Maine Department of Environmental Protection Certifies New Environmental Leaders In Lodging in Ogunquit, Brunswick
January 31, 2013
Contact: Samantha Warren, Maine DEP Director of Communications, (207) 287-5842
-Abalonia Inn and the Dunes on the Waterfront in Ogunquit and the Inn at Brunswick Station in Brunswick are recognized for their voluntary efforts to reduce the impact their businesses have on the environment-
AUGUSTA ? Lodging businesses in Ogunquit and Brunswick are the latest in Maine to be recognized for voluntary efforts in reducing their environmental impact by the State?s Department of Environmental Protection.
The Abalonia Inn and the Dunes on the Waterfront in Ogunquit and the Inn at Brunswick Station in Brunswick were certified recently by DEP as Environmental Leaders.
The State?s self-guided Environmental Leader program encourages lodging facilities, restaurants and grocers to implement sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and save businesses money to achieve points towards green certification.
In addition to considerable cost savings, the 125 current certified lodging leaders are also incentivized to participate by recognition within marketing materials published by state tourism and industry associations and by research that shows environmental designations are attractive to customers.
DEP Commissioner Patricia W. Aho says the Environmental Leader program is one of the many ways her department supports Maine businesses and shows that what is good for the state?s environment is also good for the economy.
?We are so proud of our Environmental Leader program because it engages businesses in DEP?s mission of stewarding our natural resources while ensuring a vibrant and sustainable economy,? Aho said. ?When vacationing in Maine, travelers now have more choices than ever to choose a business that values the natural resources of our great state as much as they do.?
The green practices of the Dunes on the Waterfront (http://www.dunesonthewaterfront.com), a 17-room hotel with 19 additional cottages just a short walk from Ogunquit Beach, include posting an environmental policy for visitors; relying on native plants for landscaping and vegetative buffers to protect nearby waterbodies from stormwater runoff; and using low VOC paint and efficient Energy Star appliances in the guest cottages.
Also in Ogunquit, the Abalonia Inn (http://www.abalonia.com) is a restored 1840?s New England style post and beam farmhouse located in the village center that requires all employees to sign an environmental commitment letter. The inn also uses low-flow showerheads and toilet fixtures in guest rooms to conserve water and has energy-efficient lights in rooms and lighting controls in low-traffic areas to reduce electricity use and bills.
Abalonia?s sister location, the Admiral?s Inn, was certified earlier bringing the total certified Environmental Leaders in lodging in Ogunquit to 10, the most for a Maine town.
The Inn at Brunswick Station (http://www.innatbrunswickstation.com), with 48 guest rooms and four suites in downtown Brunswick, uses professional wet cleaning (as opposed to dry cleaning) for hotel cleaning services such as uniforms and linens; submits night audit reports electronically instead of printing them; and recycles all paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic, in addition to providing recycling bins in common areas and guest rooms.
In addition to the newly certified businesses, a list of longtime lodging leaders has been recertified, meaning that in the two years since they were initially certified, they have incorporated further eco-practices into their businesses to expand their environmental commitment.
They include: Acadia Cottages-Southwest Harbor; Lubec Bay Cottages-Lubec; Admiral?s Inn-Ogunquit; Quality Inn & Suites Maine Evergreen Hotel-Augusta; Spencer Pond Camps-Greenville; Old Granite Inn- Rockland; Chandler House B&B-New Gloucester; Camden Riverhouse Inn-Camden; Comfort Inn South Portland-So. Portland; Camden Windward House B&B-Camden; Craignair Inn-Spruce Head; Hodgdon Pond Farm- Mt. Desert Island; Bar Harbor Grand Hotel-Bar Harbor; Bar Harbor Bluenose-Bar Harbor; Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks-So. Portland; Coveside B&B-Georgetown; Inn by the Sea-Cape Elizabeth; Ann?s Point Inn-Bass Harbor; Gorges Grant Hotel-Ogunquit; Schooner J&E Riggin-out of Rockland; Quaker Tavern B&B-Falmouth; Moosehead Hills Cabins-Greenville; Solstice on David Pond-Wayne; Meadowmere Resort-Ogunquit; Flagship Inn-Boothbay Harbor; Samoset Resort-Rockport; and Wild Iris Inn-Portland.
For more information about the Environmental Leader certification program and a map of all participants, go to http://www.maine.gov/dep/sustainability or call (207) 287-8550.
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