10 best green hotels in the UK
Our travel choices play an important role in a low carbon world, from the hotels we stay in to the ways we get around. Staying in a greener hotel isn't about giving up the comforts you expect on holiday -- far from it. Hotels that take responsibility for their carbon footprint (and yours too) reduce their energy consumption and have a string of eco initiatives up their sleeves. And quite often you'll be none the wiser for it.
Green hotels come in all shapes, sizes and budgets. City-based Zetter and rural retreat Strattons combine boutique chic with eco luxury. The Zetter is all about green techy touches, whereas Strattons inspires guests with its displays of local art. For luxury without the price tag, Radisson SAS and Apex Hotel are good choices -- they're going to lengths to conserve energy throughout their stock of hotels. If it's the great outdoors that's all important, TYF Hotel is simple, organic and right by the sea. And green certainly isn't all about new-builds. Some of the greenest hotels are conserving their heritage through use of traditional building methods like at Bellinter House.
Energy savings at hotels aren't made by turning lights out at 11 or using wind-up hair dryers. For hotel chains like the Radisson, a lot goes on at an operational level, so staff are fully clued up about things like cleaning towels only when necessary. Look out for rooms that save energy with keycard-activated lights and low-energy lighting. Green hotels will take their energy from a renewable source, perhaps via a green electricity tariff, or will generate their own energy, as with Bellinter House's geothermally-heated pool.
Another important thing to look at is food and its supply chain. Green hotels will source food locally or perhaps even grow it themselves, like Strattons does. They'll use organic food wherever possible and make sure that supplies are Fairtrade if they come from developing countries. Often you'll find that the menu reflects the local and seasonal availability so rarely will it stay the same throughout the year. You should be able to ask the chef where all the ingredients come from and don't be surprised if they say the neighbouring farm, as we were told at TYF.
Hotels are notorious for generating waste, but thankfully many are now taking measures to reduce their contribution to landfill. Eco hotels should recycle where possible and often will provide guests with facilities for doing so too. They'll also reduce packaging, or, as is the case with the Apex Hotel, will send any packaging back with the delivery man for re-use.
To make the carbon savings that hotels desire, staff and guests need to be able to arrive by low-carbon means. For city hotels, that's usually straightforward. Edinburgh station is a ten-minute walk from the Radisson, and likewise there's the Tube for Zetter and Dundee station for Apex. Not all hotels benefit from such good transport links, so look out for ways that they make up for it. For example, a pick-up could be available from the nearest station or the hotel might provide bicycles for guests as at Mildenhall. There should be information readily available for guests detailing all the low-carbon options.
Lastly, staff awareness should be a top priority for a green hotel. There's no use having all these measures if the staff are unable to put them in practice. So there should be regular staff training at every level, or perhaps even a 'green team' like at Apex. It's a huge plus if the hotels also support staff in initiatives like using sustainable transport and raising money for local charities. The Radisson in Edinburgh gives its staff the opportunity to choose a charity and find creative ways of raising funds for it.
A hotel's path to sustainability is a long one, and it's hard for them to be perfect. Even so, we've found hotels across the UK that have clocked up a good number of the eco credentials we've mentioned above.
Apex Dundee City Quay Hotel and Spa
Bedruthan Steps Hotel
Bellinter House
Milden Hall B&B
Moss Grove Hotel
Paskins Town House
Radisson SAS Edinburgh
Strattons Hotel and Restaurant
TYF Eco Hotel
The Zetter
