LEED Platinum Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina

Last week, I traveled to North Carolina to learn about Shaw Floors' new line for HGTV Home and was treated to a luxurious stay at Greensboro's Proximity Hotel. Before arriving, I was excited to visit Proximity, as it is the country's first LEED Platinum "green" hotel, but I didn't have a clue what a treat I was in for! While the hotel has made a commitment to sustainable practices, guests don't sacrifice one bit of luxury or comfort during their stays: one of Proximity's mottos is "We believe that deprivation is not sustainable."

Every element of the hotel was consciously designed. Proximity's Otis Gen2 regenerative elevators are the first in North America to generate electricity as they descend to use for the ascent. Rooftop solar panels, 100 to be exact, heat 60 percent of the hotel's water. In-suite master switches allow you to turn off all of the electricity in your room while you sleep except for those iPhones and Macbooks you want to charge. Sexy, high-efficiency Kohler plumbing fixtures reduce water usage by 33 percent. As for the building materials and décor, you guessed it: they're nearly all locally sourced, recycled, sustainable, or all of the above.

Now onto the fun part: come check out my photos of the hotel's hip interiors!