Some Missouri hotels are looking for ways to go green this year. It's largely due to a new program developed by the Department of Natural Resources and Missouri Hotel and Lodging Association. The Green Lodging Certification Program is brand new in 2009. Hotels and other lodging facilities can go through a list of environmentally friendly practices, checking those they have implemented, to come up with their score. If they get 100 points, they're certified green.

Greg Walker, owner of the La Quinta Inn on South Campbell in Springfield, wants his hotel to leave a great impression with guests, so he also wants it to leave little impact on the environment. "I think the customers that come into our hotels will be more appreciative," Walker says.

The La Quinta Inn is striving for the Missouri Green Lodging Certificate.
"Looks like we're gonna hit the 100 points, no problem," says Walker. One way staff at the La Quinta are already going green is recycling all of the paper used at the front desk and office, and theyy hope to recycle more in the future. "We're looking at other ways we can recycle our aluminum and plastic also," says Walker. He also plans to put recycling containers in common areas on each floor of the hotel.

Other things that earn the La Quinta points for green certification include low volume faucets and shower heads, and some low volume toilets, plus compact flourescent light bulbs throughout the hotel.
"We went through all of our hotels and took out all incandescent light bulbs," says Walker. They're also trying to use environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals for cleaning guest rooms, mopping floors and doing laundry.

Another green practice; the hotel places conservation cards in guest rooms, giving folks the option of not having their sheets and towels washed every day. That saves water, detergent, and electricity, but so far, it's not very popular. "Most people don't use the conservation cards," Walker says. And he thinks it's a matter of education and understanding- it's not just for the hotel, but for the environment.
Walker says, "Yes, it does save us a little bit of water and detergent, but hopefully it's the bigger picture."

Going green at hotels will take guest cooperation, like turning off the lights and TV when you leave your room. The La Quinta Inn will probably have enough points for the green certificate this year, but in two years, the requirement will go up 30 points, so they'll have to do more to maintain certification. The Department of Natural Resources will do verification visits for the program.

To learn more about the program, follow this link to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources website.

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