Eco-Friendly Greensboro: Top Sustainable Businesses and Green Initiatives

Greensboro, North Carolina, is a beacon of sustainability, blending Southern hospitality with eco-friendly innovation. Known as the "Green in Greensboro," the city boasts pioneering green businesses and initiatives, from luxury hotels to cost-effective, eco-conscious rentals. Whether you’re visiting or relocating, discover Greensboro’s top sustainable stays, dining, and businesses that keep both the planet and your wallet green.

Proximity Hotel: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality

Proximity Hotel sets a global standard for eco-friendly hospitality as the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified hotel by the U.S. Green Building Council. Its signature feature is a solar water heating system, with 100 panels across 4,000 square feet, powering 60% of the hotel’s hot water—equivalent to 100 homes’ energy. This innovation makes Proximity a leader in sustainable luxury.

The hotel employs over 70 green practices:

• Energy Efficiency: Consumes 41% less energy and 33% less water than comparable hotels, using high-efficiency materials and Kohler plumbing.

• Regenerative Elevator: Features North America’s first Otis Gen2 Regenerative Drive elevator, recycling energy into the building’s grid.

• Recycled Materials: Includes a bistro bar from salvaged walnut trees and Plyboo (bamboo plywood) trays; 87% of construction waste was recycled.

• Stream Restoration: Restored 700 feet of a nearby stream with native plants, 376 tons of boulders, and 18 logs to reduce erosion and boost ecosystems.

Guests enjoy complimentary bicycles to explore Greensboro’s 75-mile greenway trails, promoting low-carbon travel. The adjacent Print Works Bistro, also LEED Platinum-certified, sources local ingredients for sustainable dining.

• Address: 704 Green Valley Rd, Greensboro, NC 27408

• Phone: (336) 379-8200

• Website: proximityhotel.com

• Print Works Bistro Address: 702 Green Valley Rd, Greensboro, NC 27408

• Phone: (336) 379-0699

• Website: printworksbistro.com

Joy Watson Real Estate: Eco-Friendly Rentals with More Space and Savings

For travelers seeking a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to hotels, Joy Watson Real Estate offers eco-friendly short-term, mid-term, and long-term (12-month) rentals in Greensboro. Unlike luxury hotels, Joy Watson’s pet-friendly, fully furnished properties—like Sisters, Library of Ivy and Ellie, Hunsucker’s Place, Granma Dotties and Mamaw Uschies—provide larger living spaces at lower rates, letting guests keep more "green" in their pockets. With nightly rates at Dottie and Uschies private rooms upstairs in the home where Joy and Eric live starting at $50 for private rooms (e.g., Grandma Dottie’s) and starting at $100 per night for full homes (e.g., Hunsucker’s Place), these rentals offer unbeatable value compared to Proximity’s premium pricing.

Led by Joy Watson, a licensed NC real estate agent and master gardener, the business prioritizes sustainability. Properties feature eco-friendly materials like 100% cotton sheets, energy-efficient appliances, and access to Watsucker Urban Farm, a community hub teaching sustainable gardening, life and job skills to students with learning differences. Joy drives a 2014 Prius to reduce emissions, and rentals are designed for eco-conscious guests, with recycling programs and low-impact amenities. Located within walking distance of downtown Greensboro, these curated homes are ideal for families, remote workers, or corporate relocations, offering a greener, more affordable stay.

• Address: W Wendover Ave, Greensboro, NC 27408

• Phone: (928) 699-8883

• Website: joywatsonrealestate.com

Greensboro’s Green Initiatives and Sustainable Businesses

Greensboro’s eco-friendly ethos extends citywide, with sustainable businesses and initiatives complementing stays at Joy Watson Real Estate and Proximity Hotel. Here are key contributors to the "Green in Greensboro."

Greensboro’s Greenway and Trails

Greensboro’s 75-mile trail and greenway network encourages biking and walking, reducing carbon emissions. The 4-mile Downtown Greenway connects neighborhoods and attractions, making it easy for Joy Watson Real Estate guests to explore sustainably. Learn more at greensboro-nc.gov. Joy and Eric got E-bikes in April 2025, and love riding on these paved trails all over Greensboro.

Wheels on the Greenway

NC GreenTravel Initiative

Greensboro shines in North Carolina’s GreenTravel Initiative, recognizing businesses for sustainability. Proximity Hotel leads, while the Greensboro Botanical Gardens, near Joy Watson’s rentals, showcases native plants and educates on local ecosystems.

Eco-Friendly Plumbing and HVAC Services

NG Plumbing, Heating & Air, a Joy Watson Real Estate preferred vendor, supports Greensboro’s green homes with tankless water heaters, reducing energy use. Their services align with the eco-friendly features of Joy Watson’s rentals.

• Phone: (336) 207-0576

• Website: ngplumbing.com

Community Recycling and Waste Reduction

Greensboro’s recycling programs mirror the efforts of Joy Watson Real Estate and Proximity Hotel, which recycles 75% of its waste. Proximity’s construction used 90% recycled steel, and 87% of waste was diverted from landfills, setting a standard for local businesses.

Red Collection: Sustainable Fashion and Decor

Red Collection another JWRE preferred vendor, promotes a circular economy with high-end consignment furniture and fashion, reducing waste and offering sustainable home decor options for rental guests. Two locations. Both are great!

• Address: 1201 Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407 second location on Mill St across from Bargain Box Jr. League Thrift

• Phone: (336) 297-0900

• Website: redcollection.com

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro: Preserving History

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro (ASG), a preferred vendor a Preservation Greensboro project, reclaims historic materials, diverting over 20 tons from landfills annually. Their showroom offers vintage items like doors and chandeliers. Call ahead to confirm hours. We love this place and Bill Dawkins keeps making it better!!

• Address: 1028-B Huffman St, Greensboro, NC 27405

• Phone: (336) 389-9118

• Website: preservationgreensboro.org

Reconsidered Goods: Creative Reuse Center

Reconsidered Goods, a preferred vendor and a non-profit, diverts materials from landfills for artists and educators. Their store and studio offer sustainable supplies, inspiring creativity among Greensboro visitors. Eric

• Address: 4118 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC 27407

• Phone: (336) 763-5041

• Website: reconsideredgoods.org

Sustainable Dining: Farm-to-Table Restaurants

Greensboro’s farm-to-table restaurants pair perfectly with eco-friendly stays, sourcing local ingredients to reduce emissions. Top picks include:

• Cille and Scoe: Modern Southern cuisine from their 60-acre farm.

  • Address: 312 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401

  • Phone: (336) 522-5144

  • Website: cilleandscoe.com

• Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen: Seasonal Southern dishes with local ingredients.

  • Address: 1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408

  • Phone: (336) 370-0707

  • Website: lucky32.com

• Undercurrent Restaurant: New American fare with local sourcing.

  • Address: 327 Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC 27401

  • Phone: (336) 370-1266

  • Website: undercurrentrestaurant.com

• Chez Genèse: French-inspired dining with community focus and local ingredients.

  • Address: 616 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27406

  • Phone: (336) 663-8389

  • Website: chezgenese.com

• Tessa Farm to Fork: Rustic dishes with homegrown produce.

  • Address: 3900 N Church St, Greensboro, NC 27455

  • Phone: (336) 285-7796

  • Website: tessagreensboro.com

• Farmside Kitchen: Nutrient-rich bowls with local farm partnerships.

  • Address: 2132 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408

  • Phone: (336) 676-5750

  • Website: farmsidekitchen.com

Why Greensboro’s Green Initiatives Matter

Greensboro’s eco-friendly businesses, from Joy Watson Real Estate’s spacious, budget-friendly rentals to Proximity Hotel’s solar innovation, create a sustainable ecosystem. These efforts, alongside farm-to-table dining and reuse centers like Reconsidered Goods, reduce environmental impact and enhance community well-being. Green infrastructure, like restored streams and trails, ensures a vibrant future for Greensboro.

Plan Your Eco-Friendly Greensboro Stay

Experience the Green in Greensboro with a stay at Joy Watson Real Estate’s eco-friendly rentals, offering more space and savings than hotels. Book at joywatsonrealestate.com for a pet-friendly, sustainable home near downtown. Alternatively, enjoy luxury at Proximity Hotel or bike the greenway from either stay. Shop at Red Collection, browse Architectural Salvage, and dine at farm-to-table spots like Tessa Farm to Fork. For green travel tips, visit VisitNC.com or proximityhotel.com.

Greensboro blends sustainability and hospitality, keeping your wallet and the planet green. Book your eco-friendly stay today!