The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa is committed to providing service to our guests all the while enacting processes and utilizing products that allow us to be environmentally friendly. We keep this alive through continual education and support from our Wigwam family, through fostering a culture of eco-responsible practices, through utilization and research of cleaner technologies as well as enlisting programs to implement greener workplace initiatives. We have currently applied to become an Energy Star partner. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all protect the environment through energy efficient practices.

As you experience the beautiful Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa, you will feel the indigenous spirit that surrounds you as nature plays an essential role in whom we are. The gentle breeze blowing through the air carries the aroma of fresh roses and the sun shining on your face delivers a sense of calm. The rustle of the trees as they sway in the wind while birds sing and flutter from tree to tree will bring you a sense of serenity. The scent of freshly cut grass will fill your senses and, if only for a few days, you will forget the world outside of The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa. The Wigwam experience celebrates the environment and we embrace anything that supports this experience.

Our specific initiatives are listed below.

Resort Wide

• We currently utilize a state of the art computer system known as an EMS system (Energy Management System), that allows us to run all our HVAC systems in an optimal Energy efficient manner.

The Wigwam Bell and Valet Team

• To show our appreciation to those guests that have embraced hybrid vehicle technology as a lifestyle, we offer complimentary Valet services.
• We proudly boast two new Global Electric Motorcars. These vehicles require no gasoline and emit no tail pipe emission into the environment.

The Wigwam Front Desk Team

• Our Front Desk Staff offers convenient e-mail express check out to reduce the use of paper used for guest folios. We estimate this process to save us 1.65 tons of paper per year. That is equivalent to saving 28 rainforest trees, 454 pounds of sulfur, 578 pounds of limestone, 14,859 pounds of steam, 99,060 gallons of water, 371 Kilowatt hours or 5.4 cubic yards of landfill space.*

The Wigwam's Award Winning Food & Beverage Team

• Our Food and Beverage department recycles fryer oil to a company that re-creates it into bio diesel that is used as an alternative fuel source.
• We employ a program to reduce the consumption of gas, water and electricity by maintaining our kitchen equipment in optimal condition. We also schedule shut downs of equipment during off-peak times and we only run the equipment when needed.
• We utilize ware washing procedures with the APEX Chemical line of products. This product enables us to reduce the amount of energy and water we consume as well as control the amount of chemicals used and decrease the waste that are produce from standard dishwashing practices and chemicals.

The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa Team

• We currently recycle paper and cardboard. Plans are in place to expand this recycle program to include all recyclable material.
• All paper that is used in the resort is 30% post-consumable paper. From every ton of recycled paper we use, we are able to save 17 trees and use 50% less water than if we purchased virgin paper.
• Throughout the resort we have gallon water dispensers where associates can refill their drinking cups.
• Styrofoam and disposable plastic cups have been eliminated from our associate cafeteria. Thus, the associate dining experience has no waste from plastic or paper eating utensils.
• All of our offices abide by the power down, lights off process when no one is in the office. Simply turning off your computer at night is shown to save 40% of carbon emissions.
• We use recycled toner cartridges and recycle the ones we have used. These toner cartridges are made of 40% plastic and 40% metal allowing them to be ideal for reuse.
• Our associates also care about their impact on our environment. In order to continue to cultivate this we encourage our associates to participate in our trip reduction programs. These programs include monetary incentives for people that carpool, van pool, ride the bus, walk, or ride their bikes to work.

We hope that what we have presented is more than simply a list of green initiatives but rather a way for you to share in our mission to leave the world a little better than we found it. The memories you create with us are held in high esteem as are our efforts to treasure the environment we share. Please let us know if you have any suggestions as to how we can further support our environment.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa.

*Source, http://www.cmu.edu/index.shtml; based on 2007 82,530 occupied rooms time 4 sheets per guest.