For hotelier Barry Sternlicht, this Brooklyn
bolthole is the most exciting he’s ever created, and it’s easy to
see why – especially when you consider its stellar eco-credentials.
Wind-powered electricity illuminates the lobby’s lush 25ft living
wall, which serves as an au-naturel backdrop to reclaimed decor
(upcycled materials include wood from the Coney Island Boardwalk
and Bronx trees felled by Hurricane Sandy). In an earthy palette,
the 194 rooms (including 29 suites) benefit from custom-made hemp
mattresses, triple-filtered water on tap and environmentally
friendly hair dryers. Should you need a local transfer, guests can
book one of the hotel’s free Tesla cars. Like this? Visit sister
property 1 Hotel Central Park where you can kick back on rustic
repurposed furniture, pump iron in a fitness centre with recycled
flooring and breathe easy courtesy of more than 20,000 plants.

A pioneer among New York’s eco-luxe hotels, The Benjamin pairs
beaux-arts elegance with socially responsible features such as
energy-efficient lighting, sustainable bathroom amenities and a
top-notch recycling program. It’s not just the environment that
gets the special treatment at this Midtown hotel, however; The
Benjamin prioritises guests’ wellbeing. The National – a James
Beard-approved restaurant – puts provenance and nutrition at the
fore, with healthy, locally sourced dishes curated by Food
Network’s Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian (his gourmet snacks fill the
in-room minibars too). Sated, guests can rest easy in this
209-room, Emery Roth-designed building thanks to sleep expert Dr
Rebecca Robins’ “Rest & Renew” program, featuring a pillow
menu, in-room spa treatments and on-demand guided meditation.

Sandwiched between the skyscrapers lining Central Park and the
Hudson River, this printing-house-turned-hotel (hence the name:
Kimpton Ink48) puts its guests at the epicentre of Hell’s Kitchen.
The hotel’s environmental ethos is closer to Eden, however – as
evidenced by its Green Key eco-rating. Bathroom products are
organic; lighting is energy efficient; toilets are low-flow; PRINT
restaurant sources its ingredients locally; borrowable bicycles
help reduce guests’ carbon footprint; and biodegradable pick-up
bags are on offer for those who bring their pooch. Not yet rushing
to book? Stay in one of the 222 guestrooms and suites and you can
detox at the InkSpa or retox during complimentary wine hour at the
rooftop bar, Press Lounge.

Marrying SoHo luxe with a green ethos, the Crosby Street Hotel
has been awarded the Gold LEED certificate by the US Green
Buildings Council in recognition of its commitment to renewable
energy, saving resources and its positive attitude towards guests’
wellbeing. Colourful Kit Kemp-designed rooms frame uninterrupted
vistas of Manhattan (the Junior Suites on the 10th and 11th floors
have the best views) while the Crosby Bar restaurant serves
Modern-American dishes concocted from ingredients grown in the
hotel’s rooftop kitchen garden. There’s a vibrant social and
creative scene here – join the crowds that spill out onto the
Lafayette-Street patio, sip a cocktail in the residents-only
courtyard or hunker down in an amber Poltrona Frau armchair in the
hotel’s state-of-the-art cinema.

This Midtown hotel bills itself as “eco-chic”. Steps towards
sustainability are small here, but in the right direction
nonetheless: carpets are made from recycled material; visitors
arriving in hybrid cars receive a parking discount; artwork is
mounted on repurposed tyres; the “do not disturb” sign has been
replaced by a magnet; guest rooms feature recycling bins; and there
are no plastic-heavy miniature toiletries. Stay in one of Element’s
411 rooms (each featuring full kitchenettes) and you’ll enjoy
access to fitness centre Motion, RISE (a complimentary breakfast
bar serving fresh smoothies and pancakes) and RESTORE, a 24-hour
pantry service. Some of Midtown’s headline attractions – Bryant
Park, Broadway, The New York Public Library – are within a short
stroll, while folding bicycles can be borrowed from the hotel,
helping to minimise your carbon footprint as you explore.

This budget-friendly boutique hotel-cum-co-living space in
Queens proves that eco-conscious travel doesn’t have to cost the
Earth. Just two subway stops outside Manhattan, the 19th-century
building pays homage to its industrial heritage with concrete
floors, exposed-brick walls and original radio- and paper-making
machinery repurposed as steampunk decor. The 122 loft-like rooms
and suites are kitted out with reclaimed furnishings and William
Roam toiletries – all vegan, cruelty-free and produced in the US.
Sign up for a yoga class, knuckle down in the co-working area or
make friends with fellow guests over a game of foosball in the
sun-drenched conservatory before dining on globally inspired
comfort food in restaurant Ama. Step outside and you’re at the
heart of hip Long Island City, between Astoria and the Kaufman Arts
District.