carbonneutraltourism.co.uk

A note from Roots and Culture Tours NYC:

Launched in 2008, Roots and Culture Tours NYC offers visitors and locals of New York City the best cultural bus and walking tours of the city. Each tour is unique and like New York City, one of a kind, offering visitors tours of multi-ethnic and historical neighborhoods that include free visits to various cultural and historical venues, shopping and food tasting, so that every person that books a tour experiences the many cultural dimensions of the city. With the proceed of the tour, a small portion will be donated towards a one day arts workshop that teaches youth about social justice, history and environmental issues.

San Francisco, 12th – 13th June 2008
Red 7 Media have launched the Green Event Summit EXPO which is the the first national conference in the USA which brings together executives from the event and trade show sector.  One of the objectives is to learn about creating eco-friendly events.

One of the central beliefs of the Parducci Winery in California is their wish to preserve the environment in which they grow their grapes and produce their wine.  In the spring of 2007 the Parducci Winery because the first winery in the USA to gain carbon neutral status.

To achieve this Parducci Winery installed a solar powered system (with just under 10,000 square ft of solar panels), upgraded to energy efficient technologies (which reduced 9% of their 2006 annual energy use in 2007), converted farm equipment to run on bio-diesel (which produces less than half the CO2 emissions of diesel and no sulfur or aromatics), used earth-friendly packaging and promoted a variety of reduce-reuse programs that includes on-site vineyard composting, water conservation and recycling projects.  Parducci also purchased carbon credits, thus offsetting emissions through financial investment in carbon-reducing projects such as wind power, methane capture and forest conservation.

To find out more about the Parducci Winery please visit their website.

Please note all photos and images are copyright Parducci Winery.

The Maine Windjammer Association offers voyages on traditional sailing ships. Guests have a choice of 12 ‘windjammers’ from the Stephen Taber which was built as a coasting schooner in 1871 through to the 132 foot schooner Victory Chimes which was built in 1900.

In terms of the environment the traditional ‘windjammers’ use minimal amounts of diesel, electricity and water. No one drinks bottled water, all hot water is generated with a wood stove, showers are low-flow and guests use one set of towels for the duration of their cruise.

To find out more please visit the Maine Windjammer Association’s website.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has compiled a Green Best Practices list for hoteliers taking steps to cost-effectively ‘green’ their own operations. Available on AH&LA’s Website, the section features a growing list of actionable strategies, case studies, and timely ‘green’ news from AH&LA members leading the way to a more eco-friendly hospitality community.

Several notable Green Best Practices include:

• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, running eco-friendly and responsible kitchens worldwide;
• Green Suites International, a California-based supplier, recently developed new environmental programs through their products at two Seattle hotels;
• MGM Mirage in Las Vegas, recycling 80 percent of construction waste and building a monorail to the neighboring Bellagio Hotel.

“With so many of our members making such significant efforts to conserve our natural resources, we hope to inspire others in the hospitality industry to implement their own effective eco-friendly policies,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. “We encourage our members to educate themselves on the strides their industry colleagues are making to generate ideas for their own businesses. As we do more and more research, we’re thrilled at how eco-conscious the lodging community already is, and extremely optimistic as we define and launch sustainability initiatives industry-wide.”

With a newly-established Green Task Force currently developing a comprehensive sustainability initiative for both existing properties and new construction projects, the greening of the industry is one of AH&LA’s top priorities in 2008. The Green Task Force is working with the U.S. Green Building Council on a new, hotel-centric, LEED building certification, expected to be completed by the end of this year.

AH&LA is also reviewing criteria from more than a dozen existing programs already in effect around the nation, including Green Seal, Green Globe, Green Key, and various state certification programs, components of which will be the basis for the multi-tier green lodging certification program. Rounding out the initiative, AH&LA is also working with the meeting planner community to jointly create eco-savvy guidelines for the industry.

More detailed information is expected to be announced within the next few weeks. For more information on AH&LA and its green initiatives, please visit www.ahla.com.

The Ambrose Hotel, located in Santa Monica, California, USA is a leading eco-hotel in California. Their green operational policies, all helping to reduce their environmental impact, centre around:

• Energy Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Non-Toxic Housekeeping Practices
• Waste Reduction
• Alternative Transportation
• Staff and Guest Awareness
• Community Service

The Ambrose Hotel even has a London Taxi to act as a shuttle bus for guests which they have recently convert to run on bio-diesel fuel.

In terms of green awards and certificates that have been awarded:

• Sustainable Quality Award Grand Prize Winner 2006
• Google Green Drummer Recognition 2006
• Greenopia Los Angeles 4 Leaf Award of Achievement 2006

The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa, located in American Canyon, California is an eco-hotel which has strong environmental creditentials.

Environmental initiatives including:

• Paints: Low VOC paints were used throughout the hotel.

• Carpet: Their carpets contain post consumer recycled material in the backing, fibre and pad.
• Stone: All restrooms use recycled tiles and granite.
• Water: The project achieved a water use reduction of about 40%.
• Solar panel: Solar panels provides 12% of our electricity.

The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa is also a Gold LEED Certified hotel.

San Francisco’s newest and ‘greenest’ hotel – the Orchard Garden Hotel – is one of California’s first hotels built to the specifications of the “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” (LEED®) Green Building Rating System from the US Green Building Council in order to earn its coveted LEED certification.

As proud sister to the award-winning Orchard Hotel, the $25 million Orchard Garden is a short stroll from Union Square shops and theatres, blocks away from the Financial District dealmakers and San Francisco’s legendary cable cars, and just steps from the Chinatown Gates. Eighty-six deluxe guest rooms on ten floors, elegant boardroom, inviting rooftop garden and superb restaurant combine graceful luxury with state-of-the-art design in an intimate, residential atmosphere. Works by locally renowned artists are proudly featured in the welcoming lobby and throughout the entire hotel.

The Orchard Garden’s ‘green’ practices also include chemical-free cleaning products, a 100% tobacco-free environment, recycled paper and soy-based inks. The hotel also proudly debuts San Francisco’s first guestroom key card energy control system, similar to European and Asian systems.

Stylish, eco-friendly guest rooms have been designed with comfort in mind. Each of the hotel’s 82 deluxe guest rooms and four junior suites designed by Architecture International is decorated in natural wood tones and light, fresh colors and include:

• One king-size or two double beds with 100% washable Egyptian cotton linens, plush coverings and feather down pillows
• Oversized working desk with excellent lighting, dual-line cordless phone and high speed Internet and Wi-Fi access
• Large-screen LCD flat panel HD television
• iPod docking station with alarm clock and radio
• State-of-the-art DVD and CD player, all with stereo sound and remote control
• Safes in all closets
• Individual climate control

Roots Restaurant is a small, stylish restaurant located in the Orchard Garden Hotel, perfect for business lunches, pre-theater appetizers or romantic dinners. Roots proudly serves contemporary American cuisine with a Mediterranean flair and is committed to featuring local produce, naturally raised meats and sustainable seafood whenever possible. The cozy bar is a great spot for cocktails.

The Cedar House Sport Hotel is luxury hotel located in the Martis Valley, California, USA. Combining innovative design with eco-credentials guests have 42 rooms and suites to choose from – click here to find out more about the accommodation.  Facilities onsite include a bar, outdoor spa, meeting room and complimentary Wi-Fi available throughout hotel.

The Hotel has been designed and developed around sustainable principles.  Green initiatives include:

• Light fixtures on the property are fluorescent or low voltage, there are no incandescent lights

• All lights have photo sensors and timers on them

• A green roof covers the reception / check-in area

The Hostel in the Forest is located on 120 acres of forest and wetlands in Brunswick, Georgia (USA).  Openned in 1975 the Hostel offers guests a unique environment to relax in and learn about sustainable living.  The Hostel in the Forest has been developed by volunteers and guests can stay in one of nine tree houses or a bunkhouse.   The Hostel’s communal kitchen uses produce from its own gardens to prepare vegetarian meals for guests.  You can even find some of the recipes here.

Mission
The Hostel in the Forest “ is a center which promotes and teaches environmental sustainability, while also serving as a spiritual retreat, and hostel for international and domestic travelers. It teaches a hands-on approach to a sustainable lifestyle through activities such as alternative building and organic gardening while complementing the processes of nature.”

Check out the photos on the Hostel in the Forest’s Flickr account here.