Spas are not typically known as being green with the amount of water and energy used in excess to offer ultimate relaxation for guests’, spas are now finding creative ways to “green” themselves that are not only great for the environment, but great for their bottom line as well.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council to help companies design, build, and operate their structures more sustainably.

Certifications are awarded according to points earned for things such as, design, energy efficiency and water conservation. LEED certifications entail different levels of Copper, Silver, Gold and Platinum in which only 118 buildings have received.

Here are a few spa pioneers whom have earned a LEED accolade and are setting a standard that other spas are soon to follow.

The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Is the country’s largest LEED-certified high-rise building. Set on the Las Vegas strip, this resort opened in 2008 boasting an eco-friendly spa, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub offers an assortment of innovative spa treatments such the 100 minute Neuromuscular Therapy. This treatment is aimed to relieve tension headaches, back pain, TMJ, restricted ranges of movement and other musculoskeletal conditions. The service is conducted by a trained neuromuscular therapist, which includes referrals so you can continue treatments when you return home. All treatments incorporate organic spa products as well.

Other novel features include a 40-foot rock-climbing wall, water efficient showers, and valet bicycle parking.

 

 

Avalon Hotel & Spa, Portland, Oregon

 

Oregon’s first Silver LEED certification was awarded to the Avalon Hotel & Spa last August because of its energy and water conservation, recycling, and ethical purchasing efforts. Other reasons to visit this boutique hotel on the Willamette River are for its wine bar, complimentary breakfast, and 30 treatment rooms with Spa Chakra services.

 

The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

The Callaway property sits on 13,000-acre preserve as a dedicated non-profit towards environmental education. The preserve consists of gardens, hiking trails and a butterfly pavilion. Receiving the title as a LEED certified property because it was built with recycled materials and has efficient plumbing, lighting, and air-filtration systems. The 13-treatment room spas uses natural, indigenous products inspired from the gardens that are on the property.

 

Gala Napa Valley Hotel & Spa, American Canyon, California

The Gala Napa Valley Hotel & Spa was the first hotel to receive the country’s Gold LEED lodging certification. Housing 132-rooms with a spa that is inspired by the wine region it calls home, offering locally sourced grape seeds for scrubs treatments and a restaurant that features seasonal, local and organic produce.

Its unique features that made this property LEED certified are its skylights that are shaped like magnifying glasses to help light interiors and real-time display of the hotel’s energy use in the lobby.

 

Nusta Spa, Washington, D.C.

The Nusta Spa is the first Gold LEED certified urban day spa in the country. Known as the pioneer for “spa-greening” in an urban environment it received this certification from its energy and water-saving features and waste reduction strategies. Sourcing only organic products along with its signature skincare line that contains sustainable, organic ingredients.

 

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Washington

The Hotel Terra has earned a Silver LEED certification by using an advanced water purification system that purifies wastewater and releases it back into the surrounding land, energy-saving fixtures, nontoxic paints and cleaning supplies. The Chill Spa offers organic and restorative treatments along with cotton robes and reusable water bottles for guests.

 

Other Spa’s that are in the process of gaining LEED certifications are:

Hyatt at Olive 8, Seattle Washington
Elaia Spa

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Colorado
Spa Anjali

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan
Crystal Spa

Inn by the Sea Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Spa at the Inn by the Sea

Cavallo Point – The Lodge at the Golden Gate, Sausalito, California
Cavallo Point Healing Arts Center & Spa

The Springs Resort and Spa, Pagosa Spring, Colorado
The Springs Spa & Salon

Bardessono, Yountville, California
Spa Therapy Center

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Niki Bryan “Leapfrogs” Spa Industry with Two US Firsts
 
Niki Bryan Spas – owners and operators of the Grand Floridian Spa at the Walt Disney World Resort, and operator of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Spa – has a reputation for pioneering change in the industry. This year the company is proudly making strides toward the future of eco-conscious products and treatments, introducing a new skincare brand and a new massage method to the US market.
 
“Given the increased awareness of our conscious spa-goers we have had to leapfrog the entire marketplace by ensuring that we have a healthier, cleaner skincare product line than anyone else in the industry, and that our treatments go well beyond the traditional fluff and buff often found in hotels and resorts and be Read more…

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Hotel Los Gatos’ Popular Day Spa Goes Environmental
The New Spa Elia Offers Organic Options for Rejuvenation

Joie de Vivre Hospitality and Hotel Los Gatos announced its newest addition to the growing portfolio of Joie de Vivre resort spas, Spa Elia. With minor renovations, the new Joie de Vivre resort spa, offers a welcoming and organic retreat to Los Gatos locals and visitors.

Blending with Hotel Los Gatos’ Mediterranean theme, Spa Elia whisks guests away to a Mediterranean Garden retreat where treatments are designed to ease the mind … while easing consciousness. With all organic and sustainable products, the intention of Spa Elia is to renew its guests while renewing the planet at the same time … all while offering an extensive menu that invites visitors to enjoy fabulous body, massage, esthetic and nail services.

From an ‘Intuitive Organic Facial’ that uses aloe, rose hips oil and cold-pressed macadamia nut oil to a Mediterranean Lavender Moisture Wrap, guests will relish in the scents as well as the rejuvenating nature of the treatments. All spa experiences can be ’stretched’ into full day retreats with complimentary use of the pool, steam showers, and dry sauna.

Hotel guests interested in a Spa Elia experience have the option of enjoying some treatments in the comfort of their own room. A quick call to the spa with a request for an in-room service is all that is required to make this request a possibility. The friendly staff at the Spa Elia is ready and willing to do anything in order to make the Los Gatos experience a relaxing one.

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Stevenswood Spa Resort Integrates Eco-friendly Amenities into “Greening” Program

Officials of Stevenswood Spa Resort, one of the nation’s leading spa resorts dedicated to creating a more eco-friendly guest experience, today announced that it has implemented its next “green” initiative with the introduction of a 100-percent biodegradable line of Environmentally Sensitive Amenities™ at its 16-acre, ocean-view Indigo Eco/Spa and resort here. The amenities include environmentally friendly liquids, soap and packaging.

“We began as a spa interested in the well-being of our guests and evolved into a resort simultaneously dedicated to improving the environment,” said Michael Webster, Stevenswood Spa Resort principle. “It was a natural extension to take our guest-focused wellness approach and expand it to the wellness of the environment. While we are small by spa/resort standards, we believe we can be a more progressive laboratory for larger resorts that have to contend with scale and bureaucracy. As we implement strong environment-oriented programs, we share it with the industry. While at the property level, soaps and liquids and their packaging may seem insignificant in terms of environmental impact, on a national level it accounts for thousands of tons of materials a year.”

Webster noted that the spa was thinking “green” long before the LEED certification program began to become popular. ”We installed Delrin Venturi Spa Showerheads in 2004, which reduced water usage by more than 25 percent, while still providing a luxurious spa shower experience. In the past 3.5 years, we now recycle more than 30 percent of our expendables, resulting in tons of recycling, saving hundreds of barrels of oil and dozens of trees annually. More than 50 percent of the products we use are either recycled or bio-degradable.”

Webster pointed out that the Environmentally Sensitive Amenities™ will have a meaningful impact on both the environment and the economy. “One ton of recycled plastic saves nearly 700 gallons of oil,” he said. “If the entire industry adapted a totally recyclable program for bathroom amenities, the savings could easily exceed millions of barrels of oil annually.

“Our goal is to help preserve the environmental health of our ‘backyard,’ the Mendocino Coast. If others do the same for their respective backyards, we will have a major impact on the global environment.”

All amenity bottles and their aluminum caps are fully recyclable and made mostly from post-consumer recycled materials. Additionally, ESA products contain minimal preservatives and labeling and are packaged in non-bleached, natural board for easy biodegradation.

Specific ESA items that Stevenswood Spa Resort has acquired include:

• Toothbrush & toothpaste

• Hair comb

• Makeup removal towelettes

• Shower cap

• Herbal shampoo, conditioner and lotion

• Peppermint mouthwash

• Shoe shine kit

• Mending kit

• Vanity pack

• Facial and hand soaps

• Q-tips

• Bath crystals

• Nail file

• Cotton balls

• Aroma body wash

“Our guests expect the Stevenswood Spa Resort to be at the forefront of environmental awareness, while establishing the highest standards of luxury,” Webster added. “Adding this product line to our amenities is a natural step for us to maintain that commitment.”

Stevenswood Spa Resort is an idyllic retreat on Northern California’s Mendocino Coast. Contemporary and secluded, this tranquil resort offers a gracious respite for travelers and locals alike. Located two minutes south of the town of Mendocino in Little River, this AAA Four-Diamond property is surrounded on three sides by State Park, and is a short walk to the Pacific Ocean. Intimate by design, elegant by nature, the lodge features luxury suites, the acclaimed Restaurant at Stevenswood, and the Five-Star Indigo Eco|Spa. A private botanical garden, Jacuzzi hot tub spas, and landscaped grounds enhance the breathtaking setting, with a backdrop of Redwood groves and ocean meadows. For more information, call 707.937.2810

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GAIA Anderson Hotel & Spa Opens as America’s first LEED Gold Certified Hotel

GAIA Anderson Hotel & Spa, built for $14 million, opened on May 1, 2008 and is the latest creation from Mr. Wen Chang, creator of America’s first, LEED Gold certified hotel, Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa in American Canyon, California.

Maintaining his very high standards for the ultimate in an eco-friendly hotel, Mr. Chang directed the construction crew in the usage of state-of-the-art green building practices that include 122 totally “green” rooms – painted with special, low-VOC paints, recycled carpets, state of the art and energy-saving air conditioners and heaters that use 15% less energy. Behind the walls, all the wood used in construction was certified as new growth wood.

Outside the hotel, on 11 beautiful acres of natural landscaping, touched by the Sacramento River, the landscaping is chemical-free.

Building With A Heart

The eco-friendly hotel features a full-service restaurant and more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space, all built under the rigorous construction guidelines of the U.S. Green Building Council. Every detail is important. Exceeding the standards of the USGBC, nearly 90% of the wood used in the construction of the hotel is certified as sustainably-harvested and comes from local timber sources within 500 miles of the hotel’s location.

Solar lighting, natural light from the sun, illuminates the public areas of the hotel through SolaTubes that focus the light of the sun into these areas, replacing electric lights and energy consumption during the day. Solar power provides more than 12% of the hotel’s electrical needs, while a real-time display in the lobby shows how much energy and water is being used by the hotel, and how much CO2 – a common gas implicated in global warming – is being saved due to sophisticated energy conservation at the hotel.

Every inch of the grounds, with the hotel situated on 11 acres of beautiful land touched by the Sacramento river, are totally chemical-free with no herbicides, pesticides or toxic chemicals used in the landscaping.

No detail is overlooked. Scraps of wood, cardboard and metal left over from the nearly completed construction are recycled.

Gaia’s Green Features

Wood Based Materials. All lumber used for the hotel is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network to promote responsible management of the world’s forests.

Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants. Low VOC (volatile organic compound) sealants and adhesives were used throughout the hotel for carpet, construction. Low VOC paints were used throughout the hotel. Both these strategies help improve the air quality within the hotel and have a positive effect on human health by improving the quality of air.

Carpet. Carpet with recycled content. Our carpets contain post consumer recycled material in the backing, fiber and pad. Construction Waste Management. The contractor is committed to implementing waste diversion practices as an integral part of their operations. They provided a recycling station for paints. The contractor also provided a recycling station for cardboard. During construction, bins were placed on the property primarily for cardboard. All cardboard were recycled on the premises.

Stone. All restrooms use recycled tiles and granite.

Water. The project achieved a water use reduction of about 40%. DDLow flush toilets. All toilets produce 1 gpf (gallon per flush). Standard toilets produce 1.6 gallons per flush. All of our guestrooms are equipped with low flow showerheads. The Koi pond uses recycled water from the site, which is then filtered and cleaned prior to entering the pond.

Environmental Quality. Appropriately sized and efficient HVAC units are used throughout. These units are quieter and more efficient than standard HVAC systems and use a more environmentally friendly refrigerant than is standard. Aluminum exterior grates were used in all entrances of the property. This helps to minimize dust and particulates entering the building, therefore improving air quality.

Energy. All windows used are efficient, low energy transmittable and reduce glare. Solatube tubular skylights are used throughout the hotel including our conference rooms, lobby and the hallways. These skylights magnify the sun’s rays to deliver abundant light into the property interior spaces during the day. We save electricity by using these skylights. Solar panel provides 10% of our electricity. Cool reflective roof reflect heat therefore saving money in cooling costs.

Recycling. Recycling bins in rooms and around property. Newspapers are not delivered to each occupied room. Newspapers are located in the lobby available for guests who actually read them. Bulk soap and shower dispensers are used in all guest rooms. This helps to eliminate hundreds of pounds of plastic containers and packaging daily from mini shower bottles and soap. Only recycled paper products are used at the hotel.

Landscaping. Chemical free landscaping. All of the fertilizers used for landscaping are all natural and chemical free. Native and climate-adaptive plants were used so water use for irrigating is very limited.

Cleaning. Environmentally friendly cleaning products are used to clean the property.

This is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind “Green” hotel – an environmentally sustainable hotel – that is setting a trend for new, eco-conscious travelers who expect to travel as they live: being environmentally conscious, walking the talk with a minimal impact on the earth and usage of as many recycled and natural products, and energy saving products, as humanly possible.

About GAIA Anderson Hotel & Spa

Located on 11 naturally-landscaped acres in Anderson, California (south of the city of Redding, just off Highway 5, the main North-South route from California to Oregon) GAIA Anderson Hotel & Spa is a 122 rooms, cutting-edge, eco-operational hotel offering guests the ultimate experience of harmony with nature. The nearly completed eco-hotel includes more than 5,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a full-service restaurant featuring California cuisine and local, artisan foods and banquet facilities for local events, weddings and other gatherings.

The hotel is located at 2900 Alexander Avenue in Anderson, California, 96007. The phone number is: (530) 365-7077.

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The Cliff House Resort & Spa Receives Maine State Certification as an Environmental Leader

The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine has been certified as a “Maine Environmental Leader Lodging Business” by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Pollution Prevention Program. The resort has implemented environmentally friendly practices, many exceeding the state’s requirements for certification.

Maine Environmental Leader Lodging Business

Green Spa initiatives include the replacement of traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lighting in 194 guest rooms, offices, spa therapy rooms, function rooms and common areas. Programmable lighting sensors have been installed in the public bathrooms and locker rooms.

In the spa, all-natural ingredients are being used in message and skin care treatments and flooring in four spa areas has been upgraded to renewable, natural cork tile. Maine-made natural personal care products including native blueberry items are sold in the Spa Boutique.

Corporate materials are being printed on papers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council using environmentally friendly, soy-based inks. Paper and glass is recycled.

Chef Michael Semancik, purchases fresh, locally grown, organically-certified fruits and vegetables along with meats and dairy products free of growth hormones and steroids. Fresh seafood is caught locally in the Gulf of Maine. New for 2008 is an on-premise herb garden. Organic fertilizers are being used on the grounds and food waste is recycled for fertilizer.

The Cliff House Resort & Spa, the oldest, family-owned and operated resort on the East Coast offers 194 ocean view guest rooms, state-of-the-art spa and fitness center, fine dining and high-tech conference facilities. Innkeeper Kathryn Weare, great-granddaughter of founder Elsie Jane Weare says “My family has been welcoming guests at The Cliff House Resort since 1872. The resort is defined by its magnificent setting high above the millennia-old Bald Head Cliff. We want to insure that our guests receive the highest level of hospitality in an environment that we will carefully preserve into the next century.”

Information on the Cliff House Resort & Spa

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Miraval Tucson Adds 16 New Sustainable Guestrooms. Oprah’s Spa Show Favorite.

Award-winning destination spa, Miraval Tucson announces the addition of 16 sustainable guest rooms. Miraval maintains both its commitment to growth and sustainability with these new guest rooms, each designed to be environmentally conscious. A desert paradise providing the ultimate in balance, mindfulness and wellness, Miraval is now able to accommodate an increased number of guests and provide them with unique and luxurious spa experiences.

Adding to the existing 102 guest rooms, these 16 additional sustainable rooms will be composed of 14 standard rooms and 2 suites. The standard rooms will measure 595 square feet and the suites will measure 898 square feet, both larger than the existing standard guest rooms. All of the rooms boast a simple elegant decor, including a glass wall to take in the breathtaking desert views, natural rammed earth walls, and an outdoor shower. They are decorated in a relaxed manner, employing earth tones and natural materials to connect guests to the landscape around them.

“Miraval is in the midst of a major expansion strategy as we continue the enhancement of our flagship Tucson property,” states Miraval Chief Executive Officer, John Vanderslice. “These new luxurious, sustainable rooms will provide a vibrant experience for our guests and will help them to connect to the beautiful Arizona surroundings.”

The materials used for each room were selected for their sustainable qualities including low to zero VOC paints, water based adhesives, and rapidly renewable, local resources. This choice reflects Miraval’s overall commitment to sustainable practices and utilization of local ingredients, such as their spa cuisine which focuses on natural, organic ingredients or the adobe block walls and landscape materials native to the Sonoran Desert. Each new room will include high performance heating and cooling systems, a solar hot water heater capable of supplying hot water on demand, and low flow plumbing fixtures to increase energy efficiency.

These state-of-the-art design features will offer guests the most comfortable, rejuvenating and environmentally conscious stay, deepening their connection to the nature and to themselves. In creating a destination that exists harmoniously with the natural world, Miraval Tucson hopes to facilitate the pursuit to live fully and live better, encouraging guests to be mindful of the world around them and to live in the moment.

About Miraval

Miraval® is the innovator in living and feeling better. Created in 1996, Miraval’s flagship resort in Tucson, Arizona has been consistently rated the #1 Destination Spa by, Travel + Leisure, Zagat Survey and Conde Nast Traveler. Miraval, a proponent of choice, offers over 150 uniquely vibrant programs and activities, all of which reflect Miraval’s core philosophy of living life in the moment. The brand is expanding its reach through its network of prestigious specialists and its creation of fully integrated inspired living communities, beginning with the introduction Miraval Living, New York in 2007.

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Going Green 101 Resources for your Family

From the Oprah show Going Green 101: What Your Family Can Do Today!

Make saving our planet a part of your daily life with easy changes. Start today with help from these resources

To celebrate Earth Day, April 22, make “going green” more than just a catchy line. Make it a part of your life-every day.

“In honor of our Earth, I love her, I’m asking all of you today to implement just one green idea to help the fight against global warming,” Oprah says.

Start by making small changes. It’s easier than

 

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ADVENTURE SPA | Arizona dietitian wants guests to maintain healthy lifestyle

Lots of spa retreats do a great job getting guests to eat right and exercise while they’re there. But as soon as they get home and unpack, it’s back to nightly dates with Ben & Jerry and other bad habits.

Devon Metz watched this pattern play out repeatedly during her years working at some of the most high-end destination spas in the country.

Ellen McGann (left) and her hiking group take a snack break. There were hikes for beginners as well as advanced trekkers.

PRICE: Devon Hiking Spa vacations cost $2,900 per person, based on double occupancy. Solo travelers tack on $500 for their own room. The price includes five nights at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, all meals, two spa services, airport departure shuttle, backpack, pedometer and other little extras.

DATES: Eight trips are scheduled this year. They are: May 23-28; June 25-30; July 11-16; July 25-30; Nov. 16-21; Nov. 30-Dec. 5; Dec. 7-12; Dec. 14-19

FOR MORE INFO: Call (888) 823-2303

The 31-year-old dietitian and fitness instructor figured there had to be a better way to help guests keep a healthy lifestyle going long after checkout. Late last year, Metz began offering six-day getaways aimed at just that. Held in the sunny, Southwest city of Tucson, Ariz., Devon Hiking Spa vacations focus on nutrition and fitness in a “real world” way, Metz said.

“Most places just put a plate in front of you and you’re not really learning how to eat out and make the right choices,” she said. “We take people out to real restaurants each night and have them navigate the menu. We do a supermarket tour and learn how to really read the ingredient list.

“We try to do the same thing with exercise,” Metz added. “We’ll use a resistance band instead of heavy equipment and give them the band to take home with a list of exercises to do.”

The idea of a week away from the office hiking past saguaro cacti in the Arizona mountains, learning how to have a better diet and enjoying some relaxing massages sounded like the perfect escape to Ellen McGann. This Hinsdale banking executive deserved an escape. The 48-year-old mother had recently wrapped up eight rounds of chemotherapy and 28 radiation treatments after having surgery for breast cancer.

“I viewed it as the ultimate detox,” McGann said. “I’d wanted to do a health spa thing my entire life. I thought, ‘Why not just take a week off work and focus on myself, focus on diet, exercise and healthy living?’ “

McGann was one of 12 who signed up for the inaugural Devon Hiking Spa vacation in December. Most of the guests were women, ranging in age from their late 20s to 50s. And most were like McGann, traveling on their own. Base camp was the swanky Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

A typical day started around 7 a.m. with a half-hour of stretching followed by breakfast in the hotel. Then it was time for an hour-long class that usually revolved around nutrition. After that, everyone laced up their hiking boots and hit the trail, where people had the option of choosing between guided hikes for beginners or advanced trekkers.

Guests who wanted more of a fitness fix could take a post-hike class in pilates, yoga or strength-building resistance bands and then treat their sore muscles to a massage; two spa treatments came with the package.

In the evening, everyone got together for dinner at a local restaurant to practice what was preached.

“Every night before dinner we went over what to order, what questions to ask,” McGann said. “You do things like mindful eating exercises, where you put your fork down between every bite.

“A lot of the stuff I learned I came home and taught my husband,” she added. “We tend to go out to dinner a lot. I’m not afraid anymore to ask the restaurant for something special, like putting the sauce on the side or skipping the breading. My husband’s lost about 15 pounds since I got back.”

During her stint in Tucson, McGann tried Pilates for the first time. She liked it so much, she now does it once a week. She’s also making a weekly visit to a personal trainer.

“I’m still working on the exercise thing,” McGann said. “It’s my worst category.”

About once every three weeks, McGann gets an e-mail from Metz asking how she’s doing and whether she’s meeting her goals.

“I love the follow-up,” said McGann, who plans to show Metz her progress in person when she takes another Devon Hiking Spa vacation later this year.

McGann finished her cancer treatments a year ago this month.

She said that when you’re in the midst of battling something as formidable as cancer, “you don’t feel like you’re ever going to get on the other side . . . focusing on myself and my health during that week helped push me to the other side.”

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