Top 10 Green hotel chains in the United States

What are the major hotel chains doing to be eco-friendly?

At the current time it is cost-prohibitive for most of the chains to renovate chain-wide all heating and air systems, floors, waste disposal, and so forth. For the time being such things as voluntary towel reuse, eco-friendly shampoos and soaps, and reduction of paper use is the best many can do.

Nevertheless, as older hotels are renovated, new ones built, and "green" brands created within chains, green practices and technologies are being incorporated. These are my picks for the top 10 econ-friendly hotel chains committed to going Green:

- Hilton Worldwide "Sustainability" 2009-2014 goals include reduction of energy, CO2 emissions, and waste output by 20% in addition to reducing water consumption by 10%. Hilton is one of my favorite chains. http://www.hiltonworldwide.com/aboutus/sustainability.htm.

- Marriot's new global headquarters in Atlanta and 30 of its new hotels will be LEED-certified. Marriot is also the top hotel chain of Newsweek's 500 most Green Company list. You can track Marriot's green initiatives at http://www.marriott.com/marriott.mi?page=environmentalInitiatives.

- Hyatt hotels have gone Green, including the Grand Hyatt in New York City and Hyatt O'Hare airport. Hyatt's sustainability program "Hyatt Earth" aims to reduce the Hyatt chain's "environmental footprint through measurable and purposeful action." Learn more at http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/about/social-responsibility/hyatt-earth.jsp.

- Accor Hospitality operates the Motel 6, Studio 6, and Sofitel brands. All properties have been made more eco-friendly through measures such as water-saving faucets and shower heads and energy and water-saving cleaning systems. http://www.accor-na.com/

- Starwood Hotels is the No. 2 hotel chain on Newsweek's 500 most Green Company list. Starwood voices its commitment to the environment through its "Environmental Sustainability Policy." In 2006 Starwood introduced its Element brand for which all hotels are LEED certified. Learn about all of Starwood's brands at http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/company_info.html.

- Best Western joined the environment efforts by creating a Green Task Force, implementing a broad recycling program, educating its employees, and retaining a LEED-certified designer. Foreign affiliates have also implemented their own initiatives. http://www.bestwestern.com/programs/bwgreen/initiatives.asp.

- Kimpton operates a chain of lovely boutique hotels that have been environmentally friendly for over 20 years. Kimpton's eco-program is called "EarthCare" and is run by Kimpton employees. Check it out at http://www.kimptonhotels.com/programs/earthcare-program.aspx.

- Intercontinental Hotel Group operates the Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, Staybridge, Crowne Plaza, and Candlewood Suites brands. In 1991 IGH became the first major chain to introduce Green initiatives. In 2008, it announced what might be the world's first "100% ecologically-friendly hotel" concept, which may be examined at http://www.ihgplc.com/innovation/index.asp.

- Wyndam Worldwide is the No. 3 hotel chain on Newsweek's 500 most Green Company list. Wyndam has a Web site dedicated to its eco-strategy. It's called simply Wyndam Green. Take a look at Wyndam Green at http://www.wyndhamworldwide.com/wyndham-green/.

- La Quinta Inn and Suites newest property is located in Chicago and incorporates "district cooling," which substantially reduces energy use and carbon footprint. La Quinta's first LEED-certified hotel is scheduled to open in 2010. Learn more about "Go Green with La Quinta" at http://www.lq.com/lq/landing/green.jsp.