The Green Key to your holiday

Eco-labels are for services too, not just for products.

The Green Key

is a diploma awarded companies within tourism: hotels, youth hostels, conference- and holiday centres, campsites, holidayhouses, leisure facilities and restaurants.

The Japanese make an eloquent Eco Mark

The Japanese Eco Mark Program, founded in 1989, is operated by the Japan Environment Association (JEA).

This Eco Mark applies to products and their life cycles.

Energy Star: Leading energy efficiency across the Atlantic

The Energy Star program was started in 1992 by the U.S. government. The site has a lot of information for consumers, businesses and public sector organizations. It’s a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy about “helping (Americans) all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices”.

In the European Union, the EU Energy Star programme is concerned more specifically with energy efficient office equipment (not as easy to navigate, but still useful). This is managed by the European Commission.

One small Chang’e for China, one large Change for the World

China launched its first Moon orbiter yesterday, and it’s now moving towards a stable orbit, as is its Japanese counterpart, with the Indians to follow in early 2008.

The Chang’e-1, named after the Chinese goddess who flew to the Moon, cost surprisingly little, looks like a great deal for the Chinese, and will surely mark an interesting period of space exploration and exploitation.