As the 2010 Winter Olympics draw to a close and athletes from around the world count up their Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, it is also important to honor the planners of the great event with their own “Green” medal for making the 2010 Vancouver games one of the most eco-friendly and sustainable Olympic games ever.

As reported at the British Columbia Renewable Energy Blog,  The David Suzuki Foundation awarded the Vancouver Olympics with a bronze medal for its “climate scorecard.”  The Vancouver-based foundation lauded Olympic organizers for creating innovative and energy-efficient venues which use clean hydroelectric energy as well as waste heat from refrigeration systems, landfill methane, and ground-source heat pumps.

“We feel like we’ve raised the bar,” said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Some of these technologies will be a legacy for generations to come, that will benefit cities all over the world.” Such eco-friendly concerns come naturally to 45-year-old former organic farmer, who earlier ran the Happy Planet juice company, and whose primary form of transportation is a well-used mountain bike.

Grouse Mountain, Vancouver’s most visited attraction (drawing more than a million visitors annually) constructed its very own 1.5 megawatt wind turbine. Dubbed “The Eye of the Wind,”  this 213-foot tower was installed this winter and was fully operational in time for the Olympics. The force of the wind will spin the blades to speeds as high as 160 mph at their tips, and is expected to offset up to 25 percent of the Grouse Mountain’s annual operational electricity needs.

Offsetters estimates the 2010 Winter Games will create 118,000 tons of carbon emissions directly attributable to the 2010 Winter Games through venue construction, facility heating, and athlete travel. Additionally, the site estimates the event will produce 150,000 tons of ‘indirect’ emissions from flights and accommodation for spectators, media, corporate sponsors and their partners. Visitors to the event can offset their carbon footprint while attending the Games by purchasing offsets at the venue. Eco-minded Olympics fans around the world can purchase one ton of carbon offsets for $25 (Canadian dollars) at the Offsetters site and receive a commemorative certificate and a special limited edition Offsetters 2010 pin. » Read more

For the second year in a row, New Yorkers and tourists alike will have the chance to literally help power the 2010 numerals by pedaling a Power Rover in the Duracell Smart Power Lab in Times Square. The rovers use rotary technology to capture human energy created from every push of the pedal. The energy is then converted into usable power and routed and stored at Duracell Battery Center, so it can be used light up the 2010 numerals as the New Year’s Eve Ball drops when the clock strikes midnight.

“When the world watches the New Year’s Ball drop and the numerals light up at midnight on January 1, our guests will be able to say they truly powered the start of a new decade,” said Rick June, Duracell vice president and general manager, North America. “The Smart Power Lab is just one example of how Duracell delivers innovative, efficient and reliable ways to power important moments today and for decades to come.” » Read more

Hope Lake Lodge & Indoor Waterpark at Greek Peak Mountain Resort not only blends with its breathtaking environment aesthetically, but is designed to preserve it as well. This expansive construction project — begun in 2008 and nearly finished — will be one of the largest “green” building projects in Central New York. Being environmentally conscious is vital to both the management and condominium residents of Greek Peak Mountain Resort Hope Lake Lodge & Indoor Waterpark.

“We put a great deal of thought into creating the perfect balance between elegant design and environmental preservation,” says Al Kryger, President of Greek Peak Mountain Resort. “Our commitment to sustainable construction can be found at even the smallest level. From energy efficient building materials to water conserving fixtures, we want our property to represent environmental responsibility. Currently we are working with the New York State Energy Research Development Authority to obtain LEED certification for the project.” Some prominent “green” features include energy efficiency, water conservation, local sustainable furniture, and advanced VRV heating/cooling systems that provide superior indoor air quality. Also, recycling has been a strong priority for 30 years and will continue at all levels of the entire resort.

What does it mean to be LEED certified?
According to the U.S. Green Building Council,  “LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.” Being LEED certified means the contractor/owner has taken a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in the following key areas: » Read more

Californians have overwhelmingly called for the Legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger to find a solution to save state parks,” Ruskin Hartley, executive director of Save the Redwoods League, said in an announcement made on July 24, 2009. “Today, both houses of the Legislature approved a bill that spares the majority of state parks from closure, but leaves an $8 million budget gap for the Department of Parks & Recreation. This funding cut means that about 30 to 50 California state parks may have to close.”

For more than 90 years, Save the Redwoods League has been dedicated to protecting these ancient redwood forests so all generations can experience the inspiration and majesty of redwoods. In 1850, there were nearly 2 million acres of ancient coast redwood forests in California. Today, less than 5 percent remains and faces threats from logging, development and global climate change. Since its founding in 1918, the League has completed the purchase of more than 181,000 acres of land and helped develop 59 redwood parks and reserves for everybody to enjoy. » Read more

Marriott International has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious and highly competitive “2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Award for Sustainability” in the Global Tourism Business category by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The global award recognizes the company’s achievements in demonstrating sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people and environmentally friendly operations.

“Now, more than ever, sustainability and environmental stewardship are good for the planet, good for business, and are vital to the future of travel and tourism,” said Ed Fuller, Marriott’s President and Managing Director of International Lodging and co-chair of the company’s Executive Green Council, who accepted the award at WTTC’s Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Florianopolis, Brazil.

Marriott was selected from a record number of entries from more than 40 countries and six continents, based on an exhaustive nomination and on-site evaluations. The judges visited Marriott’s global headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, where they met with the company’s Executive Green Council and toured the facility, which should receive LEED(R)-(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Existing Building status from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) by year-end. They also toured several hotels to observe their environmentally-friendly operations, including the The Inn and Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland in College Park, which is LEED(R)-certified; the JW Marriott Hotel Washington, DC and the Washington Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C.; the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown; and the Miami Airport Marriott, Eden Roc, a Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, and The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, all in Miami, Fla.

“We have reached a global tipping point in the travel industry, as more businesses and countries realize that sustainable tourism is not only about protecting the environment and safeguarding cultural diversity, but that it is also an important economic opportunity,” said Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges, WTTC.

Building on 20 years of energy conservation experience, Marriott is committed to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Some of the most recent outcomes from the company’s Spirit To Preserve(TM) strategy include:

–  When guests book a room on Marriott.com or visit Green-Brazilian Rainforest, they can help protect 1.4 million acres of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, joining Marriott in its $2 million commitment.  Guests can offset the carbon generated during their stay for as little as US$10.  Recently, about six members of Marriott’s sales team visited this rainforest reserve after helping raise more than $400,000 through Marriott’s Spirit To Preserve(TM) group meetings promotion. [Watch their video to learn more and see the rainforest:  www.youtube.com/marriottgreen.]

–  Marriott is expanding its portfolio of green hotels–more than 30 hotels are expected to achieve LEED(R)  certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), with at least a dozen set to open in 2009 and 2010.   For three consecutive years, Marriott has received the Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has awarded its ENERGY STAR(R) label to approximately 275 Marriott-branded hotels, the most of any hotel company.

–  Marriott is greening its $10 billion supply chain, swapping towels, pens, and paint for more environmentally-friendly options. By replacing 24 million key cards made of 50 percent recycled material, Marriott prevents 66 tons of plastic from being dumped in the landfill. Using “coreless” toilet paper eliminates 2 million cores a year and saves about 119 trees. Also, Marriott will begin replacing the 100,000 synthetic pillows that it purchases with those filled with material made from recycled bottles.

Marriott has been recognized for its environmental leadership in the hotel industry by several groups, including Ceres, an alliance of investors and environmentalists; the non-profit organization ClimateCounts.org; and Travel + Leisure magazine.

For more information on Marriott’s eco-friendly initiatives, visit www.marriott.com/spirittopreserve and follow MarriottGreen on Twitter. Also, join the conversation about traveling green by becoming a fan of Travel Green on Facebook.

Phoenix-based Arizona Public Service (APS) has installed 84 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center and on ground-mounted platforms adjacent to the building. The panels will produce 18 kilowatts (kw) of electricity - enough to offset 30 percent of the Center

Arizona Public Service (APS) is bringing together two of the state’s most recognizable features – the Grand Canyon and the sun – as the Grand Canyon National Park goes solar.

Eighty-four photovoltaic solar panels are now operational on and around the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, providing the building with approximately 18 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. The panels provide enough energy to offset 30 percent of the Visitor Center’s electricity use.

“This project is symbolic of the commitment we have at APS to environmental protection, sustainability and to make Arizona the solar capital of the world,” APS President and Chief Operating Officer Don Robinson said today at a celebration event hosted by the National Park Service. “We selected the Grand Canyon for this project because of the opportunity that exists there to educate so many people from around the world about renewable energy.”
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In a program initially created to celebrate Earth Day, Wente Family Estates has announced expanded “Farming for the Future” initiatives highlighting the family’s longtime commitment to sustainable winegrowing and estate management practices.

Since 1883, the Wente family has planted, grown and harvested fruit from its estate vineyards. More than 125 years of stewardship of the land led to the development of Farming for the Future, a system that creates a balanced, sustainable ecology, enhances the vitality of the soils, minimizes water use and reduces non-organic wastes. First codified by the family in the early 1990s, these practices extend throughout the organization, including the family’s three wineries, Wente Vineyards, Murrieta’s Well, Tamas Estates, as well as The Course at Wente Vineyards, The Restaurant, The Concerts, and every other aspect of the company’s operation. New and expanded initiatives include:

Sustainable Estate Walking Tours
Initially launched on Earth Day 2009, walking tours of Wente Vineyards educate guests on sustainable practices in winery and across the estate. “The new tours are a natural extension of our sustainable practices,” said Christine Wente, Fifth Generation Winegrower. “Sustainability is not a buzz word for us, it’s a passion that we want to share with our guests.”

According to the Wente Vineyards Website, over the long term — in principle and in practice — the application of sustainable agriculture in the vineyard and sustainable practices in the overall community:
* Enhances environmental quality and the resource base on which agriculture depends
* Makes the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources. It integrates, when appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
* Is economically viable while using recognized best practices
* Enhances the quality of life for farmers, workers, and society as a whole.

There is no charge for the tours. To sign up, please call (925) 456-2400.

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