Travel Green for the Red, White and Blue Holiday Weekend

TALLAHASSEE – With Memorial Day weekend and the summer travel season starting, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging residents and visitors to take advantage of the endless green travel opportunities provided by the Florida Green Lodging Program. The program now boasts 638 designated properties statewide making it easy for travelers to experience a relaxing and environmentally-conscious getaway.

“Opting for a designated Green Lodging facility enables vacationers to conserve water and energy while protecting the state’s natural resources,” said DEP Director of Sustainable Initiatives Deas Bohn. “While Floridians are relaxing on their vacation, they can also rest assured that they are helping to take care of our environment.”

To become a designated member of the voluntary program, lodging facilities adopt cost-saving green practices that conserve energy, reduce water consumption, protect air quality and reduce waste. The Florida Green Lodging Program includes facilities of all sizes, from local bed and breakfast inns to resorts with thousands of rooms. All Florida State Park cabins have received Green Lodging designations and make great destinations for a summer vacation. The 21 most recent designations include:

Northeast
• The Island Place at Cedar Key, Cedar Key
• Hotel Indigo, Jacksonville
• Fairfield Inn and Suites West/Chaffee Point, Jacksonville
• Residence Inn Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach
• St. Francis Inn Bed & Breakfast, St. Augustine
• Residence Inn by Marriott Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, Destin

Northwest
• Emerald Coast Inn & Suites, Fort Walton Beach
• Fort Walton Beach Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Shalimar

Central
• Hampton Inn, Leesburg
• Orbit One Vacations Villas, Kissimmee
• Parkway International Resort, Kissimmee
• Liki Tiki Village, Winter Garden
• Marriott's Sabal Palm Villas, Orlando
• Marriott's Imperial Palm Villas, Orlando
• Marriott's Royal Palm Villas, Orlando
• Westin Lake Mary Orlando North, Lake Mary

Southwest
• Hilton Garden Inn Tampa East/Brandon, Tampa

Southeast
• Days Inn Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport South, Hollywood
• JW Marriott, Miami

South
• Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside, Punta Gorda
• Marco Beach Ocean Resort, Marco Island

Launched in March 2004, the Florida Green Lodging Program establishes environmental guidelines for lodging facilities to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. As incentive for the designation, the state recommends the designated Green Lodging properties to companies and trade organizations seeking environmentally conscientious lodging and convention facilities.

DEP recently launched an environmental awareness campaign, Easy As One - Ordinary actions. Extraordinary results. to highlight easy actions each one of us can adopt to make sustainable practices part of our daily lives at home, at school, at work and at play. As the lead agency in state government for environmental management and stewardship, DEP encourages citizens to adopt green habits that protect Florida’s air and water quality, conserve water and reduce waste. A sustainable Florida depends on the collective efforts of citizens, groups, businesses, industry and government. Making the choice to travel green is an easy action to adopt this summer when planning a vacation.

For more information on green summer travel, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/green/travel.htm. For more information about the Florida Green Lodging Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/greenlodging. For more information about Easy As One, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/EasyAsOne or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EasyAsOne.