Park Inn Heathrow

Heathrow, London

Carbon Neutral FAQs

What is goldpoints plus?

goldpoints plus is the loyalty programme of Carlson Hotel Wordwide family of hotels, valid at Regent, Radisson, Radisson SAS, Radisson Edwardian, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn and Country Inn all around the world. goldpointsplus.com.

What is The Carbon Neutral Company?

The Carbon Neutral Company is one of the world's leading climate change businesses, set up in the early 1990s. They are helping thousands of people and 100s of major companies around the world, to measure, reduce and offset their CO2 emissions. www.carbonneutral.com.

How does it work?

From March 1st 2007, goldpoints plus members can redeem their Gold Points for community based carbon reduction projects that balance out the equivalent CO2 associated with their trip.

A. members stay at one of our hotels 

B. members earn Gold Points

C. members redeem their Gold Points by contacting the Member Service Centre (customerservice@goldpointsplus.com or call +44 207 949 0378) selecting their yearly trip frequency and their mode of transportation

D. goldpoints plus convert the points into money to community based carbon reduction projects that balance out CO2.

How do we make it CarbonNeutral?

The CarbonNeutral Company measured the amount of CO2 equivalents produced from travel and hotel nights which includes fuel, energy usage and waste*. The CO2 was neutralised by putting money towards carbon reducing projects which save the equivalent amount of CO2. goldpoints plus has chosen to offset emissions with a mix of 40% renewable energy (Wind) and 40% Methane Capture and 20% energy efficiency. See more detailed information under point 9. You can find more information at www.carbonneutral.com.

Need some examples?

5 trips per year by car, staying at a Radisson SAS hotel:

  • Members will earn approx. 15,000 Gold Points (for an average spend of 150 EUR per night and for 5 nights)
  • Members will emit approx. 900 Kg of CO2
  • Members will need only 7,000 Gold Points to offset your emissions and to make your trips CarbonNeutral

15 short haul trips per year by plane, staying at a Radisson SAS hotel:

  • Members will earn approx. 45,000 Gold Points (for an average spend of 150 EUR per night and for 15 nights)
  • Members will emit approx. 11 tons of CO2
  • Members will need 70,000 Gold Points to offset your emissions and to make your trips CarbonNeutral

5 trips per year by train, staying at a Radisson SAS hotel:

  • Members will earn approx. 15,000 Gold Points (for an average spend of 150 EUR per night and for 5 nights)
  • Members will emit approx. 130 Kg of CO2
  • Members will need only 1,000 Gold Points to offset your emissions and to make your trips CarbonNeutral

How do we make our calculation?

CO2 emissions:

  • CO2 emissions for short-haul flights: 0.15 kg CO2 /pass.km (DEFRA 2005)
  • CO2 emissions for long-haul flights: 0.11 kg CO2 /pass.km (DEFRA 2005)
  • CO2 emissions for train: 0.0056 kg CO2 /pass.km (Ademe 2006 – Average for Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and UK)
  • CO2 emissions for hotel accommodation in a Radisson SAS: 19.41 kg CO2 /room/night
  • CO2 emissions for hotel accommodation (World): 40.33 kgCO2/room/night (derived from IEA 2006, DTI 2004 and DoE 1997)

 Average distance (one way) taken into account for the calculation:

  • Car: 500 Km
  • Train: 500 Km
  • Short Haul flight: 2,400 Km

Is there aminimum amount of points to be redeemed?

goldpoints plus members will have the possibility to redeem in increment of 2.000 Gold Points. This partnership allows members with very few points to redeem them.

What is carbon neutrality?

Most activities we undertake involve energy use. Depending on how the energy was produced (coal, oil, nuclear) there are different levels of carbon dioxide emissions attached to it. At a hotel we use energy to heat and light the building, and to run equipment and facilities. To reduce our energy use and footprint on global warming, we can become energy efficient, and use renewable energy sources (hydropower,wind, solar).

However, it is difficult to run our operations without any emissions, and this is where the possibility to offset carbon comes in. It means that whatever CO2 emissions are related to our operations, we offset these by investing in projects which lead to the equivalent amount of reduced CO2 emissions. As the emissions impact on a global level, it theoretically does not matter if the CO2 is reduced in Europe or in a developing country. However, the important thing with the projects offered by Carbon Neutral, is that we ensure technology transfer, meaning that through these projects we facilitate projects that otherwise would not have taken place.

How is the money spent?

Emissions will be offset with a mix of 40% renewable energy (Wind) and 40% Methane Capture and 20% energy efficiency projects as follows:

Methane Capture Projects, USA (Credit type: VER)

Methane is originally formed with coal and is stored in large quantities within coal seams. As with many coal mines in the Appalachian Basin, significant quantities of methane from the closed Gateway mine are vented naturally to the atmosphere. Methane has 23 times the global warming potential of CO2.

It would be impossible to completely seal the Gateway mine. Since the quantities of methane produced are not sufficient to allow economic exploitation for electricity generation, the project uses a compressor to direct the methane from the mine to a flare. Burning one molecule of methane produces two molecules of water and one molecule of CO2. Therefore, flaring methane reduces its climate change impact by a factor of 23.

There is no legislation driving such flaring projects and where the quantities of methane are relatively small, the only incentive for such activities is securing carbon finance. The CarbonNeutral Company has provided up-front funding for the construction of the compressor and flare, without which the project would not have happened. There can be few projects where the sale of carbon credits can be shown so simply to bring immediate environmental gains.

Wind farm, India (Credit type: VER)

This project supports the construction of wind turbines at two sites in the Indian states of Karnataka and Rajasthan. A total of ten wind turbines have been constructed, with an overall capacity of 8 MW. The electricity they produce is enough to provide for almost 30,000 homes.

The wind farms help to overcome India’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation. Wind power incurs none of the CO2 emissions or solid waste problems associated with coal-fired power stations.

All parties involved in the design, construction and operation of the wind farms are Indian, so the project helps to develop the wind power industry locally and sustainably. Employment has been provided in the construction phases of the sites and there is on-going local employment in operating the wind farms.

As a new technology, wind power is currently a more expensive way of generating electricity than conventional fossil fuel power stations. Through the sale of carbon credits, wind farms can start to pay for themselves. As India’s economy develops and demand for electricity grows, this kind of project will be vital in helping India choose a clean development path.

Energy Efficiency Project in Caribbean (Credit Type: VER)

This idyllic part of the world is one of the areas most at risk from the rising tides that will be experienced as a result of global warming. Therefore it seems appropriate that this initiative, based out of Jamaica in the West Indies, will reduce CO2 emissions dramatically on behalf of companies in industrialised countries.

Investment into this scheme will promote the supply of energy efficient light bulbs. One energy-saving bulb uses three-quarters of a barrel of oil in a lifetime of 10,000 hours, versus an equivalent 10 standard incandescent bulbs that would use 3 barrels of oil over the same time. Therefore, each energy-saving bulb will reduce existing CO2 emissions by up to 75 per cent.

Since the electricity grid network is weak throughout the Caribbean, and much of Jamaica’s power generation is from oil, this project has associated demand-side management benefits to the infrastructure in the country as well as actively reducing its contribution to climate change, reducing the likelihood of energy surges and power cuts in the region.

The project’s carbon calculation data has been endorsed by the Jamaican Ministry of Mining and Energy and verified by an independent third party, which has also verified that the bulbs have been delivered and installed to the tourism industry.

Three successful activities, made possible by investment in this project, are currently promoting adoption of this new technology:

  • by importing a large quantity of bulbs in bulk, the developer has been able to reduce the price to around a half of the usual retail price of an energy-efficient bulb.
  • the developer also offers an unconditional 6 month guarantee on the bulbs, reinforcing their reputation.
  • by exhibiting regularly at hotel ‘energy efficiency days’, the developer has been able to educate hotel technical staff of the benefits of the bulbs.

What is a VER project?

VER stands for verified emission reductions. As opposed to certified emissions reductions (CER) which are industrial in nature VERs are generally local and community based.

  • A VER represents one tonne of CO2.
  • The projects tend to use the same methodologies, standards of documentation and monitoring and verification as CDM projects, but the whole process is self-regulated (the CarbonNeutral Protocol, plus emerging standards such as the Gold Standard and the Voluntary Carbon Standard). The time and expense of processing under the UNFCCC is saved, hence VERs are far cheaper. VERs should not be viewed as of inferior quality to CERs, it is just that they have not incurred the transaction costs of a CDMproject.
  • VERs cannot be used for compliance with the Kyoto Protocol or EU Emissions Trading Scheme
  • VERs can be used for smaller scale projects, which can be excellent motivators for first time carbon offset consumers (general public or corporates). They can be used to provide a focus for promotional communications within a larger offset portfolio and help consumers to embrace carbon management and the concept of offset. A CER project in a Chinese chemical plant, for example, will be very worthwhile and suitable for regulatory compliance purposes. However if you are trying to get companies or consumers to adopt an offset programme for the first time, voluntary schemes which are more local and community based often have more relevance to consumers who can more easily see its benefits. VERs have played an invaluable role in developing the concept of carbon offset.

Need more info?

You can get information from: