Point Reyes, CA — Hostelling International’s Point Reyes Hostel has been certified as a Marin County Green Business through the Bay Area Green Business Program.
By exceeding federal and state environmental regulations and working to conserve natural resources, prevent pollution, and reduce waste, the Point Reyes Hostel is now the second hostel in Hostelling International USA’s Northern California network to receive this recognition.
Under the stewardship of General Manager Hanna Morris, the Point Reyes Hostel has made many eco-friendly changes, from switching to compact florescent light bulbs to utilizing non-lethal pest control solutions. In addition to maintaining the hostel’s recycling and composting programs, Morris has ensured that paper products used in the hostel — from office paper to toilet paper — are 100% post-consumer-waste recycled and non-chlorine bleached.
Guests are encouraged to pitch in by bringing their own refillable water containers and taking advantage of the hostel's new Multi-Pure water filtration system, rather than relying on bottled water. Guests may also opt to bring their own sleeping bags to save hostel energy on linen washing. Linens and towels that are used by guests are machine washed and hung to dry in the California sunshine, weather permitting, in order to further conserve energy.
"Doing whatever we can to be a greener hostel is good for the environment, and becoming green-certified is good for business," says Morris. "In addition to gaining positive exposure in the community, we hope that other businesses might be inspired to do the same."
Hostelling International prides itself on its commitment to eco-friendly, low-impact travel. Through its Green Hostels Project, Hostelling International ensures that all of its hostels practice energy conservation and offer guests information about environmental preservation, in the hopes that travelers will continue these practices when they
(original: October 3, 2007)
Please visit NorCalHostels.org for more information.
Photo courtesy of Point Reyes Hostel
