Share

|

Green Lodging Michigan

Green Lodging Michigan logoGreen Lodging Michigan (GLM) encourages the lodging industry to implement environmental initiatives and cost-saving ‘green' practices to conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality, reduce waste, and participate in environmentally preferred purchasing.

There are three levels of certification: Partner, Steward and Leader, which can be earned by completing a self-assessment checklist and achieving a minimum number of requirements and points.

In June 2009, Kettunen Center earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification moving up from the Partner level. Kettunen Center was originally certified in November 2007, and is the first facility to move from Partner to Steward certification.

Several environmental initiatives were in practice upon Partner certification in 2007, such as installing Energy Star lighting, using low-flow faucets, showerheads and fixtures, and offering a comprehensive recycling program to staff and guests. The center also attempts to reduce waste by asking vendors to reduce packaging, avoiding single use items and purchasing items in bulk.

Additional environmental initiatives that earned the conference center Steward-level accreditation were improving how they train staff and educate guests on their initiatives and what their roles are, installing programmable thermostats, using refillable dispensers for bathroom amenities, expanding their recycling program to include fluorescent light bulbs, adjusting purchasing standards on paper products to 30 percent or greater post-consumer recycled content, and committing to purchase Energy Star qualified products when replacing equipment.

GLM is a joint effort between the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to encourage the lodging industry to conserve and protect the state's natural resources while increasing marketability and lowering utility costs. This voluntary and non-regulatory certification program is offered through the Michigan Energy Office in DELEG to hoteliers at no charge. The GLM program certifies facilities based on environmental initiatives such as air quality, energy efficiency, solid waste reduction, toxic waste management, water conservation, purchasing and communication.

For more information about the Green Lodging Michigan program and to download the GLM application packet and self-assessment checklist, visit the website at www.michigan.gov/greenlodging.

Related News Stories: