Best Green Hotels in U.S.: W San Francisco

The W San Francisco makes history by earning the first LEED certification for an existing building belonging to a major hotel chain, and only the  seventh hotel in the United States to earn the LEED Silver rating.  The W San Francisco is also certified by the state of California as a green business.  This is all good.

I’ve stayed at the W San Francisco several times, and love it for its clean decor — especially the window seats that invite curling up with a good book, or a glass of wine and the sunset.  Ask for a room on a high enough floor with a view of the Oakland Bay Bridge.  The W San Francisco is centrally located close to top San Francisco attractions including the Embarcadero, Union Square and several great museums, including the Museum of Modern Art.  It’s also got a hot after-work bar scene at the XYZ, where fashionable locals mix with guests.

Window seats are an inviting feature at W San Francisco

But green, LEED certified hotels are also fashionable right now, and the W San Francisco is a green leader.  There are motion sensors in the hallways, so when you step off the elevator, the lights go on, and when nobody is in the hall, the lights are off.  Motion sensors in the guestrooms turn off air-conditioning when nobody’s there, and the guestroom computers have similar energy saving features.  The hotel hosts ‘zero-waste’ carbon-neutral meetings and events.

The W San Francisco  is considering installing wind turbines on the roof, which would be a first for a commercial building in San Francisco.  Now this would set a green hotel trend!

The W hotel brand is part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, which has 67 hotels and resorts that are either LEED certified or registered or in the process of getting LEED recognition.

Other top green hotels in the U. S. –

• Proximity Hotel, Greensboro, N.C.
• Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa, Beaver Creek, Colorado
• Fairfield Inn and Suites, Baltimore

The W San Francisco is one more example of how a hotel can be comfortable, trendy and green at the same time.