Responding to market demand for more things green, motorists will get a chance to pick where to stay based on a hotel’s eco-friendliness.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) will start highlighting green hotels with a new “eco” icon in the motor club’s 2010 TourBook.

The new editions of the TourBook will highlight which of the 31,000 hotels listed have adopted environmental protection and energy conservation programs. The eco option will also be included in the online version of the AAA TourBook.

The push to shout “I’m green” is popping up all over the hotel industry. For example, Marriott just opened a 226-room Courtyard hotel in Chevy Chase, MD, that includes several eco-friendly marketing lures to the green-conscious customer. The newly renovated hotel uses:

• 100% renewable wind power for its electricity, which reduces operational costs and its carbon footprint by requiring no greenhouse gas emissions to power the building
• a reflective roof to help cool the building and bounce the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere
• energy-efficient light and HVAC systems that don’t use any ozone depleting refrigerants
• energy-efficient windows
• an energy management system to coordinate power usage
• low-VOC adhesives, paints, carpets and sealants
• water conservation efforts by installing low-flow shower heads and dual-flush toilets
• special parking for hybrid cars
• bike-to-work program for employees
• centralized recycling stations for on-site sorting, and
• a solar-powered trash compactor.

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has adopted similar eco-friendly programs. Click here for highlights.

Click here for more on Marriott’s new hotel.

The AAA eco icon news was revealed here.

Tags: AAA, Courtyard, eco-friendly, energy efficiency, Fairmont, greenhouse gas emissions, Marriott, TourBook, water conservation