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SarahReidyInn by the Sea: The Greenest Hotel in Maine
Mar 5, 2009 05:01 PM
Categories: Greater Portland Town: Cape Elizabeth
It's not easy being the greenest hotel in Maine, but somebody’s got to do it. That somebody is the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, in business for almost 27 years. According to Rauni Kew, Public Relations Director for the Inn, the original owners took special care not to disturb the property’s existing plants and wildlife, and that respect for the natural environment has been a theme ever since. In 2008, the Inn underwent major renovations and now has a modern new look, inside and out. All of the new décor and added space for guests reflect green planning and design, and the Inn is now recognized on a national level for its environmentally-conscious measures. Every last detail, from soaps, to towels, to building materials, was chosen either because it is all-natural, recycled or recyclable. Guests are provided with paper “soap bags” and asked to take unused soaps home with them for future use.
The Inn’s elegant new spa addition, located in the lower level of the facility, was built with help from a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) consultant and is made from green and recycled materials practically from floor to ceiling. What is more, Ms. Kew reports that 75% of the construction waste was recycled. This addition includes private rooms for spa services, a workout room, and sanctuary areas for relaxing. Towels are made from bamboo, a renewable resource, and the floors are made from recycled cork and rubber. Ice water with lemon is served to guests in bulk instead of offering bottled water as glass and ceramic are the rule, not plastic. Recycled resources are used throughout the resort, as the pens and even the room- key cards are made from recycled paper. The Inn is the first hotel in Maine to be heated entirely with Biofuel, and the first to be carbon neutral. Biofuel is an eco-friendly mix of soy and other fuel oil that is produced here in the United States and is considered better for the environment.
The Inn’s green practices don’t end on the inside, as the grounds of the 5 acre facility are also a tribute to the environment. Solar panels heat the outdoor pool in the summer, which is filled with salt, rather than chlorinated, water. Indigenous plants are grown and maintained on the property as, according to Ms. Kew, they do not require as much water and chemicals as exotic plants do. A small vegetable garden is kept in the summer months, which yields fresh ingredients for a portion of the meals served in the Inn’s Sea Glass restaurant. Local vendors provide the rest. The acreage of the Inn is considered a Wildlife Habitat, due to the efforts of the groundskeepers to protect Monarch butterflies, an endangered species. Milkweed is planted, along with more attractive choices, as they are essential to the life cycle of the butterfly. On the beds of each guest room, a card sits giving guests the choice of having their sheets and towels changed each day reusing them. When a guest chooses to reuse their sheets and towels, the Inn adds money to an annual donation fund that protects the Monarch butterfly.
After touring the facility and new spa addition, it is clear that there are simply too many green measures to list, which may be why the Inn by the Sea is listed by TripAdvisors as one of its Top Ten Environmentally-Friendly Accommodations and as a Top 10 American Green Hotel by MSMBC and Forbes Traveler. When asked what green practices guests seem to like the most, Ms. Kew responded that out of all the Inn’s sweeping efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, ironically, it is the soap bags that people remember the most. When asked why she thinks this is, Ms. Kew answered, “The soap bag solves an environmental issue that they may not have been aware of. A tiny soap bag saves hundreds of soaps from being thrown away, which end up in a landfill. Every small thing can have an impact on the environment.”
Inn by the Sea
40 Bowery Beach Rd
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
(207) 799-3134
www.innbythesea.com
By Sarah Reidy
For more info on what Maine businesses are doing to be more eco-friendly, see the MaineBusiness.com green guide.
The Inn’s elegant new spa addition, located in the lower level of the facility, was built with help from a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) consultant and is made from green and recycled materials practically from floor to ceiling. What is more, Ms. Kew reports that 75% of the construction waste was recycled. This addition includes private rooms for spa services, a workout room, and sanctuary areas for relaxing. Towels are made from bamboo, a renewable resource, and the floors are made from recycled cork and rubber. Ice water with lemon is served to guests in bulk instead of offering bottled water as glass and ceramic are the rule, not plastic. Recycled resources are used throughout the resort, as the pens and even the room- key cards are made from recycled paper. The Inn is the first hotel in Maine to be heated entirely with Biofuel, and the first to be carbon neutral. Biofuel is an eco-friendly mix of soy and other fuel oil that is produced here in the United States and is considered better for the environment.
The Inn’s green practices don’t end on the inside, as the grounds of the 5 acre facility are also a tribute to the environment. Solar panels heat the outdoor pool in the summer, which is filled with salt, rather than chlorinated, water. Indigenous plants are grown and maintained on the property as, according to Ms. Kew, they do not require as much water and chemicals as exotic plants do. A small vegetable garden is kept in the summer months, which yields fresh ingredients for a portion of the meals served in the Inn’s Sea Glass restaurant. Local vendors provide the rest. The acreage of the Inn is considered a Wildlife Habitat, due to the efforts of the groundskeepers to protect Monarch butterflies, an endangered species. Milkweed is planted, along with more attractive choices, as they are essential to the life cycle of the butterfly. On the beds of each guest room, a card sits giving guests the choice of having their sheets and towels changed each day reusing them. When a guest chooses to reuse their sheets and towels, the Inn adds money to an annual donation fund that protects the Monarch butterfly.
After touring the facility and new spa addition, it is clear that there are simply too many green measures to list, which may be why the Inn by the Sea is listed by TripAdvisors as one of its Top Ten Environmentally-Friendly Accommodations and as a Top 10 American Green Hotel by MSMBC and Forbes Traveler. When asked what green practices guests seem to like the most, Ms. Kew responded that out of all the Inn’s sweeping efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, ironically, it is the soap bags that people remember the most. When asked why she thinks this is, Ms. Kew answered, “The soap bag solves an environmental issue that they may not have been aware of. A tiny soap bag saves hundreds of soaps from being thrown away, which end up in a landfill. Every small thing can have an impact on the environment.”
Inn by the Sea
40 Bowery Beach Rd
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
(207) 799-3134
www.innbythesea.com
By Sarah Reidy
For more info on what Maine businesses are doing to be more eco-friendly, see the MaineBusiness.com green guide.
© 2009 MaineToday Media, Inc.
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