Ways To Be A More Eco-Friendly Hotel Guest

Staying in a hotel can feel like a luxury, but it doesn’t come without a price ― and no, we’re not just talking about the nightly rate. It also can increase your carbon footprint.

So how do you enjoy your hotel experience without contributing to a global problem? Between blasting air conditioning in every guest room (why are hotel rooms always so cold?), constant towel and sheet washing and the travel it takes to get there, it may feel hard to be sustainable on a trip.

But it is possible, and there are some pretty easy things you can do in your hotel to make your experience more environmentally friendly. Here are a few expert-approved ways to make your hotel stay greener.

“Most of the environmental impact and total carbon of your hotel stay happened when the hotel was built, so as a traveler, you can’t really address that. But you can support businesses that build responsibly,” said Jesse Lytle, the vice president, chief of staff and chief sustainability officer at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.

These locations have efficient building designs, energy systems and good sustainable practices, he said. Many of the hotels that follow these regulations also go through certain certification programs to show their commitment to the environment.

You’ll also want to make sure that whatever certificate the hotel claims to have is third-party certified, said Kristi Straus, the associate director of the program on the environment at the University of Washington. The Environmental Protection Agency has a resource list of some of these certifications, Lytle noted. Or you can browse databases like the Global Sustainable Tourism Council or look for hotels that are LEED certified, Straus said.

“If you can choose a hotel that’s near where you’re going to go for most of your time, you can walk or you can bike to reduce your impact on the environment,” said Andrew Stuhl, an associate professor of environmental studies and sciences at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.

Additionally, by walking or biking around, you’re getting in some exercise during your travels, he noted.

To find a hotel that’s convenient for you and your trip, first list out the attractions you’re planning to visit. From there, you can see if there’s a hotel that’s near some of the sites or find a place to stay in a central area.