DLEG Announces Green Lodging Vertification for The Townsend Hotel
Facility Earns Steward Certification
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October 31, 2008 – The Townsend Hotel, located in Birmingham, has earned Green
Lodging Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
(DLEG).
Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) encourages hotels, resorts, motels, and bed & breakfast facilities
to implement environmental initiatives and cost-saving “green” practices to conserve energy, reduce
water consumption, protect air quality, reduce waste, and participate in environmentally preferred
purchasing.
"This accreditation is the mark of environmental responsibility of hoteliers who are committed
to ‘green’ business practices that make environmental and economic goals their top priority,” said
DLEG Director Keith W. Cooley. “Green Lodging Michigan is also helping to ensure the viability of
our lodging facilities and the thousands of jobs related to Michigan’s hospitality industry."
The Townsend Hotel has implemented several environmental initiatives at their facility. They have
a linen and towel reuse program and also have a comprehensive recycling program available to both
guests and staff. The Townsend Hotel also recently completed an energy audit on the property to help
discover ways to improve energy efficiency and cut utility costs.
“Based on our energy audit we made several changes, including changing our light bulbs to
fluorescents, that have helped save the hotel money which can be used for additional green
initiatives,” said Peter Wilde, managing director of The Townsend Hotel. “These small incremental
changes allow The Townsend to continue making the environment a top priority.”
Green Lodging Michigan is a joint effort between DLEG and the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) to encourage the lodging industry to conserve and protect the state's natural resources
while increasing marketability and lowering utility costs.
"Green Lodging Michigan has been an effective way of including hoteliers in the effort to help
Michigan continue as the leader in environmental beauty and abundant natural resources," said
Steven E. Chester, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Green Lodging Michigan is a voluntary and non-regulatory certification program offered through the
Michigan Energy Office in DLEG to hoteliers at no charge. The Michigan Energy Office and the DEQ
provide technical assistance to those who are interested in implementing ‘green’ strategies and
earning certification. The GLM program certifies facilities based on environmental initiatives such
as air quality, energy efficiency, solid waste reduction, toxic waste management, water conservation,
purchasing and communication. There are three levels of certification: Partner, Steward, and Leader,
which can be earned by completing a self-assessment checklist and achieving a minimum number of
requirements and points.
The Michigan Energy Office promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy resource development to
Michigan's residents, businesses, and public institutions. For more information about the Green
Lodging Michigan program and to download the GLM application packet and self-assessment checklist,
visit the website at www.michigan.gov/greenlodging.
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