Apr 15 2008
Finding energy efficient hotels across the country has become even easier for travelers searching out green travel options. Making an important addition to its eco-travel microsite, launched in April 2007, Orbitz now recognizes hotels that earn the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR(R) -- the national mark of excellence in energy efficiency.
According to the EPA, buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR use nearly 40 percent less energy than average buildings and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, offering a significantly smaller carbon footprint, perfect for the eco-traveler.
This announcement is part of the ongoing commitment of Orbitz Worldwide to help Protect Planet Earth (http://corp.orbitz.com/planetearth). This company-wide campaign has been driven by employees' and customers' mutual passion for changing the way the travel & tourism industry does business. Led by employee-driven recycling and energy-saving efforts, the Protect Planet Earth program has now grown into a pervasive corporate citizenship initiative to raise awareness around sustainable travel & tourism practices. The Protect Planet Earth campaign launched in 2007 with the announcement of company-sponsored "volunteer vacations" website and now offers travelers eco-friendly opportunities to make a difference of their own.
"As a leading travel company, Orbitz Worldwide is committed to working with our partners, employees and customers to make a difference in helping Protect Planet Earth," said Steve Barnhart, CEO and president of Orbitz Worldwide. "Working with EPA's ENERGY STAR program, we are encouraging travelers to reduce their footprint when they travel by providing visibility to hotel partners who have earned this certification for their focus on being stewards of the environment."
In April 2007, Orbitz launched its eco-travel microsite for customers who wanted to book stays in eco-friendly hotels, rent hybrid cars (http://hybrids.orbitz.com), purchase carbon offsets or participate in environmental volunteer opportunities. Now, travelers can find hotels that have earned the ENERGY STAR on http://www.eco.orbitz.com, along with the other information and tools to help them make decisions about how they can lessen their collective impact on the environment during their travels.
"Increasing awareness of ENERGY STAR helps consumers make earth friendly decisions," said Bob Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "The ability to search for ENERGY STAR qualified hotels makes it even easier for travelers to save energy and protect the environment."
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $16 billion on their energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.
Energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for nearly half of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 50 percent of energy consumption nationwide. For more than a decade, EPA has worked with businesses and organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through strategic energy management practices. Today, there are ENERGY STAR qualified facilities in every state across the country. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a building must score in the top 25 percent using EPA's National Energy Performance Rating System.