Tourism and Climate Change
Leading by Example:
Best Practices in Renewable Energy
Among Multiple Tourism Industry Sectors
Ted Martens
October 29th, 2008
Presentation Outline
 Definitions
 Benefits & Limitations
 RETI Best Practices
 Airlines
 Accommodations
 Tour Operators
 Cruise Lines
 Ski Resorts
 Public Land Agencies
 Conclusion
Who is STI?
Non-profit whose mission is to help travelers and
tourism providers protect the places they visit,
and the planet at large.
Leave the World a Better Place®
Defining Best Practice
“A process, technique, or innovative use of resources
that results in outstanding and measurable
improvement in the operation or performance of a
tourism business.”
RETI Best Practice Benefits
 Reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions and
operational costs
 Enhanced customer loyalty
and business marketability
 Availability of tax incentives,
rebates and grants
 Significant return on
investment
RETI Additional Benefits
 Diversify global power supply
 Decrease dependency on non-
renewable energy sources
 Creation of “green collar” jobs
and sustainable economic
development
 Enhanced protection of the
environment
Best Practices Analysis
 Accommodations
 Airlines
 Cruise Lines
 Public Land Agencies
 Ski Resorts
 Tour Operators
Accommodations Sector
 Building management controls
 1 megawatt solar photovoltaic
system
 80 kilowatt windmill
 Energy efficiency measures
 Solar hot water systems
 Carbon neutral
accommodations
Accommodations Sector
 Cost of renovations
US$460,000
 Projected savings through 07
US$238,283
 Actual savings through 07
US$381,824
 Cut approx 10k tons of CO2
Airline Sector
 Multi-faceted initiatives to





reduce fuel consumption
Voluntary carbon offset
initiatives
Reductions in idling times
Development of prototype
carbon-composite aircraft
Fleet renewal with more fuel
efficient aircraft
Retrofits of existing engines
with more efficient fan blades
Airline Sector
 110.7 million gallons of
fuel saved per year
 Reduction of 908,000
metric tons of carbon
dioxide equivalent since
2003
Cruise Line Sector
 Using shore power while
docked in port
 Employing solar and wind
energy on board
 Reduced fuel consumption
 Education and outreach
Public Land Agency Sector
 Solar photovoltaic, micro-
hydro, and wind energy
systems
 Fleet management strategies to
limit fuel use and emissions
 Green building and energy
efficiency management
practices
 Carbon sequestration
Economic Impacts
Ski Resort Sector
 Holistic sustainability planning
 Purchase of renewable energy




credits
Enhanced vehicle fuel efficiency
Building modifications and new
LEED-certified facilities
Installation of hydroelectric and
PV systems
Harnessing of methane from
wastewater and concerting it to
energy
Ski Resort Sector
 Saved over 850 tons of CO2 and
1600 MWh
 Retrofits have reduced annual
energy consumption by 4580
MWH
Tour Operator Sector
 Reduction of diesel generator use





through solar power and advanced
battery technology
Support vehicle fleet powered by waste
vegetable oil
On-site, grid-tied solar PV systems
Development of environmental
standards for suppliers
Use of wind-powered water pumps and
solar water heaters
Purchase of renewable energy credits or
carbon offsets
For More Information
Visit RETI:
www.renewabletourism.org
Visit STI:
www.sustainabletravelinternational.org
Call: 800-276-7764
Leave the World a Better Place®