Eco-hotels are not just small eco-tourism facilities in remote locations--they are becoming more mainstream, as large international hotel chains are showing that they are very comfortable with the concept. Presently, all of Hilton International's properties in Japan are in the process of receiving full certification.

Hotels such as The Benjamin in New York City and The Orchid in Bombay are other examples of large, luxurious city hotels that have become green. These properties feature intensive staff training, including weekly update sessions; extensive signage in staff areas reinforcing the need for conservation; the mandatory use of water-conserving plumbing fittings and energy-conserving lighting; the extensive use of recycled materials; and a comprehensive solid-waste separating and recycling program.

As the move to full appreciation of environmentally responsive design accelerates, the engineering community will become as familiar with the basic tenets of sustainable design as it is with local building codes. That familiarity will greatly improve the environment and the world.