California Green Lodging Program

The Green Lodging Program brings together the lodging industry, state travelers, and the environment. Together we are diverting waste from landfills, conserving energy and water, and giving you cleaner air to breathe. So whether you're a lodging facility or traveling for business or pleasure, this program will benefit you and future generations!

The Green Lodging Program encourages State and local government travelers to seek out and give preference to these certified "green hotels." Make the decision to choose "green" next time you're traveling for business or pleasure. Check out Green Resources for Travelers to find related forms and links.

We are proud to announce the success of over 200 "green hotels" throughout California. Learn what makes a hotel "green", how to "green" your hotel and become part of the Green Lodging Program. Move towards reducing your impact on the environment through: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), increasing your recycling and composting, and reducing your energy and water usage. Every product purchased can have an impact on human health and the environment. To reduce the quantity and toxicity of waste in California, we promote the purchase of recycled, repairable, and durable goods, all of which are environmentally preferable products.

Why "Green" Hotels?

• Average-sized hotels purchase more products in one week than 100 families do in a year. We want at least 50 percent of those purchases to be environmentally preferable products.
• Waste generation can be as high as 30 pounds per room per day; as much as 80 percent of these materials can be recycled.
• Hospitality industry spends $3.7 billion a year on energy. Electricity use accounts for 60-70 percent of the utility costs of a typical hotel. We can introduce you to energy-efficient products and practices that will reduce energy consumption, therefore lowering energy costs.
• Two percent of California's food waste comes from the hotel and lodging industry (112,000 tons per year). This food waste can be composted and/or donated to charities.
• Typical hotels use 218 gallons of water per day per occupied room. Water-efficient fixtures can reduce water and sewer bills by 25-30 percent.

For questions or comments about the program, or feedback about a recent stay at a California green lodging property, please email GreenLodgingProgram@dgs.ca.gov.