PACIFIC CITY, ORE.—The Craftsman Bed and Breakfast announced that it is offsetting its carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org, a leading nonprofit carbon offset organization. By joining Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree Partner program, The Craftsman B&B has joined a national movement of businesses and organizations that are leading the fight against global warming. Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree Partner program supports renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation projects in the United States and abroad to reduce CO2 pollution and help hasten the transition to a clean energy future. At The Craftsman B&B, the owners are committed to greener business practices and encourage guests to experience its green ideas....

BURBANK, CALIF.—The Walt Disney Company announced a landmark set of strategic environmental goals and challenging three to five year targets to reduce emissions, waste, electricity and fuel use, and its impact on water and ecosystems. The goals are part of Disney’s 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report, which details the company’s approach to critical corporate responsibility issues ranging from charitable giving to nutrition and from online safety for kids to workplace diversity. “Disney’s enhanced corporate responsibility efforts make our brands and products more attractive, strengthen our bonds with consumers, make the company a more desirable place to work and build goodwill in...

NATIONAL REPORT—Historically, owners of lodging establishments throughout the United States and Canada have ignored the sun as a source of potential energy to heat water. Whether because of concerns about cost or misperceptions about how solar thermal technology works, solar hot water heating systems are rare. That is all beginning to change, however, thanks to improving technologies, tax incentives and rebates, creative financing, better education about solar thermal heating, an increase in the number of developers interested in building to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, and an increase in the number of qualified vendors that sell...

ARCOLA, ILL.—With the second wave of construction on Green Mill Village (GMV) set to begin within the next few months, developers are certain the project will provide an economic boost to Arcola and the surrounding communities. Feutz Contractors, Inc. of Paris, Ill., completed infrastructure work on the roads, sewer and water lines and storm water control in December. The construction of the hotel, conference center, spa and restaurant will begin this spring along with the GMV Retail Center. A service station and out lot restaurant are also planned for this phase of construction. “In order to boost the local economy,...

SAN DIEGO—In an effort to support and enhance its local farming communities, Loews Coronado Bay Resort announced the introduction of “Farmers, Foragers and Fishermen,” a seasonal dinner series that allows guests to dine with the folks who produce, harvest and catch the ingredients they enjoy on a regular basis. “We believe today’s dining experience extends far beyond chefs and wineries,” said Ellen Burke Van Slyke, Loews Hotels’ corporate creative director of food and beverage. “It starts with the source—the farmer—and these dinners are designed to showcase them and their similar passion for sustainable practices.” Similar to a winemaker’s dinner, “Farmers, Foragers...

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—ASTA recently provided assistance to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in launching its new publication, “Getting There Greener: The Guide to Your Lower Carbon Vacation,” by translating the group’s findings into real-world examples of carbon-friendly vacations that consumers could take without sacrificing fun or excitement. “This guide is a useful tool for travel agents looking for hard data on the carbon cost of various types of travel,” said Chris Russo, ASTA president and chair. “By utilizing this data, travel agents are better equipped to assist those clients wishing to reduce the carbon imprint of their vacations.” At UCS’s recent...

ALICE SPRINGS, AUSTRALIA—The Crowne Plaza Alice Springs hotel set a new benchmark for Australia’s business sector and hotel industry when it switched on the largest building-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system in the Southern Hemisphere and began its $50,000 in-house energy efficiency program. The groundbreaking $3.3 million PV installation will reduce the hotel’s energy consumption by 40 to 80 percent dependant on the time of year, with the energy efficiency program further reducing consumption by 18 percent. Crowne Plaza Alice Springs’ owner, Investnorth Pty Ltd, hopes other Australian businesses will follow their example. “Australia’s movement towards a green economy is not just...

BETHESDA, MD.—In a move to help improve the climate, Marriott International, Inc. is launching a new way for guests to “green” their hotel stays. Now, when guests book rooms on Marriott’s website, they can offset the carbon generated during their stay for as little as $10, or $1/day for 10 days. As part of Spirit To Preserve, Marriott’s five-point environmental strategy, guests can contribute to a Brazilian rainforest preservation fund already supported with a $2 million commitment by the company. “Conserving rainforests—the lungs of the Earth—is one of the most important things we can do to improve the climate,” says...

NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.—A new company, Cozy Green, is providing new life to old hotel towels and linens. Cozy Green utilizes spent hotel pool towels, spa towels and linens to create logo recognized, contemporary retail products. Ideally, the company seeks towels with logos on them, and then “upcycles” them to new branded product for their hotel partners. Cozy Green specializes in totes, hooded sweatshirts, slippers, pillows and recently introduced pet beds. These products could replace the standard robe and slippers currently found in hotel rooms. “Our business model is to create a partnership with resorts which clearly meets their sustainability goals,” according...

ROCKVILLE, MD—Clean Currents, LLC, a Washington, D.C. area clean energy business, announced that it has successfully brokered an arrangement with the Legacy Hotel and Conference Centre to switch 100 percent of its electricity consumption to wind power in an effort to reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage energy independence. The hotel will also will participate in Clean Currents’ “Green Your Stay” program that offsets the carbon footprint associated with a night’s stay. In addition to switching to carbon neutral wind power, the hotel is converting its cleaning products and detergents to more organic, biodegradable solutions and...