IT might be known as the ‘City Of Light’, but Paris is seemingly trying to manufacture a new nickname as the ‘City of LED’. For those not so au fait with LEDs, they are a low-energy source of light, and it is on green issues that the French capital is gradually coming into its own, albeit while trying to maintain its style, character, panache and certain je ne sais quois.

The Eiffel Tower, for example, is still dazzlingly lit up at intervals on a night, but there are fewer bulbs now and they’re on for less time and use up less energy.

The environmentally-minded initiatives are possibly a part of Paris that’s not particularly well known to the common visitor.

In fact, there’s probably a fair bit of the great old city that isn’t particularly well known.

And it was with green issues in mind, and the desire to check out some of Paris’ not-so-well-known features, that we embarked on our trip over the Channel.

Well, I say ‘over’ the Channel, but I mean under it, as we got there via the Eurostar – and what a pleasant way to travel it was.

It’s less stressful than flying and, paradoxically, it might take less time too, if you take into account the trouble of getting from York to an airport and then putting up with the customary check-ins and waiting around once there, and then your onward journey at the other end.

We instead caught the 10.05am National Express train service to London King’s Cross, then wandered over to the nearby St Pancras International to catch the 1.30pm Eurostar – and were in the centre of Paris a little over two hours later.

No fuss, no annoying queues and, in travelling ‘Leisure Select’, we were very well fed and watered (well, wined and dined).

Moreover, anyone worried about their carbon footprint should note Eurostar is carbon neutral, and cutting right down on its carbon emissions.

We headed straight to our hotel for the weekend, the swish 1,025-roomed four-star Meridien Etoile half-way between the Champs Elysees and La Defense and only 15 minutes from Gare Du Nord railway station.

This, too, was chosen partly for its environmentally friendly outlook, being the only hotel in Paris to be recognised with the Clef Verte (‘Green Key’) French environmental standard.

For example, it too uses low-energy and automatic lighting, and changes linen only at the customer’s request – thus giving the guest the option of saving power.

Le Meridien Etoile’s classy restaurant also makes a point of getting its food and drink from within a 125-mile radius of Paris.

This “100 per cent local” initiative cuts down on the environmental costs of food transportation while also helping local producers, and unearthing the best crop from the region.

Mind you, whoever produces the beer in the hotel’s reputed jazz club is onto a winner as the first pint costs in the region of 26 euros, though that includes free admission and prices then become slightly more respectable.

Further details and prices can be found at www.lemeridienetoile.com.

Other restaurants in Paris are now advocating environmental godliness, not least BIO Art (www.bioart.fr). Situated above the River Seine, it too uses only organic and locally sourced produce and, not only that, it has a feng shui design to supposedly strengthen the environmental harmony within the building.

A bit pretentious maybe, but I couldn’t work out how we couldn’t hear traffic noise from outside despite the door being open, so maybe there’s something in it.

Then there’s the trendy, eco-friendly, organic – and almost totally vegetarian – restaurant called Soya, near Canal St Martin, in a different part of town, for hip parents and students, and also Supernature, on Rue de Trevise.

There are also eco-friendly ways to see the city.

There’s a guided tour (www.ecovisitparis.com) which not only shows the usual tourist sights but also points out environmental initiatives across the city. Transport comes in one of the least polluting cars on the market – the Toyota Prius Hybrid – so the un-green guilt of adding to traffic pollution isn’t so great.

Perhaps more fun, though, if a little bit self-conscious, and certainly self-concerned, is a ride on the cycolbulle (ww.cyclobulle.com).

Sat on the back of a fancy tricycle-taxi in a convoy of other similarly daft-looking tricycle-taxis has you fearing not only for your street cred, but more importantly for your life on the traffic mad streets, especially when you towards round the crazy Arc de Triomphe roundabout.

(Did you know that roundabout is the only place in Paris, perhaps the world, where there are so many crashes and bumps that any insurance claim must be halved between the claimants, regardless of who’s to blame, just to cut down on the time it takes to process the paperwork.) It’s certainly a green way to go though, and a bit of a laugh.

Being green isn’t not all about modern initiatives, though. Take, for example, the traditional French bakery – Boulangerie Veronique Mauclerc – which was like being briefly back in 19th century Paris when there was no such thing as carbon footprints, with its massive brick oven, old-fashioned techniques and variety of breads and pastries.

Our visit there was part of a “meet the French” scheme (www.meetingthefrench.com), which is designed to give us English a different view of Parisian people other than the stereotypically arrogant and unfriendly bunch we love to hate.

Also part of that scheme is the promotion of something not particularly Parisian – the humble Bed & Breakfasts.

The city has been trying to increase its number of B&Bs, not only to offer cheaper tourist accommodation, but also to give the place a more homely feel, again breaking the arrogant stereotype. “Come and meet us – honestly, we’re not that bad.”

The one we had a look round – Lydie & Laurent LeMouel’s place on the aptly named Rue de Entrepeneurs – seemed a decent place to stay for anyone on smaller budgets.

The scheme also encompasses guided walks that show a different side of Paris (www.paris-prm.com).

The area we visited was Belleville, and, while it used to be a rundown sector full of immigrants and the underprivileged, the cheaper house prices, renovation schemes and its distinctive Bohemian character mean it’s becoming an increasingly trendy, arty and popular place to live.

Think Camden, cannabis, and arty girls and boys with dyed asymmetrical hair and piercings, and you’ll get the picture.

From one art culture to another, we also visited one of Paris’ lesser known museums, the Musee du Quai Branly (www.quaibranly.com), the location of which – never mind what’s on display – makes it one that shouldn’t be ignored The respective arts and historical artefacts of all the world’s continents contained therein make it a grand tour, and educational to boot.

The fact it’s located on the banks of the Seine underneath the Eiffel Tower makes it a bit more special.

And the fact it also has a rooftop restaurant – stunning for both its food and location – overlooking the tower with views across the city, makes it a special place to spend an evening (www.lesombres-restaurant.com).

It’s from here that you get possibly the best view of the Eiffel Tower sparkling in all its LED glory. Ecofriendly or not, the French can still do romance.