Gina Edner, Associate Director for Environmental Sustainability at Starwood Hotels, talks to “Green is Good” from New York. With approximately 1,000 hotels in nearly 100 countries, eco-conservation across Starwood’s brands makes a major difference. Edner says that Starwood’s green programs began simply from its customers inquiring about conservation policies and more efficient places to stay when traveling. The company has moved from those humble beginnings just a few years ago to an ambitious plan to reduce energy usage by 30% and water usage by 20% by 2020. “We operate hotels around the world, and they use water and energy and produce waste every day,” Edner says. “Our goal is to reduce our impact. We’re in the business of customer service. Some of our guests expect to stay in environmentally conscious hotels when they’re traveling. We want to provide products and services that meet those needs.”