Press Room

Green Power Products Offset Carbon From Afar (Excerpt)

by  Kellen M. Henry
Aug 27, 2009

Businesses don’t have to bolt solar panels to the roof and pray for sunny skies these days in order to be part of the renewable energy movement.

With the genesis of the voluntary green pricing market more than a decade ago, companies are increasingly reaping the benefits of reducing their carbon footprints and stabilizing their energy costs without having to generate—or even physically access—green sources of power.

(cont.) ...Paying extra dollars for green power has benefits for business owners, from positive public relations to hedging volatile fossil fuel costs.

But the voluntary green markets need a large enough consumer base to pay higher costs to grow green power generation and encourage utilities to develop favorable pricing mechanisms.

(cont.) ...The next step was to offset 100 percent of its electricity usage with renewable energy certificates from Renewable Choice Energy. Jones said the company has been pleased with its REC experience, but would like to see more choices in the market.

Digital Hub is now taking steps to install a wind turbine on the roof of its building to generate some of its own electricity, in addition to the credits it buys, Jones said.

“It’s been about three years now and production is way up and so are attitudes,” he said. “I really think we’re doing something for the health and safety of our employees and our neighbors on the planet.”

(cont.) ...Deciding to buy renewable energy certificates was one of the 82-year-old hotel’s first steps in going green, said General Manager Troy Strand.

It now buys renewable certificates for 100 percent of its electricity usage from Renewable Choice Energy and became one of the first five Chicago hotels to receive a Green Seal Certification.

“We found a lot of people in our customer base were really appreciative that we were doing something more than most hotels were doing,” Strand said. “It became a really big opportunity for us to open the minds of many of our guests who hadn’t thought of things that they could do on their own.”

(cont.) ...Strand said around 70 percent of guests, more than originally anticipated, now push the button to stay green. The hotel rewards guests who opt in by giving them a free 30-day carbon offset credit “gift card” to take home after their stay.

• Read the full Medill Reports article Green Power Products Offset Carbon from Afar by Kellen M. Henry
• Read the same article at Carbon Offsets Daily
• Read more about the Talbott Hotel renewable energy commitment in our Green Meetings & Events announcement