This mindset has built us into the property that we are today.
The Lodge and cabins are built of white pine and recycled rubber, used for insulation. Of our 18 cabins, six are outfitted with tankless water heaters that heat the water as needed and our fryer oil from the kitchen is turned into biodiesel fuel, which runs our Volkswagen Jetta, Kubota tractor and Kawasaki utility vehicles. This past spring, we installed 325 solar panels that create approximately 65 percent of the main Lodge's electricity.
Since opening in 1999, we've employed a variety of eco-friendly practices:
- Reusable linens in the restrooms of the main Lodge and cabins
- Recycling newspapers, plastic, paper, aluminum, cardboard and glass
- Buying local products including Amish produce, wood to heat our boiler, and regional wines
- Collection of rain water, repurposing when possible
When our guests are here, they get the chance to commune with nature in an eco-friendly tourism destination and enjoy the beauty of western Maryland.
We hope that our guests also try their hardest to live green lifestyles as well. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Recycle your Christmas tree. There are lots of programs that will repurpose them. Visit earth911.com to find a place in your area.
- When packing your bags to fly this holiday season (or any time really) only pack the essentials. Alaska Airlines found that removing five magazines per plane resulted in a savings of $10,000 per year in fuel costs. Imagine the savings if each traveler left that extra pair of shoes at home!
- Turn down your thermostat. Every degree lower in the winter – or higher in the summer – decreases your electric bill by 10%.
What are your tips for going green? Share them in the comments below.
Savage River Lodge won the Maryland Office of Tourism 2011 Green/Sustainable Tourism Award. Emily Newman-Edwards is the Marketing Manager for Savage River Lodge. For more information, visit www.savageriverlodge.com.
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