Staying at one of Accent Inn’s five B.C. locations is often as educational for the guests as it is good for the environment. The 25-year-old company, run by father-daughter team Terry and Mandy Farmer, has long had an emphasis on green business practices. Along with its long-running towel re-use program, the hotel also uses in-room blue boxes, fluorescent lighting, environmentally-friendly cleaning products and even room occupancy sensors in its most energy-heavy Kelowna and Kamloops locations.

John Espley, Accent Inn’s business development manager, says that the company is proudly local, so for them, being green isn’t just about buying a credit to plant trees in Brazil – it’s about protecting the environment where they live and work. One way that Accent does this is by supporting local groups like Sierra Club BC who are already working on conservation efforts in the province. Sierra supporters also get a special room rate at all Accent Inn locations – just don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave!