YHA NZ celebrates sustainability successes

YHA NEW ZEALAND CELEBRATES SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESSES

Rotorua and New Zealand – YHA New Zealand put their commitment to sustainability into action through two recent successes: tapping into a geothermal down-bore heat exchanger at YHA Rotorua and placing second in the 2015 Global Youth Travel Awards.

YHA New Zealand began to harness geothermal energy at YHA Rotorua with a pre-existing down-bore heat exchanger. The heat exchanger will heat the hostel’s potable hot water supply.

YHA New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Mark Wells, says, “This initiative continues YHA New Zealand’s longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible tourism. The geothermal down-bore heat exchanger will make a significant difference to our greenhouse gas emissions and it will enable guests to learn more about geothermal power and how geothermal power supports CO2 reductions.”

YHA Rotorua produces a significant amount of YHA New Zealand’s total carbon emissions due to its use of natural gas and electricity. The down-bore heat exchanger will significantly reduce these emissions by 30% (or 18 tonnes per year) by tapping into geothermal activity. Geothermal energy is possibly the cleanest form of renewable energy as it is constant (day and night) and requires the lowest amount of embodied energy processes to capture and utilise.

In September, YHA New Zealand placed second in the World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Global Youth Travel Awards in the Green Accommodation Initiative category, of which there were fifteen entries from around the world. The awards celebrate outstanding performers within the international youth, student and educational travel industry and act as a benchmark for excellence within the sector.

Mr Wells, says, “It is fantastic to get international recognition of our commitment to responsible tourism. We are extremely proud of our staff’s passion in reflecting this commitment through all of our activity.”

Awards were granted to hostels from New Zealand to Iceland that provided the most comprehensive environmentally sustainable programmes, caring for both customers and the environment.

For more information about the awardees: http://awards.wystc.org/2015/09/26/and-the-winners-of-the-global-youth-travel-awards-2015-are/

About YHA New Zealand

The Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand, (YHA New Zealand) is a not-for-profit association that was established in 1932 in Canterbury. With a network of 45 hostels in both islands, YHA New Zealand provides high quality budget accommodation to New Zealanders and international travellers. YHA New Zealand is a committed advocate of sustainable practices. For more information please visit: http://www.yha.co.nz.

ENDS

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