Here’s a look at hotels, restaurants and activities across the Capital Region that are working hard to make your next visit Green Friendly.
Kimpton hotel properties across Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland participate in the EarthCare program that embodies the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra by implementing water efficient strategies, energy efficient lighting, recycled post consumer products, soy based inks and double sided copying.
The Inn & Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland in College Park was the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified hotel in the U.S. At the Fairfield Inn & Suites at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the staff wears uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles and a giant rain barrel collects roof water runoff for use in irrigation.
Green properties in Washington, DC include the Willard InterContinental, which is 100% wind-powered. It uses compact fluorescent lighting throughout the hotel, composts food waste and recycles fluorescent light bulbs, food grease, batteries, computers and guestroom furniture. The Fairmont, Omni Shoreham and Hyatt Regency have all implemented environmental programs.
The Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse is a leader in green practices and awareness. The Crowne Plaza Williamsburg Hotel at Fort Magruder is committed to maintaining earth’s precious resources via the sustainability initiative, EarthPact. There are dozens of B&B’s participating in Virginia Green, the statewide program that works to reduce the environmental impacts of Virginia’s tourism industry.
All of the Austin Grill locations across Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia are 100% wind-powered.
Equinox, in Downtown DC, serves locally grown and raised food and the menu is printed on recycled paper. In DC’s Georgetown neighbourhood, Hook has been honored for its commitment to sustainability. It only serves fish caught using sustainable practices and features locally grown produce, meats and dairy products. Powered by wind energy, Hook prints its menus in-house on post-consumer recycled paper and its take-out containers are made from biodegradable sugar cane fibre.
Pioneers of sustainable foods movement, Chef-owner James Ricciuti and Co-owner Amy Ricciuti of Ricciuti’s Restaurant in Olney, Maryland are proud to incorporate green living into their restaurant. Some of the steps taken towards green living include converting styrofoam carryout containers to biodegradable containers made from a sugar/corn based compound, switching cleaning agents to chemicals that are certified environmentally friendly, outfitting the staff in organic cotton uniforms and transitioning to 100% wind power.
At Restaurant Eve in Alexandria award-winning chef Cathal Armstrong turns out sustainable and organic dishes using foods grown by local farmers. Seventy restaurants in Virginia have received the Virginia Green certification by minimizing the use of disposable food service products and maximizing the use of products that are recyclable or compostable, recycling grease and glass bottles and implementing water conservation and energy reduction plans.
Washington, DC topped the list of “America’s Most Walkable Communities” in a recent study by the Brookings Institution. Washington, DC's highest rated tour, DC by Foot, presents the only free, tip based tour of DC. It takes you through the National Mall with stories, secrets and information about U.S. national treasures. DC by Foot also offers walking tours of Arlington Cemetery, the Lincoln Assassination tour and the Ghosts of Georgetown tour.
Bluehouse is an eco-friendly home furnishings store in Baltimore, Maryland created around the idea that you can have things that are beautiful, good for you and good for the planet. bluehouse offers furniture, accessories, housewares, gifts for all occasions and other necessities for modern living. Bluehouse is implementing a three-phase plan to offset its carbon footprint by generating clean wind energy.
Be sure to visit one of the more than 170 wineries across Virginia and Maryland. Planting, cultivating, harvesting and producing wine is a green initiative we can all enjoy!