Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyo. (Jackson Hole area) is greening up its practices one guest at a time.
Starting Feb. 12, guests will be offered the chance to sign an Electricity Conservation Pledge upon check-in. Their reward? Peace of mind — and a pair of Point6 wool socks. The pledge states the guest will:
- Turn the heat down to low at night.
- Turn heat to low or off when they leave the room.
- Turn off the lights and television when not in use.
- Unplug device chargers (for cell phones or laptop computers) once the device is charged.
The goal is for each guest to save one KwH (kilowatt hour) of electricity during their stay.
“We’re all guilty of wasting electricity on vacation,” said Christina Thomure, Director of Sustainable Operations at Grand Targhee Resort. “Leaving the heat on high in your room when you are out skiing, or the lights on when you head out for dinner — it’s these types of behaviors we want to increase awareness of and hopefully change.”
We hope it works — frankly, these sound like practices we should already be observing both when we’re home and when we’re away. A little extra encouragement certainly can’t hurt.
This is just one of the creative new ways the travel industry is shrinking its carbon footprint. For more information on how hotels are becoming more responsible, check out Five Things Hotels are Doing to Save the Planet and our recent feature on The Global Soap Project. Even most luxury hotels are encouraging guests to re-use sheets and towels during their stay. Be sure and read those little signs on the bathroom counter and your bedside table to ensure you’re participating in any way you can!
Photo courtesy of Grand Targhee Resort.