Green rooms: SC launching green hospitality group

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Indigo might be South Carolina's state color, but the hospitality industry is going green.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control and the South Carolina Hospitality Association are holding a news conference Tuesday to launch the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance.

The initiative is designed to help hotels and restaurants be more environmentally sound. To be a member, businesses must audit their property's compliance with eco-friendly initiatives.

Green measures include energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling and environmentally safe cleaning. Officials say South Carolina's hospitality industry has a huge impact on the state's environment because of its large size.