Branson Plans Zero Carbon Resort, Launches Eco-Consulting Group

July 2, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Richard Branson plans to turn his Mosquito Island in the British Virgin Islands into the most environmentally-friendly resort in the world, The Associated Press reports.

Located off Virgin Gorda and within sight of Branson’s Necker Island, uninhabited Mosquito Island, as Branson envisions it, will have a beachfront restaurant and 20 villas powered by solar and wind.

Thermal airflows will eliminate the need for air conditioners and the restaurant’s food will come from an organic orchard and vehicles will run on biofuel.

The response from the government has been positive and the VI planning department is reviewing Branson’s plans that aim to be environmentally friendly in every aspect.

Branson also says he is launching an eco-consulting group called Virgin Green Owls that will advise governments and corporations in carbon neutral projects beginning in August.Branson is known for taking the lead in an elite circle of climate change activists. Following the British government’s criticism of British Airways last year, Branson’s Virgin Airlines introduced on-board carbon offsets for flights. With that, Virgin had brought buying offsets into the open and made it a public act, EnvironmentalLeader reported.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Pew Center Conference: Corporate Energy Efficiency

Reduce energy consumption, lower emissions and save money. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

EGM Green would love to participate in this Eco-Friendly island. We are the only company to make Eco-friendly casino tables. http://www.egmgreen.com

Eric Hansel | July 3rd, 2008

The initiative comes from the right place. Track record, smarts in business, massive resources and a wealth of environmentally switched on folks. Face it, Richard Branson can accord the best. Plus, he’s motivated, and like many times, he’s first to make a real impact, either real or perceived. Leadership. Owls, has a ring to it and reminds me of the wise folks group in The Global Elders initiative, formed by Branson and Peter Gabriel. Nothing wrong with the currency of celebrity either. Branson’s got more substance than style (which is considerable), and he’s made global news again, so the awareness is certainly there. Sign me up.

Greg Tingle | July 3rd, 2008

I love to see energy-efficient projects like this. Branson is doing something for the spectacular Virgin Gorda that his critics can only talk about. They need to get busy and do it themselves! We are marketing eco-friendly homes in the Nation’s Oldest City, St. Augustine and getting a great response. These are hurricane ready, fire-resistant, mold and mildew resistant, termite resistant energy efficient structures with on-demand hot water, low-e windows and are gov’t rated by EPA certified inspectors. This is the wave of the future and I applaud Branson for his active participation.

Dirk Schroeder | September 4th, 2008

New Environmental Leader Reports

Green Marketing: What Works; What Doesn't - A Market Study of Practitioners

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

02/09/2010
02/08/2010
02/05/2010

Charts [ see all ]

Caterpillar Puts Weight Behind $1.5B FutureGen CCS Project

Federal Government Proposes Climate Change Office

34% of Execs Cite Economy As Impediment to Adopting Sustainability

CEO Report Envisions $6 Trillion in Sustainable New Business Opportunities

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

John Bergdoll on Accidental to Purposeful Sustainability: Using What You Already Have to Grow Sustainability
"I was following the logic your article..."

Liz Amason on Clorox Comes Clean With Chemical Content on Web Site
"But look at their ingredients listings. For example, their regular liquid bleach..."

Rigidflexibility on Companies Going Green Should Ignore Green Consumer
"I was about to market a metal working fluid that is 98>% Soybean oil and..."

Stuart on Canadian Environment Minister Denounces Quebec Vehicle Emissions Regs
"Canadians have been waiting for the feds to act on climate change for..."

Steve Wolford on Sports Teams Embrace Sustainability
"Hello Environmental Leader, We just returned from the National Sport Forum in Baltimore. Team and..."

Mauibrad on Bipartisan Senatorial Effort Seeks Cap and Trade for non-CO2 Emissions
"Finally some enlightened ideas out of Congress!"

Cameron Green on Data Centers Can Apply for Energy Star Rating in June
"I did a blog post about this. Essentially PUE doesn’t give you very much..."

Environmental Leader