Carbon Neutral Travel

While the New Oxford American Dictionary declares "Carbon Neutral" the 2006 Word of the Year (well, that's a phrase, isn't it?), STI's Carbon Neutral Travel initiative has taken the industry by storm. Known for its due diligence in choosing 'Best in Class' offset partners and projects, there is a reason why STI was in the top 10 list in both major recent consumer reports analyzing carbon offset programs, and one of ONLY two North American, non-profit provider recognized in both:

Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers
Voluntary Offsets For Air-Travel Carbon Emissions

To date, STI and its carbon offset partners have helped to neutralize hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide. With support from MyClimate™ and Bonneville Environmental Foundation, we've implemented successful carbon offset programs for businesses of all sizes in the private and public sectors:

In addition, STI pioneered the concept of offering travel-specific custom carbon calculators that can be seamlessly integrated into any businesses' website, starting at only $99 for a simple co-branded caclulator and $299 for a customized carbon calculator.

Examples of carbon calculator are accessible from the following links; please note that you may have to either refresh your internet browser or open a new internet browser to view these links:

• GoWay.com and Adventures Incorporated
  
• World Wildlife Fund
  
• Ben & Jerry's
  
• G.A.P. Adventures
  
• Escape Adventures
  
• Natural Habitat Adventures
  
• The Northwest Passage
  
• Adventure Smith Explorations

We're focused on taking a holistic approach, so we also provide business clients with complimentary greenhouse gas emission assessments, education and training materials, and media outreach and marketing support. This approach affords us an opportunity to determine how best to integrate an offset program into any given business, and it helps to ensure our partners' success.

Those interested in setting up a carbon neutral travel program at their place of work are encouraged to contact Peter D. Krahenbuhl, STI's Co-founder and VP, via email at peterk@sustainabletravel.com or call 303-448-0967.

Carbon Offset and Green Tag Projects

In 2006, STI facilitated offsets that resulted in supporting renewable energy development in the US. And internationally, investments went toward environmentally friendly, sustainable community development projects including projects focused on saving fuel wood in Cambodia, and generating wind energy in Madagascar and India. We will feature these programs now and in coming months...

In the Antisarana region of Madagascar, 1,800 tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year from diesel generators are being replaced with Power generation by wind turbines through STI's carbon offset partner, MyClimate and Mad'Eole, a local organization. Beginning in 2007, Mad'Eole is establishing a wind farm with a total capacity of 1 megawatt in the North of Madagscar, which will help to reduce deforestation and a shortage in electricity supply, as well as create jobs for local workers and enhance air and water quality. Currently, energy supply is unstable in the city and the surroundings. The high oil and electricity prices have boosted demand for fuel wood and charcoal, which endangers local forest resources.

The project, which will establish the first wind farm in Madagascar, aims to reduce the shortage in electricity supply as well as to introduce renewable and carbon neutral energy production by constructing a new grid-connected wind energy plant in Ramena (25 kilometers away from Antsiranana). The wind plant will consist of 4 turbines with a capacity of 250 kilowatt each, built in two phases of the project. The wind power farm is a first step in a wider scheme of Mad'Eole who aims to supply the market around the Indian Ocean with wind turbines of high technological quality, produced locally in part, as well as the know-how to maintain and operate them. Therefore, this project is also the starting point for much needed technology transfer. Each turbine will reduce approximately 450 tons of CO2e per annum, leading to an overall emission reduction of 11,700 tons of CO2e in the first seven years after electricity generation begins.

Thank you to those of you who supported STI's carbon offset program in 2006. This is one of the great projects where your money is going!

Mammoth Mountain

Arapahoe Basin

• Offers 40% discount to guests arriving with 4 or more people in one vehicle.
  
• Works with regional transit to provide free transportation link between the ski area and Summit County communities.
  

Aspen Skiing Company (includes Aspen and Buttermilk Mountains, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk)

• Aggressively switching to nonpolluting energy sources, and now purchases enough clean wind power to offset 100% of its energy use.
  
• Replacing energy-wasteful buildings with new, more efficient designs (or eliminating buildings altogether).
  
• Switching diesel-powered vehicles to clean-powered models.
  
• Strongly promoting environmental conservation to guests.
  
• At Snowmass, using on-mountain generators powered by water cycled from snowmaking ponds and natural creeks.
  
• Ski instructors and mountain ambassadors hand out cards listing easy ways to reduce carbon emissions.
  
• At ASC's Little Nell Hotel, in the town of Aspen, guests can make a donation to the Aspen Valley Land Trust.
  

Keystone Resort

• Purchases thousands of kilowatt-hours of renewable wind power.
  
• Depends on solar energy to power the resort's River Run Information Center.
  

Steamboat

• Skiers and riders who get to the resort in qualifying HOV's (high-occupancy vehicles) are entered in contest to win various prizes.
  

Vail Mountain

• Purchasing windpower equal to 100% of its energy needs.
  
• Recycles roughly 100 tons of recyclables each month.
  
• Offers guests include an option to contribute $1 to the National Forest Foundation and land conservation efforts around Vail Mountain.
  

The Canyons

• Uses solar-power for some indoor lighting.
  
• Purchases wind power.
  

Deer Valley

• Guests can sign up to purchase wind power for their homes through Utah Power.
  
• Purchases wind power for mountain operations.
  

Sundance Resort

• Has switched a large portion of its carbon-based energy sources to wind power.
  
• Provides free public transportation to season-pass holders.
  
• Offers a discount to carpooling guests.
  
• Uses energy-efficient lighting throughout the resort.
  

For more efforts at Utah resorts, visit SkiUtah's new website, www.keeputahcool.org.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

It's now an accepted fact - automobile usage contributes to global climate change. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that almost 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions are released by cars and trucks, contributing to global warming, air pollution and disease. Given this statistic, it is clear we can all make a difference. Here's some suggestions on where to start:

1. Drive a green car: There are now hybrids to match almost any need: two-door, four-door, SUV, luxury sedan. They get better mileage than their conventional counterparts, have cleaner emissions, and save money on gas. If a hybrid isn't in your future, try for a car with the best MPG you can find; and remember that hybrids aren't always the most efficient option, either. Biodiesel can now be found in almost any state in the US. This clean, domestic, veggie-based, carbon-neutral fuel will run in any diesel car or truck with little or no modification to the engine. Straight vegetable oil is an option for the more ambitious green driver and can make fueling up almost free. Another veggie fuel is ethanol, and there are between 5-6 million flex-fuel vehicles already on the road - you may even be driving one and not know it. Also, affordable, practical electric cars and plug-in hybrids aren't too far off, either. But whether or not you drive a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, there's lots you can do to green your car right now.

2. Best practices: Driving technique has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Avoid sudden starts and stops and go the speed limit. Not only does speeding and herky-jerky driving kill your MPG, it's dangerous. And even if no one gets hurt in a fender bender, how green is it to get a new bumper or have your car re-painted? As a general rule of thumb, keep your engine speeds between 1,200-3,000 RPMs, and up-shift between 2,000-2500 RPMs. Also, drive wise and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting good directions, and calling ahead.

3. Stay in tune: Getting regular tune-ups, maintenance, and having clean air filters will help you burn less gas, pollute less, and prevent car trouble down the line. Pump up: if every American's tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year! (Check your manual for optimal pressure). Lastly, get the junk out of the trunk! All that extra weight is sapping your fuel economy.

4. Car minus the carbon: There are many services out there now that can help you calculate your yearly emissions from driving and offset those greenhouse gasses through various means.

5. Carpool: Of course. Find coworkers, neighbors, and fellow students headed the same direction. Start with one shared trip per week. Also look into car sharing programs like FlexCar and ZipCar.

6. Leave the car at home: For shorter adventures, walk, take public transit, ride your bike (regular, electric-assisted, or something fancier), skateboard, rollerblades, or even look into an electric scooter. Carrying groceries or other bulky stuff can still be done on a bike with a backpack or some slick modifications. Check out the Xtracycle, for example.

7. Drive part of the way: If getting where you're going by bike or public transit alone isn't going to happen, consider driving part of the way and then jumping on public transit or your bike (a folder would be perfect). A great way to beat traffic!

8. Easy on the AC: Use the windows to help keep the car cool. Or try an electric or solar fan. Parking in the shade and using a reflective windshield shade can keep your car cooler when parked, meaning it takes less to cool it off when you get back in. If you car is new, however, let it air out. That new car smell is not friendly stuff.

9. Telecommuting: Drive less with the wonders of working from home (or internet café, treehouse, Mojave desert, etc.) With instant messaging, video chat, teleconferencing, and other world-flattening technologies, making the rush-hour trek to work and back might not be that necessary. Ask your boss or offer your employees a teleconferencing day once a week.

10. Aspire to carelessness: Not everyone is going to be able to do it, at least not cold car key. It will probably entail a shift in thinking and some time, but living carfree might be more within reach than you think. Living closer to work and school is a big part of it. Walking, biking, public transport, car sharing, car borrowing, and teleconferencing are a strong arsenal of tools to help reduce the need for a car. Give it some thought.

Source: TreeHugger, a fast-growing web magazine, dedicated to everything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible.