At the North American Ecotourism Conference in Madison, Wisconsin participants were invited to take a tour of local tourism operators who are going green. Attendance was dismal, but the tour was great. There were some great examples showing how tourism operators can reduce their environmental impact. The International Crane Foundation (www.savingcranes.org) has set up solar energy to provide 50-75% of their hot water needs. It has a ‘Kil a Watt’ program to identify and unplug those insidious drains on energy bills like clock on a microwave or a ‘sleeping’ computer.
Another stop on the tour was the Aldo Leopald Foundation’s Legacy Centre. This new building is aiming for the highest rating awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council and it looks like they may succeed. Their solar, geothermal and wood heat produce more energy than the building consumes, creating a “net zero” energy budget. To learn more visit www.aldoleopold.org.