Ontario Resort Becomes First to Offer Carbon Offsets

(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 20, 2008 ) Muskoka, Ontario – Cedar Grove Lodge (http://www.cedargrove.on.ca) has just partnered with Planetair to provide a way for guests to make their vacation at Cedar Grove Lodge carbon neutral. Through the Cedar Grove/Planetair web site (http://www.cedargrove.planetair.ca), resort guests can determine the cost associated with offsetting the amount of carbon that would be released as a result of their trip. Guests simply fill out the online form, entering the distance to and from Cedar Grove, as well as the year, make, and model of the vehicle that they will be travelling in. Information about the number of people travelling, the number of cabins booked, and the number of nights that they will be staying at the lodge is also inputted. From this data, Planetair determines the carbon output associated with this particular Cedar Grove getaway. Lodge guests then have the option of purchasing online from Planetair a carbon offset that will be put toward mitigating that amount of carbon emission. As an example, the current cost to offset a one-week vacation for 4 people from Toronto driving a typical SUV would be approximately $16.30.

Founded in 2006, Planetair, a not-for-profit program, is CanadaÂ’s first provider of Gold Standard carbon offsets. Planetair specializes in providing high-quality offsets and exclusively invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. They guarantee that at least 80% of their offset revenue goes directly into these projects. Planetair has been ranked the top supplier in Canada by carboncatalog.org for the quality of its offsets and the transparency of its services. Their clients include some of CanadaÂ’s leading environmental figures and organizations, such as Al GoreÂ’s Climate Project Canada, The David Suzuki Foundation, and Equiterre.

"Planetair is pleased to be working with Cedar Grove Lodge to encourage their guests to mitigate the impact of their Muskoka Vacation. By offering high-quality carbon offsets to its guests, Cedar Grove Lodge is reaffirming its leadership position as an environmentally friendly holiday destination," comments Julian Lee, PlanetairÂ’s Director of Operations.

Owned and managed by the Fleming family for 81 years, Cedar Grove Lodge has been operating as a green resort for years. Recently, they were awarded a 4-Green Leaf rating from the Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating Program. A score of 4-Green Leafs confirms that Cedar Grove is fully implementing many of the industry's best environmental practices. By offering their guests the option of buying carbon offsets through Planetair, Cedar Grove Lodge is once again demonstrating the Fleming family’s solid commitment to protecting the environment.

"Cedar Grove Lodge is proud to be the first resort in Ontario to offer a carbon offset opportunity to its guests,” states Cedar Grove Lodge’s owner, Jeremy Fleming. “Planetair is one of the most highly respected offset providers, and we are pleased to be working with them. Allowing our guests to mitigate the 'carbon footprint' associated with their Cedar Grove getaway is a solid step toward a healthier and greener future for generations to come. We look forward to welcoming many more generations of guests to our lakeside Ontario resort," adds Fleming.

About Cedar Grove Lodge:
A Muskoka tradition since 1927, Cedar Grove Lodge is an eco-friendly, year round, lakeside cottage resort offering 80 acres of wilderness and 1600 feet of pristine Peninsula Lake shore line. Conveniently located between Huntsville and Algonquin Park, this 4-Green Leaf™ eco- rated lakeside resort features beautiful log cottages with stone fireplaces, fabulous home-cooked meals, and many onsite activities to enjoy such as tennis, boating, water-skiing, hiking, nordic-skiing, ice-fishing, skating, and so much more. For more information about Cedar Grove Lodge, call 1-800-461-4269 or visit their web site: http://www.cedargrove.on.ca.

Contact Information:
Jeremy Fleming, Owner
Cedar Grove Lodge
Box 5104
Huntsville ON P1H 1A5
705-789-4036
705-789-6860 Fax
http://www.cedargrove.on.ca
info@cedargrove.on.ca


Cedar Grove Lodge
Jeremy Fleming
705-789-4036
info@cedargrove.on.ca