RIT Inn & Conference Center Receives Green Leaf Certification

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RIT's Inn and Conference Center receives Audubon International’s Green Leaf certification for eco-friendliness business

The RIT Inn & Conference Center, an affiliate of Rochester Institute of Technology, has received Green Leaf certification from Audubon International’s eco rating program. The initiative provides businesses with the education and assistance needed to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife and natural resources.

The inn received a three out of a possible five Green Leaf rating, which signifies that the organization has:

• Undertaken a comprehensive eco-purchasing program
• Established policies for and use of eco-certified products
• Established policies for communicating environmental practices to employees
• Provided baseline data to the New York State Energy and Research Development Agency for energy benchmarking

“Audubon International continues to be impressed by the RIT Inn & Conference Center’s commitment to the environment and the Green Leaf program,” says Fred Realbuto, Audubon’s director of New York operations. “As an organization, we would like to commend them on their Green Leaf certification and we hope they continue to serve as an example of what it means to be a green lodging property in New York State.”

The inn was one of the 43 hotels selected in 2009 to participate in the Governor's Green Hospitality & Tourism Initiative. Participating properties are going through an extensive certification and training process, which includes an investigation of water quality and conservation, waste reduction, resource conservation and energy efficiency.

“Hotel guests are practicing recycling and energy conservation at home so they are looking for hotels that reflect their values,” notes K. William Gunther, President of Gunther & Associates LLC, the managing agent of the RIT Inn & Conference Center. “Our hope is that by undertaking this green initiative we can serve as an example for how New York State hotels can become more environmentally friendly and save money along the way.”