Proximity Hotel

Why Greensboro, North Carolina? Because that’s where the Proximity Hotel is — and a hotel like this deserves to get noticed no matter where in the world it’s located. It’s contemporary in design, it’s independently owned, it’s state-of-the-art in function, and it’s manageably small — all qualities we admire. But the central point to be made about the Proximity is that it’s got a genuine shot at being the greenest hotel in North America — and has the LEED Platinum certification to prove it.

If there’s an environmentalist heaven, then this is how you get in. The Proximity is built with recycled materials, heated by solar power, cooled geothermally. Efficient lighting conserves energy, efficient plumbing conserves water, even the elevators return energy to the system, re-charging during descent in the same way a hybrid automobile charges its battery while braking.

But that’s just half the concept. The other half is that you’d never know about any of these green measures without setting out to look for them — they never compromise the guest’s experience. Rooms are as spacious, well-lit and comfortable as those in conventional luxury hotels, and the emphasis on sustainable local food sourcing isn’t exactly rough on the palate either. If you’re trying to save the world, one hotel visit at a time, then this is a great place to start — but even the most decadent carbon-guzzler would have a hard time finding fault with the Proximity’s comforts.