Walk the Talk: Costa Del Mar Sunglasses Invests in Renewable Energy to Offset Carbon Footprint

(Press Releas)

Daytona Beach, Fla., - June 10, 2009 - Costa Del Mar sunglasses has partnered with Renewable Choice Energy to offset 100 percent of the electricity use at its Daytona Beach headquarters facility with the purchase of 422,896 kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy credits (RECs) from U.S. wind farms.  The company also purchased carbon offsets to balance the carbon emissions associated with all of its employees' business travel including air and ground transportation. Collectively, this is will help to prevent up to 1.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from entering the Earth's atmosphere.

This commitment by Costa Del Mar to support renewable energy development and reduce carbon emissions has an impact similar to planting 2,323 mature trees or not driving more than 576,088 million miles in an average passenger car.

And while Costa Del Mar still operates its headquarters using traditional electricity sources, the purchase of wind-powered renewable energy credits and carbon offsets essentially balances its corporate environmental impact. Renewable energy is derived from resources that are regenerative, or for all practical purposes can not be depleted. Renewable energy sources include wind, solar (photovoltaic), small hydro and biomass.

"What a lot of people may not know is that carbon emissions can also negatively impact the quality of our oceans," said Chas MacDonald, president of Costa Del Mar.  "We're working hard to protect our aquatic environments and the marine life in it. Purchasing renewable energy credits and making strides to reduce our carbon footprint is another critical step for us to take to help make our waters more clean and sustainable for generations to come."

"RECs play an important role in helping fund renewable energy projects," said Quayle Hodek, CEO of Renewable Choice Energy. "Environmentally responsible commitments such as the one made by Costa Del Mar is helping elevate the public's awareness of the opportunities available to them to support clean technology development." 

In addition to Costa's partnership with Renewable Choice, the company has a long history of supporting conservation programs, including actively participating in Trout Unlimited's "Embrace-A-Stream" program and the Billfish Foundation's "Adopt-A-Billfish" effort.  The company sponsors the Costa Del Mar/BASS Conservation Scholarship Award, designed for higher education students pursuing degrees in natural resources fields.  Costa also supports the Coastal Conservation Association, the Bonefish Tarpon Trust, and is a longtime sponsor of the International Game Fish Association (IGFA).

"For us, it's not just about writing a check and slapping our logo onto something to say we're involved with a conservation project," said MacDonald.  "It's about turning those words into actions, and doing things within our own organization that might reduce the impact of our presence here."

Costa will continue to work with Renewable Choice to identify ways in which the company can further reduce its impact on the environment.

How Renewable Energy Credit (RECs) Work
Renewable energy facilities generate renewable energy credits (RECs) when they produce electricity. Purchasing these credits is the widely accepted way to address the environmental footprint of your electricity consumption. Purchasing RECs at the same quantity as your electricity consumption guarantees that the energy you use is added to the power grid from a renewable energy facility and supports the further development of these facilities. Renewable Choice RECs are third-party certified by Green-e Energy. More at http://www.renewablechoice.com/business-about-renewable-energy.html

How Carbon Offsets (VERs) Work
Verified emission reductions (VERs), also known as carbon offsets, are designed for individuals and companies looking to reduce the environmental impact of their flying, driving, and some heating and manufacturing methods with real, verified and permanent carbon reductions.  A VER is a commodity sold to finance carbon reduction projects, such as landfill methane capture and destruction, and represents the reduction of carbon dioxide or its equivalent. Renewable Choice VERs are verified by American Carbon Registry or Voluntary Carbon Standard, depending on location and application. More at http://www.renewablechoice.com/business-about-emission-reductions-carbon-offsets.html

Renewable Choice Energy
Renewable Choice Energy (http://www.reneawblechoice.com) is a leading national provider of renewable energy credits (RECs) and verified emission reductions (VERs) (carbon offsets) to hundreds of Fortune 500 Companies and small businesses, thousands of residential customers, and over 850 LEED green building projects in the U.S. Founded in 2001, Boulder-Colo.-based Renewable Choice and its clients have received prestigious awards from the EPA and DOE for supporting and expanding the renewable energy market and have been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, USA TODAY, and more. (http://www.renewablechoice.com/business)

About Costa Del Mar
As the leading manufacturer of the world's most clear polarized performance sunglasses, Costa Del Mar offers superior lens technology, unparalleled fit and durability, and a lifetime warranty on all of its products.  Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa Del Mar creates what has been referred to as the highest quality, best performing sunglasses on the planet for outdoor enthusiasts.

The company was founded on protecting the marine environment worldwide and educating others to understand the importance of conservation.  Costa Del Mar sponsors a number of epic outdoor adventures around the world, encouraging others to see what's out there.

For more information, contact 1-800-447-3700 or visit the company's Web site at www.costadelmar.com, or check out Costa Del Mar's original adventure programming at Costa Channel C, www.costachannelc.com.

Media Contact: Liza Jones; liza@paynejonespr.com, 864-270-0722

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