Go green: Carbon offsets, eco-friendly hotels are the newest trend

There’s a lot of talk these days about global warming and curbing carbon emissions. As a result, some travel companies are seeking to erase or reduce the carbon footprints they leave behind.

Virgin Atlantic chairman Sir Richard Branson said his company plans to invest $3 billion in renewable energy initiatives over the next 10 years. “We cannot ignore that aviation does create environmental problems (around 2 percent of global CO2 emissions), although it also produces significant economic and social benefits (8 percent of the world’s GDP),” Branson says. Virgin is exploring ways for aircraft to burn considerably less fuel and emit lower levels of CO2.

Individuals also can erase their carbon foot prints. TerraPass (terrapass.com) allows you to calculate your emissions from driving and flying, then buy a corresponding pass to counterbalance a specific amount of carbon dioxide emissions. For example, flight passes range from $9.95 for 2,500 lbs. of CO2 (about 6,000 miles) to $1,499.95 for 450,000 lbs. of CO2 (about one million miles).

Proceeds from a TerraPass pay for three types of renewable energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution: wind and biodiesel; biomass, such as dairy farm methane; and industrial efficiency. Expedia.com has partnered with TerraPass to offer environmentally conscious businesses the ability to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide their employees’ business travel creates, and to buy the corresponding amount of carbon offsets. In Canada, several travel companies have partnered with ZeroGHG (zeroghg.com) under similar schemes.

Colorado’s Vail Resorts has a new $1 billion “green” development project called “Ever Vail” that will transform the 9.5acre site into a “green” multiuse resort village with residences, a hotel, offices, retail shops and other businesses. Great Hotels of the World (GHO; ghotw.com) has a new Eco Collection of hotels that operate comprehensive energy management systems. Member hotels must prove they are protecting ecosystems, providing jobs to local populations and sharing socioeconomic benefits with local communities and indigenous people. GHO donates a percentage of room-generated revenue to a conservation organization. The Eco Collection will be GHO’s fifth line of hotels (others are luxury romantic, spa, golf, and business and incentive travel collections).

Sustainable Travel International (sustainabletravelinternational.org) has an eco-directory of travel providers that are eco-certified.