Boulder, CO, has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to the green movement. The community has taken strides to prevent pollution, thwart disruption to the natural landscape, and inhibit negative impacts on the local environment since the 1950s. Today, smoking is banned in restaurants and taverns; building in the adjacent Flatiron foothills is strictly curtailed; the development and maintenance of public parks is actively funded; recycling is free and heavily promoted; programs that encourage carpooling and the reduction of drivers on the road are thriving; and a special city commission works to help homeowners select products and designs for building green. Boulder-area resorts and hotels espouse an eco-friendly philosophy, as well. And nowhere is the green movement more in bloom than at the St Julien Hotel & Spa, home to the 10,000-square-foot, 12-treatment-room Spa at St Julien.

In keeping with its naturally inspired aesthetic, the entrance to the spa features a vaulted skylight that fills the space with soul-soothing sunlight.

The hotel, which opened its doors in 2005 and is the first to open in downtown Boulder since 1909, employs a number of eco-friendly practices including the use of long-lasting and efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, double-paned glass on guest room windows to reduce energy loss, an extensive recycling program, buffet options for breakfast and lunch to reduce food waste, low-flow toilets and shower heads, non-toxic cleaning products, and more. Additionally, the hotel, which is hosting the Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) Forum in June, doesn't use leather furnishings, supports humane methods of pest control including the use of balloons to scare pigeons off the roof, and works with an eco-consultant to improve and grow the environmental practices of the hotel. Plus, a Green Team meets weekly to brainstorm, plan, manage, and implement environmentally based programs. In October, the owners of the luxurious 201-room retreat declared that the property aims to be a Zero-Waste Hotel by 2010, which means the hotel will drastically reduce its consumption of resources and change its practices so that waste that is produced can be used as raw materials for somewhere else. "The St Julien Hotel & Spa believes that implementing a zero-waste policy will make us stand out as a progressive hotel organization within our community and at the forefront of the environmental movement," St Julien Partners said in a statement. "We hope to inspire our employees as well as the Boulder community to follow our example."

In keeping with the spirit of the hotel, the spa also has an earth-friendly, organic, and locally inspired bent. Only products that are not tested on animals, including Éminence Organic Skin Care, Deserving Thyme, and Luzern, are used in the treatment rooms and retailed. Colorado-based Inara Organic Body Care and Wild Sage Botanicals are used, as well. "We always try to support local organic companies whenever we can," says spa director Candis Ayers.

Clockwise from above: Walnut wood floors, marble accents, and botanical-themed artwork create a welcoming, earth-focused vibe in the reception area; in warm-weather months, outdoor treatments are a popular option; several locally inspired sessions are performed in the spa's 12 treatment rooms.

The spa also employs several eco-friendly practices. Corn cups and plates are used to serve fruits and beverages pre-and post-treatment; hand towels are used in lieu of disposable towels in the locker rooms; and Ayers is in the midst of researching ways to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of bottled water in the spa. Also, all of the paper in the spa, including the spa menu, is recycled and accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).