Green Lodging Program

The Green Lodging Program provides third-party verification that audited lodging facilities have met environmental best practice standards and have demonstrated a strong commitment to water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation, and energy efficiency. Through a comprehensive and credible method for assessing the extent of the environmental measures undertaken, participating facilities can reduce environmentally-related costs and gain a marketing advantage.

Download a one-page PDF overview of the

Good for the Environment, Good for Business

Stage 1: Self-Evaluation

Familiarize yourself and your staff with the program and the key aspects of environmental management for lodging facilities. Conduct a review of your current practices and identify areas to improve. When you are ready, complete the Green Lodging Survey.

Stage 2: Assessment

Audubon International Green Lodging staff will review your survey and prepare an environmental performance report with suggestions about how to improve. Completed surveys and reports are confidential and only accessible to you and program staff.

Stage 3: Eco-Rating Awarded

An eco-rating is awarded based on your overall survey score.

Stage 4: Verification

Within a year of awarding your eco-rating, Audubon Green Lodging staff will direct an independent verification of your facility to assess its environmental best practices.

Stage 5: Continuous Improvement

You can increase your eco-rating! Tools are available to help you implement and expand environmental practices, including online resources and fact sheets.

"Joining Audubon International Green Lodging is a positive asset to our business. Audubon's certification reflects our environmental program to a tee, setting high standards for our industries success. Year over year we see substantial savings in overhead while also receiving increased traffic from those who appreciate our efforts. With our properties location in the Adirondack Park, the program has served as a complement to our surroundings; defining us as a unique and distinguished lodge."

- Nicole Brownell, Director of Marketing and Owner, Gauthier's Saranac Lake Inn

Annual program membership fees are based on the number of rooms the lodging facility has.

Number of Rooms	First Year Fee	Year 2-3 Fee
1-50	$350	$175
51-100	$575	$300
101-200	$700	$350
201-500	$1000	$500
500+	$1500	$750

Note: This three-year fee cycle starts again in year four, when the facility is eco-rated again.

"Audubon International made it possible for us to make our resort as sustainable as it is. In 2005, when we began this journey, Audubon was the only eco-rating program for hotels that we could find that actually came to the facility and helped ascertain the best way to operate your business sustainably and profitably at the same time. The program has been invaluable to us."

- Jenn Holderied, Director of Marketing and Owner, Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort