4. Look for leaves.
Search for sustainable accommodation at Environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com, which rates places not by standard stars, but green leaves—earned based on how much of a 30-point checklist a property meets. Perennially popular hotel search engines like Hotels.com, Travelocity and TripAdvisor also have rolled out green and eco filters.
WHAT'S NEW: On Earth Day in 2015, TripAdvisor launched their GreenLeaders badge, a recognition given to properties that meet a high standard of eco-practices, in Australia and New Zealand. The initiative is the world's largest green hotel program, with more than 8,000 hotels in 67 countries, including 170 newly minted locations in Australia and New Zealand.