Air New Zealand saves fuel by adding wing extensions
Air New Zealand has started installing 3.4-metre high wing-tip devices, called blended winglets, to its B767-300ER fleet. The winglets make the aircraft’s wing more efficient by reducing drag and increasing lift, which means improved fuel use and a reduction in emissions.
The airline estimates that it will save more than six million litres of fuel and 16,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by installing the device on its entire B767 fleet.
Visit airnewzealand.com
Choose your car by C02 emissions
Car hire company Europcar has started displaying the average C02 emissions of its rental cars. Average emissions are shown online during the booking process, so customers can see, before they book, the impact of their car rental on the environment, as well as the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
Cars are divided into groups according to how environmentally friendly they are. The lowest emissions group produces an average of 130g of C02 per km driven, which includes mini three-door hatchbacks, such as the Ford Ka. The highest emissions group produces an average of 230g of C02 per km driven, with executive saloon automatic estates such as the Saab 9-5 and the Volvo V70 falling into this category.
Visit europcar.co.uk
Element hotel installs electric car charging station
Element Lexington, Starwood’s first Element property which opened in July last year, is set to gain its first electric car charging station, for use by guests and travellers in the area.
Element has teamed up with Carbon Day to install the ChargePoint Networked Charging Station, which comes equipped with a universal plug-in for all kinds of electric vehicles including cars, buses, Segway scooters and bikes. There is a choice of subscription plans and charging stations around the US can be located using search technology on Google maps.
The hotels also provide preferred parking for drivers of hybrid or electric cars and bikes for guests to borrow during their stay.
Visit starwoodhotels.com, carbonday.com
Flybe offers flights for mobile phones
UK regional airline Flybe is rewarding its passengers with flights for old mobile phones. By sending them to the airline for recycling, passengers can earn points with the airline’s loyalty scheme Rewards4all.
Up to 15 Flybe Reward Points will be given for each handset turned in. Visit flybe.com/recycle to find out how many points are awarded for various models, butas an example, a Nokia N73 would earn four points. As a guide, 16 points earns a return economy class flight within the UK.
Flybe has also teamed up with Cancer Research UK and will give £1 to the charity for every mobile that’s recycled.
Some 1,500 tonnes of mobile phone handsets containing harmful substances end up in landfills in the UK, and an estimated 90 million mobiles are left unwanted at the bottoms of draws and cupboards in peoples’ houses.
Visit flybe.com
Ramada Jarvis hotels win bronze from Green Tourism
Under the Green Tourism Business Scheme, all 42 Ramada Jarvis hotels have attained a bronze standard, the first hotel group to achieve this standard across its full portfolio. The scheme also awarded London Marriott West India Quay a silver award.
The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the only certification scheme validated by Visit Britain. Businesses that join Green Tourism are assessed against a set of criteria, covering areas such as energy and water efficiency, waste management and biodiversity. Businesses that meet the required standard receive a bronze, silver or gold award based on their level of achievement.
In other green news from Ramada Jarvis, hotel staff working at the group’s properties in Scotland achieved a 14 per cent reduction in their electricity and gas bill by carefully monitoring what they used, saving the company £80,000. The total reduction in electricity consumption alone equates to 576 Tons of CO2, the equivalent of 137 family cars off the road.
Visit ramadajarvis.co.uk
by Sara Turner
