It is difficult to assess which hotels are really green, and it's certainly become a bit of a buzzword. However, ranching is a great place to start, as the owners are stewards of the land - their interest is very much concerned with sustainability, the protection of flora and fauna and passing the land onto future generations. Ranch Rider (http://www.ranchrider.com) offers the Rocking Z Guest Ranch - a property with a deed of conservation which is making eco-strides. They use bio-diesel and straight waste vegetable oil to irrigate the land and have recently worked with the Montana Fish Wild Life and Parks Foundation to preserve the fish habitat at the nearby Creek. The ranch has fenced the area to protect it from all domestic livestock. This has helped to provide better water quality and lower stream temperatures for the fish habitat. The owners have recently recorded a two-degree reduction in temperature over the summer months, their efforts having a positive effect on the fish population. They are also looking to install wind power at a later date.

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