Plenty of DC hotels mention sustainability in their brand copy, but few boutique hotels can point to a certification. Three on this list hold one from an outside body: Riggs (Future Plus), The Hay-Adams (Green Key Global) and Eaton DC (LEED Gold). The two Kimptons are covered by IHG's Green Engage program and appear on Destination DC's sustainable hotels list, but we found no certification for either property on its own.
How we selected these hotels
Tier 1 hotels hold a sustainability certification from an outside body, stated on the hotel's own site or on Destination DC's sustainable hotels page. Tier 2 hotels are on that Destination DC page and covered by a brand program that tracks energy, water and waste, but we found no certification for the property itself.
We judged boutique character on ownership, room count and design. Big convention hotels were left out regardless of their credentials. Within each tier the hotels run from 5 stars down to 4.
Eco-friendly boutique hotels in Washington DC at a glance
| Hotel | Star rating | Eco tier | Certification or verified credential | Nearest Metro | Walk (min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riggs Washington DC | 5 | Tier 1 | Future Plus impact certified | Gallery Place-Chinatown (Green/Yellow/Red) | 3 |
| The Hay - Adams | 5 | Tier 1 | Green Key Global, 4 keys (2025) | Farragut West (Blue/Orange/Silver) | 5 |
| Eaton DC | 4 | Tier 1 | LEED Gold | McPherson Square (Blue/Orange/Silver) | 5 |
| Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC by IHG | 5 | Tier 2 | IHG Green Engage (brand program, level not confirmed) | Gallery Place-Chinatown (Green/Yellow/Red) | 3 |
| Kimpton George Hotel by IHG | 4 | Tier 2 | IHG Green Engage (brand program, level not confirmed) | Union Station (Red) | 5 |
What eco tiers mean for your stay
- Tier 1 hotels hold a certification from an outside body. Riggs cites Future Plus impact certification and third-party assurance of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The Hay-Adams was certified by Green Key Global at four keys in 2025. Eaton DC says on its own site that its building is LEED Gold.
- Tier 2 hotels are covered by IHG Green Engage, which has hotels log energy, water and waste data. IHG runs it across its brands, so it tells you about the Kimpton system more than about one building.
- If a hotel's website only mentions a 'commitment to sustainability' without naming a certification or program, it did not make this list.
- Green Key Global scores a hotel's operations on a scale of one to five keys. Four keys means a score between 60 and 79.9 percent.
How hotel certification works in DC
DC's green building code has pushed new construction and major renovations toward LEED certification since 2012, but LEED scores the building. Programs like Green Key Global look at how a hotel runs day to day, which is why an older building like The Hay-Adams can hold one.
The two Kimptons qualify through IHG's Green Engage program, which has four levels of certification. We could not confirm which level either hotel has reached.
None of the five is in Georgetown; all are downtown or near Capitol Hill.
The hotels
Riggs Washington DC
900 F St Nw
9.21,797 reviews
3 min walk to Gallery Place-Chinatown (Green/Yellow/Red)Future Plus impact certified, with third-party assurance of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, per the hotel. 181 rooms in the 1891 Riggs National Bank.
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The Hay - Adams
800 16th Street Northwest
9.4327 reviews
5 min walk to Farragut West (Blue/Orange/Silver)Green Key Global certified at four keys out of five in 2025, per the hotel. An independent hotel at 800 16th Street NW.
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Eaton DC
1201 K Street NW
8.71,398 reviews
5 min walk to McPherson Square (Blue/Orange/Silver)LEED Gold, as Eaton states on its own site. An independent hotel at 12th and K Street NW.
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Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC by IHG
700 F Street NW
8.6449 reviews
3 min walk to Gallery Place-Chinatown (Green/Yellow/Red)Covered by IHG Green Engage and on Destination DC's sustainable hotels list. A 5-star Kimpton at 7th and F Street NW in Penn Quarter.
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Kimpton George Hotel by IHG
15 E St NW
9.2714 reviews
5 min walk to Union Station (Red)Kimpton says it prioritizes IHG Green Engage certification across its hotels, which means tracking consumption data. 139 rooms of pop art at 15 E Street NW.
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Frequently asked questions
What do the certifications on this list mean?＋
Future Plus and Green Key Global both certify how a hotel operates: energy, water, waste and purchasing. Green Key rates hotels from one to five keys, and The Hay-Adams holds four. Riggs says Future Plus certified it and that its Scope 1 and 2 emissions are assured by a third party. Eaton DC holds LEED Gold, which certifies the building rather than how it is run.
How is Energy Star certification different from LEED for a hotel?＋
Energy Star focuses on one thing: how much energy the building uses compared to similar buildings nationally. A score of 75 or above, meaning the building outperforms at least 75 percent of comparable properties, earns the certification. LEED covers a broader range of factors including water, materials and indoor air quality. A hotel can hold both, or either one independently.
Are any of these hotels part of large chains?＋
Both Kimptons operate under the Kimpton flag, which IHG owns, but every Kimpton has its own look and feel. Riggs, The Hay-Adams and Eaton DC are independent hotels. Big convention hotels were left out regardless of their sustainability programs.
Which of these hotels is closest to a Metro station?＋
Riggs Washington DC and Kimpton Hotel Monaco are the closest, each a three-minute walk from Gallery Place-Chinatown, which serves the Green, Yellow, and Red lines. The Hay-Adams is five minutes from Farragut West and Eaton DC five minutes from McPherson Square, both on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. Kimpton George Hotel is five minutes from Union Station on the Red Line.
What is the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 on this list?＋
Tier 1 hotels hold a certification from an outside body: Riggs Washington DC (Future Plus), The Hay-Adams (Green Key Global) and Eaton DC (LEED Gold). Tier 2 hotels are covered by a brand program that tracks energy, water and waste, but we found no certification for the property itself. Kimpton Hotel Monaco and Kimpton George Hotel are Tier 2, through IHG Green Engage. Hotels with only a general sustainability statement did not qualify for either tier.
Are any of these eco-friendly boutique hotels in Georgetown?＋
No. All five are downtown, in Penn Quarter or near Capitol Hill, and each is within a five-minute walk of a Metro station. For Georgetown options, see our Georgetown hotels guide.
