Jim Henson couldn't have been more right when he had Kermit the Frog sing... "It's not easy being Green!"

Being green is more than just flying a flag, putting up a sign or paying tribute to the color. Truly being green takes countless hours of hard work.  The Green Road is much like the high road, there usually isn't very much traffic, but travel is not without its tolls.

Crowne Plaza is Jacksonville's first Certified Green Hotel by Florida Green Lodging - earning its one palm certification. This green hotel in Jacksonville is dedicated to conserving Florida's natural resources by water conservation, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.

• The hotel saves approximately 55 tons of recyclable material each year
• Installed low flow shower heads in all guest rooms
• Exchanged over 2,000 incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
• Replaced all air conditioning units with new energy efficient units
• Exchanged 292 air conditioner filters for ones with higher MERV ratings
• Instead of dumping the old units in the trash, the hotel took the units apart and removed the recyclable metal which translates into 15 thousand pounds of ferrous metal, 15 hundred pounds of copper, 345 pounds of aluminum, and 76 pounds of brass
• Switched cleaning chemical companies to one with an earth friendly focus
• Trained the staff and appointed a green team to manage the program
• Crowne Plaza recycles all glass, plastic, aluminum, paper and cardboard

So, it is true, it's not easy being green. It does take time, commitment, and dedication, but it is the right thing to do. Forget Rose colored glasses. The world really will be a better place if we each make the effort to look at it through green colored glasses.

ABOUT CROWNE PLAZA JACKSONVILLE RIVERFRONT:
Escape to green accommodations in Jacksonville and enjoy affordable luxury in Downtown Jacksonville:

• Northeast Florida's first Certified Green hotel
• Complimentary in-room wired and wireless internet service
• Complimentary, 24-hour business and fitness centers
• TempurPedic Dream-Spa mattresses in all king bedded guest rooms
• Quiet Zone Floors - an entire floor devoted to solo business travelers
• Guaranteed Wake-Up Calls - or your night is free
• All guest rooms feature walk-out balconies
• For more information on Crowne Plaza, visit http://www.cpjacksonville.com/