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TravelGreen - Carbon Neutral Accommodations Since 2002, Sustainable Travel International (STI) has partnered with the hospitality industry in order to promote sustainable tourism, including the support and adoption of clean renewable energy generation and energy efficiency. A key component of this work has been the development of TravelGreen, a turn-key program that enables participating The TravelGreen program is a tool that allows for the sale of small amounts of clean renewable electricity generation through Green Tags and Carbon Offsets that are certified and verified by independent third parties. More broadly, it's a valuable service provided to the public by the accommodations sector as a way to participate directly in addressing global climate change. Through TravelGreen, your guests have an opportunity to positively impact the environment during their stay, making it possible for them to fully enjoy their visit knowing they've helped increase climate friendly travel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. The following information is intended to guide representatives from your accommodation as they administer the TravelGreen program: The Opportunity TravelGreen is a resource for hoteliers and guests who share a commitment to the environment and who have an interest in supporting renewable energy. The focus of the TravelGreen program is a positive impact of the consumer's choice to purchase Mini-Green Tags, and not on the negative impacts of their travel-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. There are two ways to participate in TravelGreen: 1. Retail Program. The TravelGreen retail program provides hotel guests with an opportunity to support renewable energy by offsetting their stay at the accommodation or by offsetting a portion of their travel to and from the accommodation. The retail program uses Mini-Green Tags sold for US$1.00 each per night during check-in or at check-out as a add-on to each guest's invoice. Hoteliers who include Mini-Green Tags in guest invoices as a voluntary opt-out have been more successful than those who offer them as a voluntary opt-in. Hoteliers can offer TravelGreen to their guests at zero upfront cost. Participating hoteliers will receive complimentary TravelGreen marketing and point-of-purchase materials, including Mini-Green Tags. The retail program also provides hoteliers a valuable opportunity to offer additional value to their guests in the form of discounts or promotional offers on services or products by adding a coupon on the back of each TravelGreen Mini-Green Tag. Please review the Program Administration section for more information. 2. Corporate Program. Hoteliers also have the option to enough purchase Green Tags to offset the CO2 emissions from their hotel facilities on an annual basis. Hoteliers who take advantage of this opportunity are eligible to purchase Green Tags at wholesale pricing. They can also market any facilities they offset as carbon neutral accommodations. Please review the Program Administration section for more information.
STI partners with two non-profit organizations to supply products that reduce the impact of climate-altering actives resulting from travel. 1. Green Tags. TravelGreen Green Tags and Mini-Green Tags are supplied by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar power. All of BEF's Green Tags are from 100 percent new, renewable resources found in North America. BEF renewable sources are certified by Green-e (www.green-e.org), the leading independent United States voluntary certification for renewable energy certificates BEF calls Green Tags. Additionally, BEF projects undergo an independent environmental review using criteria developed in collaboration with regional and national environmental organizations. TravelGreen Green Tags support renewable energy projects in North America. 2. Carbon Offsets. TravelGreen Carbon Offsets are supplied by MyClimate™, a Switzerland-based registered charity that falls under the strict requirements of Swiss law, which state that at least 80 percent of the money it receives must directly benefit the projects it endorses. All TravelGreen Carbon Offsets are developed in accordance with procedures, criteria and methodologies from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto protocol. In addition, related projects are inspected and validated by CDM accredited Designated Operational Entities (DOEs), such as The Gold Standard (www.cdmgoldstandard.org), which are independent, third-parties accepted by the United Nations. TravelGreen Carbon Offsets support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Africa, Asia and Central America. Hoteliers based in North America are encouraged to purchase BEF Green Tags and Mini-Green Tags, which support the development of renewable energy projects in the U.S. and Canada. Hoteliers based outside of North America have the option to invest in MyClimate Carbon Offsets, which support the construction and operation of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in developing countries.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration calculates that the average building in the "Lodging" category uses 29.3 kilowatt-hours (100 thousand BTU) of energy per square foot per year. This includes electricity consumption as well as energy usage associated with, for example, space heat and hot water. Based on this number, STI and BEF have computed the average total amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted per typical room night to be approximately 33.6 pounds, which is based on an average 300 square foot room. The price to offset this amount is US$1.00. This compensates for 33.6 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions which equates to 24 kilowatt-hours of clean energy. Although determining total kilowatt-hours of electricity consumption per square foot per year and dividing the amount by the total number of rooms in a hotel would be ideal, this information is hotel-specific and may not be readily available, so this calculation is a reasonable approximation that can be used for any hotel property. However, STI can provide exact calculations for your specific accommodation for a nominal fee.
1. Retail Program Participating hoteliers are required to report sales of TravelGreen Mini-Green Tags to STI on an agreed upon routine timeline (yearly, quarterly or monthly). STI will issue an invoice for payment of these sales - also on an agreed upon routine timeline (yearly, quarterly or monthly). The hotelier will then remit payment along with the unused TravelGreen Mini-Green Tags to verify sales (if applicable). Materials - STI will provide each participating facility with its own set of TravelGreen Mini-Green Tags and related point-of-purchase materials at no cost to the hotel. Mini-Green Tags are printed in batches based on an estimate of monthly, quarterly or annual sales. STI can reorder Mini-Green Tags during the year at anytime as needed. Guest Purchase Confirmation - With each purchase of a Mini-Green Tag, your guest will receive one TravelGreen Mini-Green Tag certificate along with any promotional items provided by program partner as a reward to renewable energy supporters. 2. Corporate Program STI provides simple complimentary carbon footprint assessments* for hoteliers who wish to become carbon neutral. By definition, carbon neutral represents the point at which carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been identified, measured, reduced where possible and 100 percent of the remaining emissions have been offset through high quality renewable energy, energy efficiency and or reforestation projects. A hotel's carbon footprint takes into account the following activities:
*Please note that STI will accept estimates if exact figures are not available. Also, note that STI charges a nominal fee for complex carbon footprint assessments (e.g., hotel chains, hoteliers that provide tour packages, etc.).
One of the key components of a successful TravelGreen Mini-Green Tags program is having the front desk representatives empowered to understand what TravelGreen represents and how they can encourage participation. The following are some suggested brief messages that these representatives can use to encourage Mini-Green Tag sales:
Promotional Items and Personalization As part of being a TravelGreen program partner, you have the option of providing guests with additional rewards for their purchase. These can take the form of discounts or promotions on services or products that your facility offers, such as meals, spa services, or recreation opportunities.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, electricity production is the single largest industrial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming due to the use of polluting fossil fuels. Electricity consumption is second only to automobile use in contributing to overall air pollution. Yet unlike gasoline for our cars, most of us don't think much about fossil fuels used for activities such as powering your home or operating a business. Turning on the lights alone, accounts for 39 percent of U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions. Supporting renewable energy through Green Tags is a solution to reverse this problem and reduce the air pollution associated with electricity production. The modest act of a guest purchasing one TravelGreen Mini-Green Tag reduces those emissions by 33.6 pounds - and represents 24 kilowatt-hours of clean energy.
This is a voluntary program for both hoteliers and their guests, and it's a great option for those who seek ways to be more environmentally friendly in their travels. TravelGreen should be viewed as one component that compliments a broader approach to sustainability, such as recycling, energy conservation, waste reduction, etc. STI is available to assist Hoteliers who wish to develop their own TravelGreen marketing materials. All marketing materials describing the TravelGreen program shall be subject to STI's approval. Approval will only be withheld by STI in the case of a proposed statement of false information by the Hotelier or if the proposed statement conflicts with STI's agreements with BEF or MyClimate.
STI has successfully partnered with our Green Tag and Carbon Offset clients to help promote their commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Use your participation in the TravelGreen initiative to demonstrate your values, and let us help you to tell the world you're active in supporting the environment through clean energy. We can help you to:
In addition, we are always available to work with your facility on specific promotions and marketing activities as those opportunities arise.
For hoteliers who want to encourage their guests to offset their own emissions, STI offers custom carbon calculators:
TravelGreen™ Definition of Terms Understanding green power and more specifically, Green Tags can be confusing to some. The following are a list of terms common to the energy world used in this document and that may come up as staff and guests inquire about this program. Please refer to these definitions as you read through this document and share this program with others. Carbon Neutral - Carbon neutral represents the point at which greenhouse gas emissions have been identified, measured, reduced where possible, and 100% of the remaining emissions have been offset through high quality renewable energy or energy efficiency projects. Carbon Offset - A mechanism by which the impact of emitting a ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) can be negated or diminished by avoiding the release of a ton elsewhere, or absorbing a ton of CO2 from the air that otherwise would have remained in the atmosphere. Green Tags are one many strategies for offsetting; others include reforestation and afforestation. Climate Neutral Network - CNN is another certification available to renewable energy programs as well as broader greenhouse emissions reduction strategies such as tree planting and carbon sequestration. BEF's Green Tags are designated as "Climate Cool" by the Climate Neutral Network. Electricity Grid - Also referred to as the "Power Pool" or "energy transmission system," the Grid is a system of interconnected producers and consumers of electricity fed through one large electricity transmission system. When we plug into an outlet and consume electricity, we are receiving a blend of electricity produced from any number of resources from various geographic locations feeding into the grid. For instance, at any given moment, a person using power in Oregon could be receiving electricity produced from a coal-burning plant in Colorado, a large hydro system in Idaho, a nuclear facility in Washington, a natural gas plant in California, and etc. When thinking of using electricity, think about a large interconnected system and a blend of power types. Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Typically expressed as carbon dioxide emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are linked to global climate change and are a known byproduct of conventional electricity production based on burning fossil fuels. Supporting clean renewable energy in place of fossil fuels reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Green Tag - A BEF Green Tag is a legal representation of a measured amount of renewable energy entering the energy system. It's essentially the "green" portion of green power. A Green Tag represents one Megawatt-hour of renewable energy entering the grid and displacing energy that would have been produced through burning fossil fuels (such as coal or natural gas). Each Green Tag reduces 1,400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. When a person purchases a Green Tag, they are paying a voluntary premium in order to support more renewable energy in the system. As a result, they get to claim the legal credit for supporting the environmental results associated with their purchase. Their dollars got more renewable energy into the system and caused a reduction in pollution. 1 Green Tag = 1 Megawatt-hour (or 1,000 kWh) of clean energy. Green Tag Marketer - The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is a marketer of Green Tags. It's role is to purchase the bulk output from renewable energy facilities. such as a wind farm. and then make them available for sale to smaller markets such as individuals or businesses. Green Tags are also purchased by utilities and sold as green power. Kilowatt (kW) - Electricity production capacity of 100 Watts. For instance a solar array might be sized at 5 kilowatts. This means that at its maximum capacity, it can produce 5 kilowatts of electricity. Kilowatt-hour (kWh) - Measured production of electricity over a given period of time. For instance the 5-kilowatt solar array running at 100% capacity for a period of one hour will produce 5 kilowatt-hours worth of energy. To get a sense of scale, the average U.S. home consumes approximately 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Megawatt (MW) - Also electricity capacity, but expressed as 1,000,000 Watts or 1,000 kilowatts. Megawatt-hour (MWh) - Also measured production of electricity over a given time period, but expressed as 1,000,000 Watt-hours or 1,000 kilowatt-hours. Mini-Green Tag, BEF - A fractional Green Tag representing 1/10 of a "full" Green Tag. Mini-Green Tags are used for small retail purchases of renewable energy as a way to offset other activities. For instance a person might buy a Mini-Green Tag to offset the emissions associated with their drive to and from their favorite ski area. 1 Mini-Green Tag = 24 kilowatt-hours of clean energy. Renewable Energy - Also know as green power or clean energy. These are general terms used to describe electricity produced in an environmentally friendly manor such as power produced with no air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. Common sources of renewable energy are wind, solar, geothermal, small-certified hydro, and biomass. The common theme among these technologies is that they do not create a negative impact when producing electricity. Renewable Energy Credit - Also known as REC, this is another term used to describe a Green Tag. Travelers' Philanthropy - A voluntary movement of conscientious consumers and responsible travel companies who are donating financial resources, time, talent and economic patronage to protect, positively impact and support environmental conservation, cultural heritage preservation, and community economic development. U.S. EPA Green Power Partnership - The Environmental Protection Agency sponsors a voluntary program called the Green Power Partnership that offers recognition to those industries supporting renewable energy through purchasing green power or Green Tags.
Brian T. Mullis |
hoteliers' to become carbon neutral, while at the same time empowering their guests to get involved on a personal level. Through TravelGreen, hoteliers around the world are connecting thousands of guests with the opportunity to support renewable energy.
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