Environmental Leader

Carey Executive Limousine is partnering with Verus Carbon Neutral to offset its carbon footprint. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company is supporting the environment by offsetting the emissions of its entire fleet of nearly 50 vehicles with a Georgia forestry project. The project, managed by Valley Wood Timber, protects over 60,000 acres of forest and proceeds support the Humane Society.

Verus Carbon Neutral is a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), touted as the world’s first and North America’s only voluntary and legally-binding offset trading system. The company provides offset projects that are third-party verified by the CCX. The Environmental Defense Fund recently recommended 12 offset projects, of which seven were registered on the Chicago Climate Exchange.

Both limo service and car rental companies are implementing a variety of strategies to offset their carbon footprint and reduce vehicle emissions. Virgin Atlantic, for example, offers passengers Chevrolet Equinox hydrogen fuel cell cars as part of its upper class limo service. NYC Green Car Service launched a hybrid-only fleet last year. In addition, New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced a plan that requires new black cars entering service beginning Jan. 1, 2009, to carry a fuel economy rating of at least 25-miles a gallon.

Rental car companies are offering similar services. Orbitz announced plans last year to rent more hybrid cars by teaming up with Fox Rent A Car, a rental company that specializes in airport rentals of hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles.

A few years ago, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and sister companies National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car implemented a voluntary customer carbon offset program, administered through TerraPass. Enterprise Rent-A-Car also announced plans in March to expand its Atlanta Rideshare program by nearly doubling its metro area fleet of 110 vanpool vehicles over the next year.