OJAI, CALIF.—The Casa Ojai and Su Nido Inns have joined the EcoStay program. EcoStay is a national initiative that helps hotels measure their carbon footprint, identify and fund reduction strategies and balance off their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsetting.
“We’re very excited to be part of the EcoStay Program,” said Jim Johnson, general manager of Casa Ojai & Su Nido Inns. “It’s a meaningful and effective way of demonstrating our concern for the environment.”
A typical 150 room hotel can produce three metric tonnes of greenhouses gases each day. That’s the same as driving 200 cars, heating and lighting 100 homes or taking 5,000 airplane flights. Guests at Casa Ojai & Su Nido Inns now know they are helping to significantly reduce these emissions caused by their stay.
Two Dollars Per Night Collected
Under the program, Casa Ojai & Su Nido Inns will collect two dollars per night from hotel guests. Funds will be used to purchase carbon offsets in support of emission-reducing projects across the country such as renewable energy from landfill, energy efficiency, composting and recycling—making each hotel night “carbon neutral.” The guest’s contribution offsets 128kg of CO2-e (or carbon equivalents). That’s about the same as taking 11 cars off the road for the day. All EcoStay Carbon Offset Projects are registered on the Markit Environmental Registry to provide transparency. In addition, each offset metric tonne is uniquely serialized to ensure proper retirement and avoid double counting.
A portion of each guest’s contribution will be donated to support the Ojai Valley Green Coalition; a local volunteer based organization dedicated to the advancement of a green, sustainable, and resilient Ojai Valley. Through education, advocacy, and action the Ojai Valley Green Coalition works to improve the environmental impact of energy options, building design, watershed and land use planning, transportation options, food choices and waste management.
“EcoStay is a terrific program,” Jim Johnson continued. “We’re seeing both leisure and business travelers these days who are seriously concerned about their carbon footprint. This is our way of letting guests know that we share those concerns and we’re doing something about it.”
“We’re very proud of the EcoStay program, and the hotels who have embraced it,” said Christina deVries, director of EcoStay. “These hotels are leaders in environmental consciousness and responsibility. They aren’t just talking about reducing greenhouse gases—they’re doing it.”
Go to the EcoStay Program.
