Green hotels are nothing new in San Francisco. Green Travel Hub lists over 30 hotels that offer various green practices ranging from recycling, reusing, and conserving to providing organic food and discounts for travellers driving hybrid cars. But now there’s a new hotel in town aiming to out green them all. Although, to be honest, it’s not all that new.
In its previous life, it was known as the Hotel Britton. But since its transformation by the Joie de Vivre boutique hotel chain from something old and rundown into something new, vibrant, and very, very green, it goes by a new name – Good Hotel. Good by name and good by nature. So good, in fact, that it’s being promoted as the first hotel with a conscience, complete with a “philanthropy concierge” to help guest help others.
Interested guests, with time to spare, are hooked up with One Brick, a nonprofit group that needs volunteers to help restore wetlands or assist at food banks or other charity events. Plus, there’s opportunity to participate in a carbon offset program to minimize the environmental impact of your stay.
The philanthropy theme continues in the hotel’s business center with One Laptop Per Child computers (for each computer purchased by the hotel, a companion computer is directly shipped to needy children in developing countries).
From top to bottom, the Good Hotel is a true model of recycling with its renovations and furnishing done with reclaimed and recycled construction materials. A table constructed from a skateboard and a bench made of felt blankets sit in the lobby. Guest rooms continue the eco-friendly theme with bedside lamps made from recycled Voss water bottles, bed frames and headboards made from 100% reclaimed wood, and the decorative pillows made from vintage fabrics.
The only thing possibly not recycled are the sink positive toilets. All guest rooms have these innovative toilets that, when you flush, provide clean water out of the sink faucet at the top of the toilet. An ingenious idea that not only promotes good hand hygiene but also water conservation as the water goes straight into the toilet tank.
Drive to the hotel in a hybrid car and you’ll get free parking, a major perk in the big city. And for those without a car, the Good Hotel maintains a green Prius Zipcar for Zipcar members and there are always on call hybrid taxis available.
While the location in the city’s SOMA (south of market street) area might not appeal to many, the experience definitely will. The Good Hotel is located at 112 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Opening rates range from $119 to $139. For reservations or information, call (415) 621-7001 or (800) 738-7477 or visit jdvhotels.