to provide guidance in obtaining baseline data (www.FloridaGreenLodging.org). A review of product purchases, utility bills and hauling records will help determine environmental baselines.

5. Establish goals and identify environmental improvement projects.

The Green Team should set goals for improvement. Goals should include short- and long-term benchmarks (e.g. reduce electricity usage by 10% during the next year; reuse or recycle all corrugated cardboard; and reduce water usage by 15% by implementing a sheet and towel reuse program). To meet these goals, refer to the list of best management practices at www.FloridaGreenLodging.org for ideas on environmental improvement projects.

6. Submit your environmental baseline data to the FGLC Program Office.
Once the Green Team has completed the Environmental Self-Assessment and Planning Checklist, submit it to the FGLC Program Office. Once received and approved, the hotel will be recognized as a Florida Green Lodge “candidate” on the FGLC Program website.