CAPE ELIZABETH ME- February 23, 2007- Carbonfund.org and The Inn By The Sea have joined forces to launch a new carbon offset program designed specifically for the hospitality industry which allows hotel guests a simple solution to "green" meetings and vacations Craig Coulter, Partnerships Director at the Carbonfund.org, announced today. The all new Carbofree Meetings and Carbonfree Vacations programs make it easy for guests to neutralize their travel generated carbon emissions with support for the Carbon fund.org's domestic tree planting projects, which help reduce greenhouse gases.

The new program is straightforward enough, but educating guests as to why they want to neutralize their ‘carbon footprint’ can be challenging, according to Inn By The Sea Owner, Maureen McQuade. "In the past we tried to inspire guests to think about the environment with fun," McQuade said. "Children love our class that looks at their eco system from a bug's view point, and we talk to guests about recycling while they build quirky scare crows from old stuff, - but suggesting a guest sign on for "calculated offsets for their climate footprint" takes a little explaining!"

Simply put, the new program offers guests the opportunity to check off a box as they pay their bill that adds a donation ranging from $2.50 to $7.00 to offset the carbon dioxide they generated with regional, national or international travel. The Inn By The Sea collects the funds and sends them to the Carbonfund.org domestic tree planting projects quarterly.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide, so planting them will eventually neutralize emissions Inn guests produced driving or flying to a meeting, or going on vacation. The program offsets something harmful to the environment (CO2) with something good (trees) thereby neutralizing the bad effect. In return the eco minded guests receive a Carbonfree Vacation or Carbonfree Meeting bumper sticker and get to enjoy a "carbon neutral" hotel stay.

The Inn By The Sea is also the first Maine Hotel to purchase carbon offsets to cover their hotel operations. "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges humanity has faced," according to Craig Coulter of Carbonfund.org. "The Inn By The Sea has made some significant improvements to their property to reduce their emissions and purchasing offsets is a step toward ending drastic climate change. We are pleased the Inn By The Sea is the first hotel in Maine to be Carbon Neutral with off sets for operations, and have also partnered with us to create a model hotel program."

Interest in "green" hotels for both leisure and business is growing according to the Inn's Director of Sales, Laurie Inness. "We have a list of green meeting standards, and can offer meeting planners lots of suggestions for an environmentally friendly yet fabulous, fun and productive event. From "Eat Your Plate Luncheon Menus", (food that requires no plate, i.e. leave no waste, such as bread bowls) to locally grown gifts or eco tourism activities, it's all very Maine and participants just love knowing they are doing the right thing," said Inness. Carbonfree Meetings gives a meeting planner a simple way to hold an environmentally responsible meeting .

The Inn By The Sea is a Four Diamond property with spacious ocean view suites located on beautiful Crescent Beach in the charming coastal town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Carbonfund.org, a 501c(3) nonprofit reduces the threat of climate change by making it easy and affordable for individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and support climate friendly projects.

FMI on this release & The Inn By The Sea contact Rauni Kew, Inn By The Sea, 40 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107. www.innbythesea.com Email: rkew@innbythesea.com 207-799-3134

For more information on the Carbonfund.org contact Craig Coulter, 10001 Dallas Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901. www.carbonfund.org Email: ccoulter@carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org (www.carbonfund.org) reduces the threat of climate change by making it easy and affordable for any individual or business to reduce their carbon footprint and support climate-friendly projects. With its easy-to-use calculator, low offset cost per ton of CO2, and certified offset projects, Carbonfund.org is proving that anyone can reduce their impact on climate change easily and efficiently. Carbonfund.org is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit business, and a member of the EPA's Green Power Network, the Chicago Climate Exchange, and Ceres. Carbonfree and "Reduce what you can, offset what you can't" are trademarks of the Carbonfund.org Foundation.

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