The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a long-standing tradition of taking steps to preserve the environment -- for our residents and our visitors. And the tourism industry is playing its part. Many of Massachusetts’ hotels, restaurants, attractions, and retail establishments have already developed programs to reduce power, conserve water, and reduce solid waste.

For visitors, MA GREEN provides online information about travel businesses’ environmental practices. And it tells visitors how to see green programs in action, how to be a green traveler, and how to enjoy the land, lakes, rivers, and ocean and water that have been preserved for all to use. Consumer Green Pages.

For travel businesses, MA GREEN provides Massachusetts’ hotels, attractions, restaurants, and retail establishments the opportunity to share information about their environmental practices with visitors. And it provides resources to help Massachusetts’ businesses develop sound environmental programs.

• Benefits to Going Green
• MA Green Program
• How to Participate in MA Green
• Green Resources
• Energy
• Water
• Solid Waste
• Green Meetings
• Lodging
• Restaurants
• Attractions
• Retail
• General Resources
• Upcoming Meetings, Conferences, Webinars
• Green in the News

Click here to watch an interview with MOTT's Director of Communications, Lisa Simmons, about "going green" in Massachusetts on Fox 25.

Questions about the program, contact MAGREEN@state.ma.us

BENEFITS TO GOING GREEN

Green is good business. Travel businesses that have developed strong environmental programs report that benefits include:

• Reduced costs for energy, water, and solid waste disposal
• A competitive edge when responding to meeting and conference planners looking for sites that are committed to sound environmental practices
• A healthy environment for employees and customers
• An increase in employee loyalty when green programs engage all employees
• Increased loyalty from existing customers
• The ability to attract new environmentally-aware customers

In September, 2010, the General Services Administration recommended that federal employees traveling on government business stay in hotels that are LEED certified, have earned Energy Star rating, or participate in the EPA'sWastWise and WaterSense programs. Employees are also encouraged to participate in hotels' guest environmental programs and use green facilities for meetings and conferences. Properties in the FedRooms program should add their green credentials to their FedRooms listing.

MA GREEN PROGRAM

The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism’s MA Green program recognizes five national green certification programs. It also provides all Massachusetts’ travel businesses the opportunity to share information about their environmental practices with visitors.

The national certification programs are:

• ENERGY STAR   
  Managed by: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  Focus: Energy efficiency of buildings, including hotels, motels, inns, extended stay properties, resorts, retail, museums, theaters, convention centers, and stadiums. ENERGY STAR's tools and resources help you design a strategic approach to energy management and to reduce costs and the environmental footprint of your building through energy efficiency. Certification requires that facilities demonstrate that their energy performance is superior compared to other businesses in the same category.
  >More information
• LEED   
  Managed by: U.S. Green Building Council
  Focus: Design, construction and operation of high-performance Green buildings. Criteria: Sustainable site, water savings, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials, and design innovation.
  >More information
• Green Seal   
  Managed by: Green Seal
  Focus: Hotel sustainable practices in energy efficiency, recycling, water, hazardous materials, and purchasing.
  >More information
• Green Key Eco-Rating(level 3 and higher)   
  Managed by: Green Key Global
  Focus: Hotel sustainable practices in energy, water, solid and hazardous waste, air quality, environmental management. The American Hotel and Lodging Association offers its members discounts on the certification fee.
  >More information
• Certified Green Restaurants   
  Managed by: Green Restaurant Association
  Focus: Energy and water conservation, recycling, nontoxic cleaning materials, sustainable food, Green power
  >More information

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN MA GREEN

Click here to access your existing listing or to create a new one.

If your hotel, attraction, restaurant, or retail establishment holds a current certification from the above list, check the appropriate green certification box in the list of amenities. MOTT will verify your business’ certification status before publishing the listing.

A list of certified businesses is posted on the Consumer Green Pages.

If your web site has a page dedicated to your environmental practices, add the page’s URL to the section titled "Green page link." MOTT will verify the link before publishing. This link is available to all businesses, regardless of whether they hold a green certification.

Questions about the MA Green program? Contact MAGREEN@state.ma.us.

GREEN RESOURCES

Here are programs and resources to help you green your business:

ENERGY

• EPA’s ENERGY STAR Hospitality Program You can track your hotels’ energy and water savings and CO2 reductions through Portfolio Manager, a free benchmarking tool for hotels. Benchmarking starter kit. The EPA conducts Portfolio Manager training sessions.
• The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has extensive information and links to electric and gas utility efficiency programs, energy audits, energy grants, analytic tools, and renewable energy programs.
• DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• National Grid conducts whole building assessments for large business customers and technical assistance and free energy audits and recommendations for small businesses.
• NSTAR provides energy efficiency programs, benchmarking tools, and incentives for its electricity and gas business customers.
• GasNetworks, a collaborative of New England gas companies offers a rebate program for commercial gas users.
• The Renewable Energy Trust promotes clean energy technologies and provides rebate programs for solar photovoltaic systems and wind turbines.
• Wind energy resource list
• The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Renewables program assists agricultural businesses to develop renewable energy.

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WATER

Conserving water also results in significant energy savings.

• EPA’s WaterSense program does not yet have a specific hospitality program. But the WaterSense program has valuable tips for businesses.
• Successful Water Conservation Programs: 2009 presentation by Daniel Cook, Conservation Solutions Corporation

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SOLID WASTE

Reducing solid waste is a key element of any Green program.

• WasteWise is a voluntary program, sponsored by the EPA and by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. WasteWise provides free technical assistance to help businesses develop, implement, and measure their waste reduction activities, and it publicizes members' waste reduction success stories through regional and national publications and events.
  
  If you enroll as a WasteWise partner or endorser (free), you can access EPA’s RE-TRAC, an online tool that allows WasteWise partners to collect, analyze and report all your company’s recycling data and waste information and generate program performance and trend reports. EPA WasteWise program.
  
  Mass DEP WasteWise contact:
  Morgan Harriman
  Commercial Waste Reduction Planner
  617-654-6580
  
  EPA contacts:
  EPA Region 1:
  Janet Bowen
  617-918-1795
• EPA headquarters: 880-372-9473
• Additional waste and recycling information resources, regulations, finding recycling services – from the Mass DEP.
• Recycling Organics at the Boston Convention & Exhbition Center.

GREEN MEETINGS

Meeting planners are increasingly assessing supplier’s sustainable practices when making site selections.

• EPA extensive list of resources for suppliers and planners.
• Green Meetings Industry Council: membership-based organization that provides educational resources to planners, suppliers, and meeting venues. Plus you can sign up for the Green Meetings Portal.
• Meeting planners’ Green Checklist: from the Green Hotels Association.
• Boston Green Tourism: actively promotes green meetings.
• BlueGreen Meetings: best practices, tips for suppliers and event planners.

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LODGING

See LEED, ENERGY STAR, and Green Seal certifications in MA GREEN PROGRAM.

• The Massachusetts Lodging Association provides its members with information about Green practices, technology, and suppliers through its educational programs.
• Boston Green Tourism provides educational seminars; information about green hospitality practices, products and services; and opportunities for collaboration. BGT also promotes the city’s eco-friendly facilities and services to meeting planners and visitors.
• Saving Money Through Greening Hospitality, a 2009 conference by the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance: summary and presentations;
• Greening Your Hotel: presentation by Dan Ruben, Boston Green Tourism
• Green Lodging News reports on all aspects and trends relating to hotel green operations.
• Ceres Green Hotel Best Practices Survey is a list of criteria that helps a purchaser assess a hotel's environmental commitment and performance.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Green Resource Center provides tips on how to get started, best practices, certification programs, and vendors plus member discounts on Green Key certification fees.

RESTAURANTS

See Certified Green Restaurants certification in MA GREEN PROGRAM.

• ENERGY STAR's Guide for Restaurants provides detailed best preactices for increasing energy efficiency and reducing water use and waste output.
• The Green Restaurant Association operates a certification program, Certified Green Restaurants, and it helps restaurants become more environmentally sustainable.
• The Massachusetts Restaurant Association is a strong advocate for sound environmental practices. It provides its members with information about Green practices, technology, and suppliers through seminars, speakers, and its member newsletter.

ATTRACTIONS

See LEED certifications in MA GREEN PROGRAM.

RETAIL

See LEED and ENERGY STAR certification in MA GREEN PROGRAM.

GENERAL RESOURCES

• EPA region 1 (New England): EPA programs and resources; New England environmental news
• Green Lodging News extensive product information, events and organizations
• GreenBiz: business news and trends
• Green Seal: green products and services

UPCOMING MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, WEBINARS

WEBINAR People, Planet, Profit: How to Benefit from Sustainable Initiatives in Hospitality, September 18, 2012, 12-1PM EST
Presented by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
Learn how to market your sustainability initiatives to your customers.
Host: Kim Trella, CT Green Lodging; speaker: Rauni Kew, Public Relations and Green Manager, Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, ME. Free; webinar reservation required.

Check back for new listings.

GREEN IN THE NEWS

Green Lodging News 10.31.11
Entrepreneurs, Hotels Cashing in on Traveler Willingness to Pay More for Purified Air

Green Lodging News
Energized by Waste Audit, InterContinental Boston Elevates Recycling Rate Significantly

FoodServiceWarehouse.com
Bioplastic Debate

Waste & Recycling News 2.3.11
Motel 6 commits to going green by end of this year

Green Lodging News 12.29.10
With $18M Renovation, Westin Copley Will Build on Green Record

American Recycler November 2010
Survey Finds Hotels Ignorant About Recycling Electronics

Green Lodging News 10.11.10
GSA to Government Employees: Travel Green

Green Lodge 6.22.10
Ritz Carlton Group Switches to Eco-Friendly Water Bottles

Green Lodging News 4.19.10
"Eliminate Waste, Grow Your Profits" by Dan Ruben, Boston Green Tourism

Environmental Leader 3.18.10
Environmental Mission Statements: A List of Hotel Sustainability Policies

Washington Post 1.10.10
'Green' hotels juggle conservation with customer service

Green Lodging News 1.25.10
More on the AAA Diamond rating system and green lodging

Green certifications now recognized by AAA:

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