These days, it’s all about living an eco-friendly lifestyle! If you already recycle, buy local and drive less, then you’re doing a great job! But how can you extend practices that are good for the planet to all aspects of your life? Well, when it comes time to get away for special occasions, you can extend that green consciousness to your travels! Karen Avery, owner and general manager of Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs in Ouray, Colorado, is here to tell us how!
If green travel brings to mind tree houses and outhouses, relax. You don’t need to sacrifice creature comforts to travel eco-consciously.  Many hotels, lodges and resorts are making great strides to preserve and protect the environment. In planning your trip, you can make a point to seek out unique lodging properties that make “green” part of everyday business.
Here in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, it’s easier than you think. The Box Canyon Lodge has taken some important green initiatives already.  Look for initiatives like these – even in smaller, independent lodging properties – when researching and booking your trip, to make you – and the earth – even happier.
- In-room energy efficiency: Beyond energy-efficient light bulbs, look for low-flow systems for toilets and showers, and a towel/linen reuse program. Some properties offer in-room recycling programs for aluminum, tin, metal, glass and plastic.
- Paper, not plastic: All those little plastic bottles containing toiletries add up.  Some properties now use amenity dispensers to cut down on waste. At Box Canyon Lodge, guests will find in-room lotion and conditioning shampoo packaged in paper bottles, resulting in 92 percent less waste than plastic. Paper packaging also means elimination of parabens, phthalates and artificial colors. The manufacturer even donates a portion of the proceeds to support honeybee and sustainable pollination research.
- Behind-the-scenes operations: Energy-efficient cleaning products and appliances go a long way in a property’s commitment to the environment. It’s easy to switch over to all-green cleaners without sacrificing quality.
- Commitment to local suppliers: Properties that work with local suppliers when possible save on transportation and packaging costs while supporting the local economy.
- Energy conservation: Many properties are paying attention to minimizing energy loss in their buildings. Look for high levels of insulation and energy-efficient double-paned windows.
- Alternative energy: Box Canyon Lodge uses the geothermal water of the area’s natural hot springs to heat guest rooms and water for bathing and laundry (reducing natural gas consumption by 70 percent since 2007). Not all hotels can draw upon natural hot springs, but many can use some alternative energy sources or purchase carbon credits.
Conscious travelers can find many ways to plan a trip that maximizes positive environmental impact. When planning a vacation for someone committed to protecting the environment, paying attention to just a few of these tips can go a long way in creating the perfect trip as well as preserving the destination you’ll visit. Green travel can be easier than you think – no matter what your shade of green.
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Karen Avery is the owner and general manager of Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs in Ouray, Colo., in the state’s southwestern San Juan Mountains. Recognized as one of the “Best of the West” by Sunset magazine, Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs has earned a four-key rating from Green Key, the national eco-rating program, and has earned Green America’s “Green Business” seal of approval.  Karen can be reached at 970-325-4981 or by email. Find Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs at their website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
To get the job done, we came up with our 1st magazine ad that debuted in the new Winter issue of 
