Boulder, Colo. (October 18, 2006) –
Sustainable Travel International (STI) announced today that it has added Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to its portfolio of programs designed to help travelers and travel-related companies address global climate change.
Travel-related greenhouse gas emissions are one of the fastest growing contributors to global warming. STI has focused on partnering with leading businesses and non-profit organizations to support Green Tag sales and carbon offsets in the tourism industry as the most effective market-driven solutions available for addressing global climate change attributed to travel.
“BEF’s high standards for Green Tag sources and its non-profit status fits in well with STI’s current carbon offset product offerings in the travel and tourism industry,” said Brian T. Mullis, founder of STI. “Our clients have been demanding that we provide them with opportunities to invest in renewable energy projects in the United States. Now they can choose to invest in projects that are closer to home, in developing countries, or a combination of both.”
BEF Green Tags, also called renewable energy credits, offset the greenhouse gas impacts of air, water and ground travel. Green Tags are created when renewable energy sources – such as solar and wind power – are substituted for energy generated by burning fossil fuels, which are linked to global warming. Each BEF Green Tag offsets the carbon produced by 1,030 miles of air travel, and is equivalent to 1,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy.
All of BEF's Green Tag products are independently certified by Green-e® as coming from 100 percent new renewable energy projects. As a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, BEF reinvests all the net revenues from Green Tag sales in support of its mission, which is to develop solar power systems for schools, wind power systems for farms and ranches, and restoration efforts for salmon-bearing streams.
“BEF is one of the country’s most innovative social enterprises, combining the business and the mission of supporting renewable energy,” adds Tom Starrs, BEF’s vice president of marketing and sales. “STI is focused on providing individuals and business travelers with the tools they need to protect the places they visit, and the planet at large. Collaborating makes great sense, and we are delighted to be working with STI.”
Green Tags are the latest addition to STI’s existing programs, which include booking travel with sustainable travel operators, eco-certification for travel and tourism providers and professionals, and an eco-directory aimed at helping travelers to choose environmentally sustainable travel choices.
For more information on Green Tags and other STI carbon-offset programs, please contact Peter D. Krahenbuhl at STI, 303-448-0967 or email peterk@sustainabletravel.com.
About STI
Sustainable Travel International (STI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in 2002 to promote sustainable development and eco-friendly travel by providing programs that help travelers and travel-related companies protect the environmental, socio-cultural and economic needs of the places they visit, and the planet at large. Call 720-273-2975 or visit www.sustainabletravelinternational.org.
About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a
a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources.
Through revenues generated from the sale of green power products such a Green Tags, BEF funds initiatives that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for their certification and trading.
Visit www.b-e-f.org or www.greentagsusa.org.
