Applications for ‘Travel Green’ Certification Way Up

A change in green certification fees has led to a jump in the number of tourist-related businesses getting that designation.

In Washburn, three businesses became Travel Green Wisconsin certified this month: Memorial Park and Campground, Thompson’s West End Park and Campground, and the Superior Vistas Bicycle Tour. Washburn City Administrator Scott Kluver says the businesses are proud to be certified, but say they are only going with what the city has been doing for years. “It’s constantly an issue that’s in progress. I mean, the city always has been, since it established itself as an eco-municipality to do whatever it’s going to to take on a project, to be an environmentally sensitive as possible. So that’s just the philosophy we have and the overall way the city does business.”

Wisconsin Tourism Communications Director Lisa Marshall says the state was the first to have an agency like the Travel Green initiative that certifies businesses like hotels, motels and events. Marshall says the fee originally ranged from $100 to $900, depending on the size of the business, but is now a flat fee of $95.

There are 335 businesses or events that have become Travel Green certified in Wisconsin. Since lowering the registration fee they’ve seen a jump in the number of businesses being certified in the last six months.

Marshall also says the process of becoming certified isn’t very complicated: “By doing things like installing low flow water fixtures in faucets and sinks, members that are certified in Bayfield County have reduced their annual water use by 1.6 million gallons: that’s over 15 million water bottles.”

Also helpful: changes including reducing electrical use by having people who stay longer use the same sheets.