Thursday 29 March 2012

YHA Embraces Earth Hour

 
Byron Bay YHA
Just in time for Earth Hour, YHA has reached the 50,000th donation to their Hostel Carbon Reduction Fund on http://www.yha.com.au/ (made up of $1 per booking donations) - with projects funded to date including solar energy installation at Alice Springs and Byron Bay YHAs.

The fund, launched in December 2008, is entirely made up of voluntary donations from guests booking online at www.yha.com.au. To date, $50,000 has been raised, with projects part-funded including a gas-boosted solar hot water system at Byron Bay YHA and a solar electricity system at Alice Springs YHA. Both initiatives will reduce carbon emissions.

Alice Springs YHA
YHA is part of Hostelling International - the world's largest budget accommodation network - with 4,000 hostels around the world - all of which must comply with the organisation's environmental charter for conserving resources, recycling, caring for nature and educating guests about the environment. From eco-hostels in the bush to urban properties with built-in sustainability initiatives, YHA offers a range of environmentally friendly places to stay, including 100 hostels in Australia.

On 31 March, hundreds of hostels around the world will be turning off the lights to mark Earth Hour, including YHAs in Australia, France, Denmark, Germany, USA, Mexico and South Africa.

Sydney Harbour YHA
YHA recently conducted a sustainability survey on www.yha.com.au with 1,900 respondents, the vast majority indicating that they are concerned about the environment and that these concerns play a role in their choice of destination. Survey respondents suggested that YHA should focus environmental initiatives on solar power and water heating and rainwater tanks.

For more information see www.yha.com.au/sustainability

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