The following is a guest post by Cliff Bare. Find more travel tips by checking out his and his wife’s blog Peace, Love & Travel with Cliff and Tiff (http://responsible-tourists.blogspot.com/).

As a traveler who loves the environment, I am grateful for the many hotels and various destinations around the United States that have consciously decided to assist the earth by going green. Here are some places that are doing a great job at this that I have visited.

One of my favorite ballparks to visit is AT&T ballpark in San Francisco, California. This beautiful park was the first LEED certified ballpark in Major League Baseball. Restrooms and showers in the facility are specifically designed to conserve water. In addition, the ballpark has sought to reduce the amount of waste it creates. To this end, it has diverted up to 67% of waste from going to a landfill. Furthermore, it has lighting controls that can automatically shut off in order to reduce electricity waste.

Destiny USA is a mall that has received the LEED Gold certification. This mall, located in Syracuse, New York and one of the greenest malls in the world, has done a lot to achieve its status. With nearly two and a half million square feet in the facility, Destiny USA is the largest LEED certified mall. In fact, every single tenant in the mall needs to become LEED certified. What’s more, Destiny USA took increased measures to verify that its new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems worked as designed, that any deficiencies were solved, and that operational and maintenance procedures for its systems were created to ensure proper function. This helps assure that these systems will work efficiently and that less energy will be wasted as a result. Destiny systems commissioned include heating and cooling, the rainwater harvest, and lighting.

The Vdara Hotel and Spa in Las Vegas has done a great job in seeking to keep the earth healthy. One of the reasons I like to stay at Vdara is that it has received a gold LEED certification rating. This has been achieved a number of ways. Wood used in the hotel has come from managed forests. Special focus is given to be efficient with water usage, with retrofitted low-flow fixtures on faucets, showers, and toilets. These are just a few of the things that Vdara does to benefit the environment. Recently, it received the 5 Green Keys award for being a successful green facility.

The Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey Bay, California is a place I try to go to once a year with my wife. This Hotel has received the silver LEED certification. It has held a number of conferences each year that address how to benefit the environment. Landscaping around the facility is full of native plants and vegetation, which means that potable water is not required, as plants can draw water naturally from the ground with less disruption of the ecosystem. Dining restaurants serve many different organic food dishes. The hotel has sought to use water resources appropriately with faucets, toilets and other water devices that use the best amount of water without waste.

Green initiatives have had a positive effect on the world. I am proud to support these and other destinations and hotels.

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