Travel Green: Explore Green Hotels, B&Bs and Resorts in the Carolinas

Travel Green: Explore green hotels, B&Bs and resorts in the carolinas

hen you leave your green home for a vacation, there is no need to leave your environmentally-minded conscience behind. Today, you can go green when you travel, too.

When enjoying the mountains of Asheville, a stay at the Asheville Green Cottage Bed and Breakfast, located just a half-mile from the famed Biltmore Estate, is a cozy respite complete with organic cotton and bamboo fiber sheets and organic breakfast treats.

To reconnect with nature and the beautiful Carolina coastline, consider renting a cottage at Palm Key - The Nature Getaway, located on Knowles Island, near Beaufort and Hilton Head, in the South Carolina Lowcountry.

When you desire a more modern, but ultra-green getaway, try the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, N.C. This stylish lodging has received both LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and the Four-Diamond Award from AAA.

"You don't have to compromise luxury to be green and more sustainable," says Beth Sinnott, LEED AP, who works on the Sustainability Team at the hotel. At Proximity, stylish sophistication blends seamlessly with energy-efficient and sustainable technology. In fact, Ms. Sinnott believes that many of the guests never notice the green amenities, which is a testament to how far green building technology has come.

A hotel with LEED's highest green certification, however, has numerous green attributes to show off. A highlight is the hotel's elevator, which is North America's first installed Regenerative Drive model of the Otis Gen2 elevator. Energy is captured when the elevator descends and is redirected back into the building's internal electrical grid. Also of note are the 100 solar panels perched on the hotel's rooftop, which capture enough energy to heat approximately 60 percent of the water used by both the hotel and its restaurant, Print Works Bistro. In all, Proximity's efficient systems and building materials have enabled the hotel to use 41percent less energy than a conventional hotel of the same size.

Another important sustainable practice exhibited by Proximity is the use of local resources and artisans to reduce transportation needs and packaging waste. "Most of the furniture is local," attests Ms. Sinnott, "and all of the artwork was done by one local artist." As an added benefit, the artist, Chip Holton, worked out of a temporary studio next door to the hotel, so no packaging or shipping was needed to "deliver" his 500 pieces of art. Most were walked over on foot.

With so many admirable practices in place, it's not surprising that the hotel has fostered great interest in green and sustainable building practices. In the hotel's first 10 months of operation, over 6,000 visitors and guests participated in tours of the hotel and its green features. Fortunately, the Proximity is inspiring many people to try "going green" at home. "The most rewarding part of my job is that I get to talk about the environment every day and be a part of it," says Ms. Sinnott. "I'm very honored to work here."

So, consider staying in a green hotel on your next trip, and perhaps you will return home with a little inspiration to go green on your own.

Carolina GreenHome Tour^TM
To find Carolina Green hotels, B&Bs and resorts, check out our Carolina GreenHome Tour^tm.

Grand and green. Greensboro's Proximity Hotel, named after a local cotton mill, is "America's greenest (indoor) spot to spend the night," declares Metropolitan Home magazine. It uses 36 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than a comparable hotel.
N.C. Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development • www.visitnc.com • Bill Russ

Your own piece of paradise ... for a day, a week or a lifetime. Explore a private, 350-acre island while renting a cottage at Palm Key on Knowles Island, SC. Nestled at the head of the Broad River, wildlife and Lowcountry pursuits abound here. Never want to leave? You can buy a cottage, too!
Palm Key The Nature Getaway • www.palmkey.com

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About the Author

Kristen F. Anthony has worked in magazines, newspapers, marketing and corporate communications. She has contributed to a variety of projects, from an award-winning newspaper special section on veterans to the 2006 Southern Living-Progressive Farmer Idea House. Kristen earned her BA in Communications Studies from Furman University in Greenville, S.C., and now calls Columbia, S.C., home.