Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

Virginia Green
Hotels & Lodging Facilities

Virginia Green
Blue Ridge Getaway
Rileyville, VA

Virginia Green is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s campaign to promote environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of Virginia’s tourism industry. Virginia Green has established "core activities" specific to each sector of tourism, and these practices are considered the required minimum for participation in the program. However, Virginia Green encourages its participants to reduce their environmental impacts in all aspects of their operations, and this profile provides a full list of all their “green” activities. These are the activities that guests / customers can expect to find when they visit this facility.

Blue Ridge Getaway

The Blue Ridge Getaway is perched high atop the Blue Ridge Mountains in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The brand new cabin has three bedrooms and two and a half baths, and it is located less than 100 yards from the Shenandoah National Park.

Because I would like to leave the Earth better than I found it!

Virginia Green Activities

This facility pledges that they:
Offer optional linen service
- Have signage in each guest room explaining the linen reuse procedures 
- Train housekeeping staff on our process for optional linen service  
- Purchase water- and energy-efficient washers and dryers 
- Use non-phosphate, non-toxic and biodegradable laundry detergents 
- Minimize the use of bleach and chlorinated chemicals 
- Use a service that has environmentally-preferable wet cleaning for dry-clean only items 

Recycle
- Have in place clearly marked recycling bins or provide convenient drop-off locations for guests to recycle: 
- Glass Bottles 
- Plastic Bottles 
- Aluminum cans 
- Steel cans 
- Newspaper 
- Office paper
Other items recycled by the facility: 
- Printer/ copy machine toner cartridges 
- Cardboard 
- Fluorescent lamps 
- Batteries 
- Electronics equipment such as computers, etc. 

Reduce solid waste
- Track overall solid waste costs 
- Use bulk soap dispensers instead of individual soaps/shampoos in guest rooms 
- Use refillable shampoo bottles rather than single-use bottles 
- Instruct housekeeping staff to save and reuse unopened items 
- Recycle fryer grease 
- Compost food waste and other compostables 
- Do not use any disposable containers, dishware, cutlery, or cups 
- Use bulk soap dispensers in public restrooms 
- Use high-efficiency hand-dryers 
- Purchase recycled-content paper-towels and toilet paper 
- Use electronic correspondence and forms when possible 
- Use green cleaning products that are dispensed in bulk 
- Install carpet with sustainable or recycled content and low-VOC adhesives 
- Use latex, low or no-VOC paints 
- Re-use paint thinners 
- Properly recycle and/or dispose of thinners and solvents 
- Perform preventative maintenance on all appliances, HVAC systems, plumbing, and vehicles 
- Minimize use of pesticides and herbicides in landscaping 

Use water efficiently
- Track overall water usage and wastewater costs 
- Perform preventative maintenance to stop drips and leaks 
- Use water-flow metering to discover leaks and areas of high use 
- Have installed high efficiency dishwashers 
- Have installed low flow faucets and showerheads (use less than 2.5 gallons per minute) 
- Have installed low flow toilets (use 1.6 gallons per flush or less) 
- Use microfiber technology mops 
- Have landscaping that utilizes native species 
- Use rain gauges and water meters and only irrigate when necessary 
- Have minimized our lawn area 
- Have minimized impervious areas (paving, concrete, etc.) 
- Have installed cisterns 
- Have installed rain barrels 
- Have installed drip line irrigation 
- Maintain vegetative buffers around streams and ponds 
- Other Activities: Use dry clean up methods over water-based methods. Effective storm water management system in place.

Conserve energy
- Track overall energy bills 
- Calculate the environmental impacts of the facilitys energy usage by using a pollution calculator 
- Have installed ceiling fans 
- Have installed a high efficiency HVAC system 
- Use natural lighting (i.e., open draperies and raise shades whenever adequate light from windows is available) 
- Have installed high efficiency fluorescent ballasts and lamps (T-5 and T-8) 
- Have installed compact fluorescent light bulbs in all rooms and canned lighting 
- Use ENERGY STAR qualified office equipment (computers, monitors, copiers, printers, etc.) 
- Use alternative fuel, hybrid-electric, or electric vehicles 
- Other Activities: Thermal rated windows and insulation

Blue Ridge Getaway    Blue Ridge Getaway

For more information on Blue Ridge Getaway, see www.mountain-lodging.com/blue_ridge_getaway.htm or contact Jerry Heiston at Jheison@hotmail.com or 540-860-1925.

For more information on the Virginia Green program, see www.deq.state.va.us/Programs/PollutionPrevention/VirginiaGreen.aspx.

Virginia GreenVirginia Green is a partnership supported by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Hospitality & Tourism Association, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

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