DC4MS

BelleHavens Launches GreenHome Initiative

Demonstrating that luxury travel and energy conservation are not mutually exclusive

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – March 29, 2007 – BelleHavens announces the launch of GreenHome, a specific energy conservation program for its portfolio of private homes, making it the first destination club to undertake such an initiative. The program benefits will be triple fold. It will save energy, help the environment and, in the process, will ultimately save the members money. All of this without compromising the luxury service and amenities for which BelleHavens is known.

The first step BelleHavens took toward this greening initiative was to identify controllable waste areas and institute measures for reducing energy consumption in the Club homes, as well as in the Club’s own corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In addition to its now standardized energy-saving measures, BelleHavens has partnered with Carbonfund.org, a nonprofit organization that helps companies reduce their carbon footprint and support climate-friendly projects. The decision to support Carbonfund.org was based on their policy of directing an impressive 93% of their proceeds to offset emission reduction projects and environmental outreach, with only 7% earmarked for administrative purposes. With the assistance of Carbonfund.org, BelleHavens has been able to determine the emission tonnage for energy use at the homes, as well as the corporate office and executive business travel.

The primary objective of BelleHavens GreenHome initiative is to consume less energy wherever possible and to help offset areas that cannot be reduced. The new program consists of a number of tactics that as a whole will make a large difference through reducing waste and using less energy and fossil fuel. The stated goals are to:

* Take a leadership role in the luxury destination club sector by ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations of travelers.
* Demonstrate that luxury travel and energy conservation are not mutually exclusive.
* Leave a positive imprint on climate change, through carbon offsets and other energy-saving initiatives.
* Formalize a relationship with the Carbonfund.org, an exemplary non-profit organization based in Silver Spring, MD.

Since its inception in 2004, BelleHavens has distinguished itself as the most pragmatic club in the sector. Member interests and protections have always been the genesis of policy shaping moves. For example, BelleHavens has evolved at a strategically conservative pace, while remaining fiscally sound and establishing solid policies and procedures for the strict guardianship of member deposits. BelleHavens member deposits are backed by equity in a club of that owns a diversified and debt-free portfolio of real estate. This differs from most other clubs, which offer non-equity memberships and use significant debt and leases to acquire their properties. This strategy, now coupled with the GreenHome initiative, positions BelleHavens as truly the most sustainable club in the destination club space.

“We launched the GreenHome initiative to ensure that as a luxury product we were doing our share to make a difference protecting the environment, as well as the interests of our members,” said Darin Gilson, BelleHavens Founder and CEO. “In fact, the initial idea came from a BelleHavens member. It then became clear that most of our members and staff share the same thinking and wanted to incorporate more social responsibility into our product.”

“Carbonfund.org applauds BelleHavens for their leadership on climate change,” said Carbonfund.org Executive Director Eric Carlson. “Climate change affects all of us, we are all responsible for it and we all must be part of the solution. BelleHavens carbon offset program signifies a new direction for the luxury travel industry that we hope will be emulated by many others.”

From BelleHavens’ perspective, the shared home concept, even at the luxury, multi-million dollar level, is more environmentally sensitive than other second (or third) home alternatives because fewer homes will need to be constructed, saving more open space and using less utilities and materials.

Each of the following components of the GreenHome Initiative will be incorporated into the current homes through upgrades, additions and retrofitting, and will serve as the standard for all new properties that come into the portfolio from here forward:

* Compact florescent bulbs – Initially more expensive to install, they ultimately save between 50-75% in annual lighting costs versus incandescent bulbs. Additionally, they give off less heat and last up to ten times longer.

* Solar heating for swimming pools.

* Xeriscaping – an innovative landscaping approach using native and drought-resistant plants, resulting in 50% less water usage and erosion prevention.

* Upgrading from individual soap packaging to new waste-saving liquid soap dispensers for bathroom vanities, kitchens and laundry rooms.

* Upgrading from electrical wall outlets to electrical strips. Even when turned off, appliances and electronics plugged directly into wall outlets leak five times more wattage than those used in strips.

* LCD televisions and computer monitors. LCD screens use up to 75% less energy than a CRT monitor.

* Recycling paper, plastic and aluminum. Where service is available, each home will be outfitted with a recycling receptacle for sorting and disposing of trash.

* Front Load washers and dryers. Cut water and energy use by 50% versus that of top-loading models.

* Tankless water heaters. Energy savings of 10 - 30% versus storage-type tanks that must keep a reserve water warm regardless of use and which constantly have to keep water warm. Tankless models heat water on an as-needed basis.

* Buy Local Program. Each BelleHavens home will be equipped with information on local markets, purveyors and specialty products for use in the professional-grade kitchens.

* A new BelleHavens website that will facilitate more electronic communications with current and potential members, reducing paper and energy used in producing and delivering hard copy materials.

* An outreach program to educate our members on ways they can reduce emissions in their primary residences.

* A donation to the non-profit organization Carbonfund.org, to offset carbon emissions that can not be reduced.

DC4MS

BelleHavens is the first (and only) Destination Club that is a CarbonFree Partner of Carbonfund.org.

Carbonfund.org | Reduce what you can, offset what you can't

“BelleHavens is dedicated to demonstrating that luxury travel and energy conservation are not mutually exclusive. We aim to cut our emissions throughout our portfolio of luxury homes and offset what we can’t reduce. We selected Carbonfund.org for our offset efforts because they are a perfect fit with our goals.” – Darin Gilson, BelleHavens Founder and CEO

In early 2007, BelleHavens launched our GreenHome initiative to cut energy use throughout our portfolio of luxury homes throughout the world. We are offsetting what we could not reduce with Carbonfund.org through a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy and reforestation projects. Our energy conservation efforts include using compact florescent light bulbs, front load washers and dryers, xeriscaping, recycling where available, LCD monitors, electrical strips and liquid soap dispensers. We look forward to continuing to grow our conservation efforts and to making offset donations every year.

LTTravel

I guess what Bellehaven's is doing is good but are we not all hypocrits? You have Al Gore warning about Global Warming while he drives a Suburban and flies around in a private jet. Oh, but yes, he offsets this by paying into an organization which offsets these carbon emissions, or do they? or are they just another money making organization for a few individuals?
Let's face it, if we want to save energy on travel, we will all have to fly coach on packed flights (forget the private jet affiliations) take the packed van to our vacation destination(forget limo service), and pile in at least four people into a small hotel room with one light. You will have to forgo the private pools, SUV's in the garage, multiple bedroom homes, private jets, private boat charters, etc.
Yes, I agree that we should do our best to conserve energy and make the homes the most energy effecient as we can, but in my opinion I don't think that rich people can justify wasting energy and increasing carbon emissions by carbon offsets. Give me a break.

Steamboat Bill

Yes, there are tons of hypocrites out there when it comes to making our Earth more green and I am probably more guilty than most.

I just changed about 100 light bulbs in my house to fluorescent bulbs and really feel proud of myself. The bulbs are about $6 each and save about 60 watts each as compared to the standard bulb. It takes a few seconds for them to completely light up, but one they are on, they are fantastic. I went to Home Depot and Lowes and bought several to test before I decided to buy Bright Effects #80424 bulbs from Lowes as I liked them the best because the look like a normal bulb, but have a fluorescent bulb inside a outer facade.

Either way, I am HAPPY to see BelleHavens make a positive statement and make their homes more Green and think all the Destination Clubs should follow their lead...or should I say LEED (get it?)

As far as the private jets are concerned...it will take a lot more than changing light bulbs to offset those carbon emissions. At least the GreenHome Initiative is a step in the right direction.