What makes an inn green?

•Distributing recycling bins throughout the hotel in order to recycle soda cans, food cans, newspapers, glass and plastics. (5 pts.)

•Using used office paper for note pads. (2 pts.)

•Purchasing food grown from local farms as much as possible. (5 pts.)

•Establishing a program to compost organic kitchen wastes for use as soil amendment in gardens or for farm animal feed. (5 pts.)

•Eliminating the use of Styrofoam food containers in food service and reducing the amount of plastic containers and utensils. (5 pts.)

•Purchasing supplies in bulk and avoiding single-use products. (3 pts.)

•Using chlorine alternatives in pools, such as ozonation, ionization or saltwater chlorinator. (10 pts.)

•Using refillable amenity dispensers rather than individual containers for shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion. (Up to 10 pts.)

•Using solar panels or wind turbines to generate electricity. (20 – 50 pts.)

•Maintaining environmental bulletin boards. (10 pts.)

What are the benefits of being green certified?

•Environmental Leader flag to hoist and display at your property.

•Environmental Leader logo to use for advertising (Web site, literature, decals, etc…)

•A listing on the Maine Inn Keeper’s Association Web site, www.maineinns.com, identifying your business as Maine certified environmentally preferable.

•A listing on a brochure available at the Maine Visitor’s Centers.

•Free on-going technical assistance from Maine Department of Environmental Protection on how to continue to reduce environmental impact while saving money.

•Free public service announcement identifying program on radio with 800 number to access list of properties.