Booking on Orbitz gets better

This month one year ago, Orbitz launched its newest iniative, an eco-travel microsite at www.eco.orbitz.com/ where visitors can book stays in environmentally-friendly hotels, rent hybrid vehicles, purchase carbon offsets or explore voluntourism opportunities. This year, the company is celebrating the easy-to-search site by recognizing hotels that earned the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR - making "green" lodging selections even more vast.

The "national mark of excellence in enegy efficiency," ENERGY STAR certified buildings use nearly 40 percent less energy than average builidings, and at the same time emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide.

Driven by Orbitz's company wide campaign, Protect Planet Earth, this is only one aspect that appeals to the green globetrotter within. Says Bob Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, "The ability to search for ENERGY STAR qualified hotels makes it even easier for travelers to save energy and protect the environment."

And at the end of the day, isn't that what it all boils down to?