Lodgers Look to Walk the Eco-Talk

New York Times, April 20, 2008 — ANOTHER town, another night, another lecture from the innkeeper about saving the planet.

To reduce your harmful carbon emissions, we have replaced guest-room bath towels with tea towels and showers with sponge baths. For the sake of the Earth, save energy! Squint! And remember, lights out at 10 p.m.,” the placard on the hotel room nightstand might say.

That’s an exaggeration, of course. But it’s not too far from the attitude that some hotels have projected about the environment — while scolding and annoying their customers in the process.