Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, Garden Hotel Green Team leader Cindy De Rocher, Garden Hotel Green Team member Erika, State Representative Ron Saunders and Love Your Island’s Chris Belland.

On Thursday, August 9, 2007, The Banyan Resort and The Gardens Hotel became the first two lodging facilities in Key West and Monroe County to receive Florida Green Lodging Certification. On hand to make presentations at both properties were Laura Comer, Environmental Consultant for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Gus Rios, Branch Office Manager for the DEP’s South District; Representative Ron Saunders; Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson and Christina Lindley from GLEE.

The Banyan Resorts efforts were lead by Julie Crane and Julie Brown.  The Banyan has implemented a linen and towel reuse program and installed low-flow showerheads ad toilets to conserve water and energy.  In addition, the hotel conserves energy through solar roof panels for pool heating and indoor and outdoor high-efficiency compact fluorescent lighting and photo sensors for outdoor lighting.  Waste reduction is emphasized through a recycling program and purchasing products with recycled content such as the plastic lumber used for courtyard decking.  Indoor air quality is improved thought efficient air-conditioning filters and environmentally preferable cleaners

During the event, guests were served water in 100% compostable plastic cups made from corn.  Following the presentations, guests released painted lady butterflies.

Members of the Banyan Resort’s Green Team with their new Florida Green Lodging flag.

Over at the Gardens Hotel, Cindy DeRocher spearheaded a Green Team that implemented an environmental policy to communicate green living to guests, low-flow showerheads ad toilets to conserve water and energy. 

The hotel uses ENERGY STAR® televisions in guest rooms to conserve energy as well as high efficiency compact fluorescent lighting, photo sensors for outdoor lighting, an automatic door closer and energy efficient garden fountain pump.  Waste reduction is emphasized through its recycling program, purchasing products with recycled content and reduced packaging and eliminating unwanted faxes and mailings.  Indoor air quality is improved through efficient air conditioning filters, a High Energy Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered vacuum and environmentally preferable cleaners.

State Representative Ron Saunders, Banyan Resort General Manager Julie Crane, Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson and Gus Rios, Branch Office Manager for the DEP’s South District.

Following the presentation, Chris Belland from Love Your Island, gave the Love Your Island pledge to members of the Gardens Hotel Green Team and presented each with a Love Your Island t-shirt.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection wants to recognize lodges that conserve and protect Florida's natural resources. The Florida Green Lodging Program is a voluntary program established by the State of Florida to reward environmentally conscious facilities (i.e. green hotels). The Program looks at a variety of categories:  Water, Energy, Waste, Indoor air quality, Communication, Program sustainability. In order to become Green Certified, each property had to:

1. Identify an environmental champion.
2. Obtain top management commitment and submit the admission application.
3. Create a Green Team.
4. Conduct an environmental assessment.
5. Establish goals and identify environmental improvement projects.
6. Submit your environmental baseline data to the FGLC Program Office.
7. Implement environmental improvement projects.
8. Evaluate and monitor the program.
9. Schedule on-site certifying visit.

The Green Lodging Program will provide you assistance to help you green your facility. For more information about the Florida Green Lodging, visit their website at http://www.FloridaGreenLodging.org.