It is no secret that your carbon footprint is affected by how and where you travel. For many of us this holiday season, we will be taking planes, trains and/or automobiles to be with our family and friends. But will the planet be worse off because of our travels? It’s why we encourage everyone to take responsibility for our travel-related emissions.

By supporting quality, third-party validated carbon reducing projects, you can mitigate your carbon footprint from traveling. You can learn more about your carbon footprint and carbon offsets, calculate your carbon footprint from travel, and offset your footprint by visiting www.carbonfund.org.

For those of you who don’t live in the DC area, the Kojo show is a beloved radio talk show on our local NPR station, WAMU. To listen to a recording of the show, click here and be connected with the show’s page.

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Business travel is frequently the second largest part of a company’s carbon footprint, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with NBTA again to help spread the word about how important it is for companies to make their business travel greener. Several of our partners will be in attendance at NBTA including Virgin America, JetBlue, Avis Budget Group, and Amtrak. If you happen to be there as well, please stop by and say hello to the Carbonfund.org team at booth #1346.

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The NBTA’s commitment to greening their signature event goes well beyond offsetting, as they have incorporated several eco-friendly initiatives into this year’s Convention. The commitment to reducing their impact includes creating fewer printed materials and ensuring that these materials, such as the Convention Program & Exposition Guide, are printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks by a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified printer.

In selecting The San Diego Convention Center as the host of this year’s event, the NBTA made a very green choice for the Convention. The San Diego Convention Center has installed an energy efficient heating and cooling system, lighting, and kitchen upgrades that have resulted in savings of almost 3 million kWh annually. Recycling at the facility has diverted 24% of the total waste and a new food composting program will divert 260 tons of food annually. Leftover Convention items, such as surplus furniture and computers will be donated to local schools or social services. San Diego is also one of the “10 most walkable U.S. cities,” which helps reduce the need for driving while in the area. The San Diego Convention Center is connected to several hotels with easy access to the San Diego Trolley and buses ─ making it a great “green” host for the NBTA Convention.

We salute the NBTA for undertaking a comprehensive initiative to green the 2009 Convention. By reducing what they can, and offsetting what they can’t, the NBTA is demonstrating excellent leadership to its members and sponsors. If you are attending the 2009 NBTA Convention, please stop by and say hello to the Carbonfund.org team by visiting us at booth #1346!

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When evaluating the green claims of any business, you can look for these signs:
1. They express their environmental commitment on their website or materials;

2. They are transparent about what they have done to reduce what they can or offset what they can’t;

3. If you need more info, the contact person is familiar with and clear about their business’ efforts.

Getting green is crucial for the tourism industry. As a reminder, check out this article from the BBC yesterday that reports that the Caribbean region is among the regions said by scientists to be most at risk from the effects of global warming. Coral reefs face collapse from global warming and dealing with extreme weather is expected to cost $5 billion. Add that to the expected loss of $4 billion in travel revenue, the vacation in the Carribean in many people’s dreams might, if the world doesn’t take action pass into legend.

We all have a carbon footprint. Take responsibility for yours now. Learn more about how you can reduce and offset your footprint on our website.

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One unique aspect of this guide is that its eco-conscious options for food, transportation, sites and lodging are also economical. Moreover, author Dorian Yates offers information on offsetting travel with Carbonfund.org, exciting camping activities, and even volunteering opportunities to work in organic farms in exchange of meals and accomodation.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., environmental lawyer and activist writes,

“Green Earth Guide is the travel resource for all of us concerned about global warming and reducing our carbon footprints. It is an essential companion for every traveler wanting to make environmental choices on the road.”

To include this Green Earth Guide in your packing list, visit www.travelingnaturally.com.

About Dorian Yates: Dorian Yates has worked for consumer advocacy organizations as an environmental activist and congressional lobbyist; as an advisor on environmental, health, and social justice issues; and as a consultant on non-toxic products, indoor air quality, and organic farming issues. A researcher and consultant for the books The Green Pages and Ecopreneuring, as well as publisher of The Alternative Health Guides, a web and print guide for Vermont and New Hampshire, Yates lives in Vermont.

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Carbonfund.org has provided input and comments on the survey, and you can do the same. Completing the online survey takes only 12-15 minutes, and as an incentive to complete it, ten winners will receive a choice of a $50 iTunes gift card, a $50 Amazon credit, or a $50 donation to the charity of your choice.

Take a moment to take the survey. Your feedback really matters! Please also email the link to your friends and colleagues, and ask them to complete their survey by June 15.

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