ALBANY, N.Y.—The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, N.Y., recently received a New York State Environmental Excellence Award. The awards were announced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and were presented in Albany by DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis at a reception to acknowledge the winners. Now in their fifth year, the NYS Environmental Excellence Awards honor businesses, non-governmental organizations, educational facilities, government/municipalities and individuals that have made great strides in improving and protecting New York’s environment through innovative and environmentally sustainable practices or creative partnerships.
The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort was the first hotel to ever win the award. It was honored for taking action and greater responsibility for climate change. The resort located in the heart of the Adirondack Park has taken a leadership role as the first resort in the region to become more sustainable, educate guests about environmental issues and inspire other resorts to follow its model of excellence in order to reduce the carbon footprint of the hospitality industry.
The Golden Arrow Resort has instituted green programs on a variety of fronts including: energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, green grounds and environmental education to reduce the environmental impact not only of the hotel, but also of the traveler. It features a green roof—a rooftop expanse of native plants that provides wildlife habitat, reduces water runoff and helps keep the inn warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A limestone beach reduces the impacts of acid rain. In-room recycling, insulated windows, energy-efficient lighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures are also part of the mix.
Environmental Impact Considered
The hotel offers incentives for guests who travel by foot, ski, bike or hybrid car. Four factors are considered at the resort when making all decisions: guest satisfaction, product quality, profitability and environmental impact. Hotel staff are committed to making environmental improvements throughout the resort’s operations and maintenance, as well as helping more than 80,000 guests annually become educated about how to live a sustainable lifestyle. The Golden Arrow also assists others in the hospitality industry find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
More than 40 applications from throughout New York State were submitted for the awards with submissions coming from industry, local governments, advocacy groups, educational institutions, and the hospitality sector. A committee of 20 representatives from the public and private sectors reviewed the applications and selected the winning submissions.
“The projects selected are outstanding examples of how we can solve environmental challenges by using innovative and environmentally sustainable practices or creative partnerships,” Commissioner Grannis said. “By recognizing New York’s environmental and conservation leaders, we hope to inspire stewardship so that others can make significant positive impacts and protect New York’s natural resources.”
“We are thrilled to have received this honor and very prestigious award from New York State and DEC,” said Jenn Holderied, owner of the Golden Arrow. “The environment and protecting it is not only the responsible thing to do, but for us at the Golden Arrow the environment and developing green initiatives spans every department at the resort. We are very proud of all of the initiatives we have put into place to become more Earth-friendly. We have really come a long way in the last few years and look forward to continuing to grow our green initiatives.”
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