A state environmental program recently recognized North Carolina’s 100th tourism business
for its use of sustainable practices that save energy and protect the
environment.
The NC GreenTravel Initiative now boasts 100 sustainable tourism-oriented businesses with the recent addition of the Uptown Greenville Umbrella Market, a farmer’s market in the Pitt County town that features locally-grown food and uses a refurbished trolley to shuttle people for free to the market from outlying areas in eastern North Carolina.
“On top of being a gorgeous place to live and visit, North Carolina is ideal for those who want to travel green,” said John Skvarla, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “The NC GreenTravel Initiative has made people more aware of sustainable, travel-oriented businesses that make sound investments in sustainability. These businesses are a vital part of our efforts to protect the environment and encourage economic growth.”
NC GreenTravel started in October 2011 to promote
sustainable travel. Tourism-focused businesses, including hotels and state
parks, apply and are selected for the program by the N.C. Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, Center for Sustainability at East Carolina
University, N.C. Department of Commerce and the Waste Reduction Partners.
Applicants are selected based on a grading system in which they earn points for
different environmentally-friendly practices they use to conserve energy and
water, reduce waste, recycle and help protect the environment.
Research has shown that sustainable businesses protect the environment and reduce operating costs and are more profitable without sacrificing guests’ comfort. NC GreenTravel businesses receive a certificate of recognition, a door decal and a listing on the NC GreenTravel website: http://bit.ly/UGB2rh. Businesses that are
a part of or aspire to become part of NC GreenTravel are eligible for free,
non-regulatory environmental technical assistance. Applying to the program is
free.
“We know our tourism economy depends upon the protection of our nationally recognized travel offerings,” said Pat Long, director of Center for Sustainability at East Carolina University. “It will only be enhanced by sending a clear message that North Carolina tourism providers are working hard to limit energy and water use, reduce waste generation, and still provide the quality vacation and business travel experience travelers have become accustomed to.”
The following list includes some businesses that have
earned a spot as NC GreenTravel members:
= The Old Edwards Inn in Highlands estimates they save $5,800 dollars a year in labor costs associated with switching from using incandescent bulbs to CFL and LED bulbs. In the past, the inn changed about 200 incandescent light bulbs every month. By no longer spending an average of 20 minutes changing bulbs, the Old Edwards Inn estimates that it’s saving 4,000 minutes per month, or roughly $5,800 a year.
= Central Carolina Community College Natural Chef Café features sustainable meals prepared by students enrolled in the CCCC Culinary Arts Continuing Education and Curriculum programs. The students compost food waste, use biodegradable dishes and work in a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified building in Pittsboro.
= The North
Carolina Zoo in Asheboro established a two-acre compost site to handle almost
all its animal and plant waste. This change has generated a savings of more
than $160,000 a year. The zoo has also seen cost and energy savings by putting
in place a biodiesel processing project for its buses and trams, and mounting
solar panels that each year produce 135,000 kilowatt hours of electricity for
the zoo.
A list of all NC GreenTravel businesses are included in the following pages or can be found on the program’s website at: http://bit.ly/1ruWbiI. To learn
more, visit www.ncgreentravel.com.
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NC GreenTravel Applications
|
|
Name of Business
|
City
|
County
|
|
Old Edwards
Inn
|
Highlands
|
Macon County
|
|
King's
Daughters Inn
|
Durham
|
Durham
County
|
|
Posana Café
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Ninth St
Bakery
|
Durham
|
Durham
County
|
|
The Inn of
the Patriots
|
Grover
|
Cleveland
County
|
|
Tupelo Honey
South
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Tupelo Honey
Downtown
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Highland
Lake Inn
|
Flat Rock
|
Henderson
County
|
|
The Cantina
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Red Wolf
Cabin
|
Fletcher
|
Henderson
County
|
|
Black Bear
Cabin
|
Black
Mountain
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Hidden Pond
|
Alexander
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
CCCC Natural Chef Café
|
Pittsboro
|
Chatham
County
|
|
Museum of
Life & Science
|
Durham
|
Durham
County
|
|
Waverly Inn
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
White Gate
Inn
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe County
|
|
Sunny Point Café
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Aloft
Charlotte Ballantyne
|
Charlotte
|
Mecklenburg
County
|
|
Casa Rustica
|
Boone
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Pepper's
Restaurant & Bar
|
Boone
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Proximity
Hotel
|
Greensboro
|
Guilford
County
|
|
Print Works
Bistro
|
Greensboro
|
Guilford
County
|
|
Makoto's
Japanese Steak House
|
Boone
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Grandfather
Mountain
|
Linville
|
Avery County
|
|
Holiday Inn
Express Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Candlewood
Suites Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Canyon's
Restaurant
|
Blowing Rock
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Inn on Main
Street
|
Weaverville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Aloft
Re:fuel
|
Charlotte
|
Mecklenburg
County
|
|
Asheville
Green Cottage
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Chick-fil-A
|
Raleigh
|
Wake County
|
|
Fairfield
Inn Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Green Park
Inn
|
Blowing Rock
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Inn at
Celebrity Dairy
|
Siler City
|
Chatham
County
|
|
The Umstead
Hotel & Spa
|
Cary
|
Wake County
|
|
Cape
Hatteras B&B
|
Buxton
|
Dare County
|
|
Home 2
Suites
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Baymont Inn
& Suites
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Village
Wayside Bar & Grill
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Adawehi
Wellness Retreat
|
Columbus
|
Polk County
|
|
Beechtree
Inn Hertford
|
Hertford
|
Perquimans
County
|
|
Towne Place
Suites
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Quality Inn
Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Gorges State
Park
|
Sapphire
|
Transylvania
County
|
|
Native
Kitchen & Social Pub
|
Swannanoa
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Plant
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
New River
State Park
|
Laurel
Springs
|
Ashe/Alleghany
Counties
|
|
Hampton Inn
Hendersonville
|
Hendersonville
|
Henderson
County
|
|
Pittsboro
Road House & General Store
|
Pittsboro
|
Chatham
County
|
|
Super 8
Motel Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Comfort
Suites Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Brewed
Awakenings
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
South
Mountains State Park
|
Connelly
Springs
|
Burke County
|
|
Deerwoode
Lodge & Cabins
|
Brevard
|
Transylvania
County
|
|
Elk Knob
State Park
|
Todd
|
Watauga
County
|
|
N.C.
Aquarium at Pine Knolls Shores
|
Pine Knoll
Shores
|
Carteret
County
|
|
The
Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge
|
Charlotte
|
Mecklenburg
County
|
|
The Gallery
Restaurant
|
Charlotte
|
Mecklenburg
County
|
|
Big Mill Bed
& Breakfast
|
Williamston
|
Martin
County
|
|
The Market
Place
|
Asheville
|
Buncombe
County
|
|
Appalachian
Mountain Brewery
|
Boone
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Melange Bed
& Breakfast
|
Hendersonville
|
Henderson
County
|
|
The Cabins
at White Sulphur Springs
|
Mt. Airy
|
Surry County
|
|
N.C.
Zoological Park
|
Asheboro
|
Randolph
County
|
|
Lake James
Cellars
|
Glen Alpine
|
Burke County
|
|
The Daily Planet Café
|
Raleigh
|
Wake County
|
|
Hampton Inn
& Suites Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Hungry Town
Bike Tours
|
Beaufort
|
Carteret
County
|
|
Chimney Rock
State Park
|
Chimney Rock
|
Rutherford
County
|
|
Sleep Inn
& Suites Jacksonville
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Hilton
Garden Inn UMC Durham
|
Durham
|
Durham
County
|
|
Hanna House
|
New Bern
|
Craven County
|
|
Holiday Inn
Express Spring Lake
|
Spring Lake
|
Cumberland
County
|
|
Jennette's
Pier
|
Nags Head
|
Dare County
|
|
Raven Rock
State Park
|
Lillington
|
Harnett
County
|
|
Earth &
Surf Fest.
|
Jacksonville
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Hampton Inn
Spring Lake
|
Spring Lake
|
Cumberland
County
|
|
I-26 Welcome
Center Mars Hill
|
Mars Hill
|
Madison
County
|
|
Hanging Rock
State Park
|
Danbury
|
Stokes
County
|
|
NC Aquarium
at Fort Fisher
|
Kure Beach
|
New Hanover
County
|
|
Palm Coast
Tours
|
New Bern
|
Craven
County
|
|
Falls Lake
State Park
|
Wake Forest
|
Wake County
|
|
Festival of
the Eno
|
Durham
|
Durham
County
|
|
Grandfather
Mountain State
|
Banner Elk
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Lake
Waccamaw State Park
|
Lake
Waccamaw
|
Columbus
County
|
|
Medoc
Mountain State Park
|
Hollister
|
Halifax
County
|
|
Singletary
Lake State Park
|
Kelly
|
Bladen
County
|
|
Sustainable
Foothills
|
Lenoir
|
Caldwell
County
|
|
Merchants
Millpond State Park
|
Gatesville
|
Gates County
|
|
Caldwell
Chamber of Commerce
|
Lenoir
|
Caldwell
County
|
|
Crowders
Mountain State Park
|
Kings
Mountain
|
Gaston
County
|
|
Hampton Inn
Swansboro
|
Swansboro
|
Onslow
County
|
|
Meadowbrook
Inn
|
Blowing Rock
|
Watauga
County
|
|
Wilson Creek
Visitor Center
|
Collettsville
|
Caldwell
County
|
|
I-26 East
Welcome Center
|
Columbus
|
Polk County
|
|
Millpond Day
Festival
|
Gatesville
|
Gates County
|
|
Roanoke
Island Festival Park
|
Manteo
|
Dare County
|
|
I-95 North
NC Welcome Center
|
Pleasant
Hill
|
Northampton
|
|
I-77 North
Welcome Center
|
Dobson
|
Surry County
|
|
Uptown
Greenville Umbrella Market
|
Greenville
|
Pitt County
|
