Green Lodging Technical Assistance

The Florida Green Lodging Program offers technical assistance to guide lodging facilities in the requirements for Florida Green Lodging Program. Resources are added regularly and include "how-to" information, guest and staff educational materials, and links to related external sites.

If you have lodging-specific questions, contact Sheena Chin-Greene, Green Lodging Program Coordinator at GreenLodging@FloridaDEP.gov or 850-245-2116.

Technical Guidance

• How to Set Up a Hotel Recycling Program - Some quick facts, links and steps for creating a recycling program at your hotel.
• How to Handle Fluorescent and High-Intensity Discharge Lamps - When lamps are broken or placed in a landfill or incinerator, the mercury can contaminate the air, surface water and ground water. If your hotel uses mercury-containing lamps, be aware of the rules regulating the collection, storage and disposal of these items in Florida.
• Battery Recycling and Disposal - Some battery types can be safely thrown into the trash. Other types contain heavy metals and other toxic substances that can contaminate air and water. This guide summarizes which batteries can be thrown away safely and which batteries need to be recycled or sent to a hazardous waste facility.

Guest and Staff Education Materials

• Environmental Policy Letter Template - Letter to guests and/or staff about your facility's specific goals and your commitment to reducing your impact on the environment.
• Environmental Initiative Letter Template - Letter to guests to be used in hotel guides, guest room booklets or mail-outs informing guests of your property's specific environmental initiatives.
• Environmental Initiative Letter Spanish Template - letter to guests to be used in hotel guides, guest room booklets or mail-outs informing guests of your property's specific environmental initiatives in Spanish.

Do Your Part Poster

Poster for back of house employees encouraging them to do their part by listing reminders on green practices. Available in English, Spanish and Creole.

• Do Your Part Poster Template 8.5 x 11”
• Do Your Part Poster Spanish Template 8.5 x 11”
• Do Your Part Poster Creole Template 8.5 x 11”

Technical Resources

• EPA’s ENERGY STAR® for Hospitality - ENERGY STAR® rated appliances are recommended for facilities. Find more information on the advantages of using ENERGY STAR® equipment.
• EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guideline (CPG) - Provides a wealth of information about buying recycled-content products. Ranging from construction to landscaping products, CPG offers recommended recycled-content levels as well as contact information for manufacturers and suppliers of recycled-content products and materials.
• Water CHAMP - Southwest Florida Water Management District's Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program helps hotels and motels save water and money while practicing more efficient housekeeping and landscaping.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - USGBC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.
• Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) - The Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.