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Stepping into the foyer of The Orchard Garden you may be excused for not recognizing just how Green it is, with its muted tones of light maple. But from floor to ceiling, and everything in between, this hotel has the essence of Eco literally woven into it.

A project born of love, The Orchard Garden hotel located in San Francisco is a memorial to the late husband, father and daughter of the original owner Mrs Huang.

All three passed away from cancer.

Mrs Huang saw the disease as one fueled by a toxic consumer lifestyle. Seeking not only solace but also an opportunity to educate, she chose to build a standing testimony to the workability of Green Living; one that would function within the tight framework of a viable business, and in a city environment. The seeds of the Orchard Garden were planted.

By utilizing the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System as set by the U.S Green Building Council, every facet of both The Orchard Garden and its operations have come under scrutiny.

Open the door to your room with an integrated key system. It turns the lights on only when the key is inserted into a holder. Leave - taking the key with you - and all the lights go out. Step onto the carpet backed by recycled materials and admire the wallpapered walls glued with low-emission adhesives. You already experiencing the functionality of Eco in action.

When you check out, even the products used to clean up after you are in keeping with the motto, but before you do, why not sample some of The Orchard Garden's fabulous selections at the adjoining Restaurant and Bar, Roots. All of the food, whenever possible, is locally produced and sourced from sustainable farms. The meats and dairy products are predominantly derived from local organic farms in Northern California, such as Niman Ranch located in Petaluma.

The Green vibrations don't stop here. Take a seat at the bar and you are likely to be served a delicious local drop. Bar manager Aaron discusses the selections:

"The wines are all from California and fall into a category of originating from either organic, sustainable or bio-dynamic wineries," he informs.

"There are some organic vodkas, one of which is an organic rye-based vodka from Idaho, called Square One. Then there is a local vodka called Roth - they also make wines."

Not to mention an organic tequila called '4 Copas', and the local '209 Gin' from the San Jose Area. The selection has me pleasantly dizzy and

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