TRAVERSE CITY -- The Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, along with 11 other hotels in the chain, has earned the Green Seal certification from a non-profit environmental group.  It's the first hotel chain in the country to be certified for achieving specific environmental standards.  (www.greenseal.org)

Over the past year, almost every lightbulb in the resort has been replaced by a compact fluorescent or low-energy bulb.  Shower heads and faucets have been replaced in every room to reduce water usage.  Recycle bins can now be found in hallways and in every guest room.  Paper napkins in the restaurant have been replaced with cloth.  Even the water park has seen changes.  The levels of chlorine used are high enough to kill germs in the water, but low enough to reduce danger to the environment.  Water from the park is filtered and used to irrigate the grounds.  These are just some of the initiatives taken on by Great Wolf Lodge in what's being called "Project Green Wolf."

The resort has teamed up with National Geographic Kids to provide educational programs about environmental issues as part of Project Green Wolf.

General Manager, Michael Lusky says the entire staff is trained to adhere to the environmental guidelines. 

A tree was planted in front of the Lodge today as a symbol of the committment of the project, according to Lusky.  Environmental initiatives will continue to be taken by the company in the future.