Q&A: Green hotels in Beverly Hills

Your eco-questions answered:

Question: Do you know of any "green" hotels in the Beverly Hills area? -- Graham

Answer: No.

Or more accurately: One hotel -- The Beverly Hilton -- is identified as green by the California Green Lodging Program. However, that program's guidelines are a very, very pale shade of green.

Put together to help California state employees travel green, the Cali Green Lodging Program awards one or two palm trees depending on a hotel's green commitment. The Hilton has one tree -- meaning it's at the "entry level for the program" and "might not have a written environmental policy in place." Basically, this hotel might become green one day -- Hilton Hotels are experimenting with a few eco-rooms in Chicago, after all -- but hasn't done much as of yet.

Still, the hotels on this list awarded 2 palm trees are likely greener options than other chain hotels. The lone hotel in the L.A.-area with this distinction: the New Otani Hotel & Garden.

Beyond that, the Cali Green Lodging Program's list seems rather out of date -- which explains why the Ambrose Hotel in Santa Monica -- which is very eco-friendly -- doesn't make the list.

But the Ambrose got a four-leaf award from the eco-guide Greenopia, and was named Certified Green Business by the City of Santa Monica. Both of Greenopia's and Santa Monica's criteria are much firmer than the Cali Green Lodging Program.

One other Santa Monica hotel also got the Certified Green Business distinction:  Best Western Ocean View Hotel. A bit surprising, but apparently this hotel has made some real green changes, with "energy & water efficiency, environmentally conscious office purchasing, and use of less-toxic cleaning chemicals."

Lastly, a few hotels have earned the Energy Star label for using energy more efficiently than comparable businesses. Those are the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport, and the Marriott Los Angeles Airport.

If you keep Web-searching, you'll likely find an organization called Green Hotels Assn. that lists a few more hotels. However, this association isn't actually a group of hotels that have gone green; it's a group of hotels that has bought a membership to this "association," which basically sends the hotels materials on how to go green. So membership doesn't mean actual green credentials for member hotels.

Clearly, finding a green hotel is still difficult today, but greening your own visit is somewhat simpler. Have a nice stay --

Update, 2/3/08: The newly-opened Venice Beach Eco Cottages are also great green options for your L.A. stay. All three revamped cottages were built using many recycled materials. Green features include organic mattresses and bedding and energy-efficient hot tubs. The minimum stay is 3 nights.

Got a question? Ask me: greenlagirl@gmail.com.

Photo by Brian Tobin via Flickr