Hostelling International has announced the winners of their sustainability fund competition - with YHA England and Wales taking first place, followed by runners-up Spain and the USA also receiving support for their eco-friendly projects.

The contest offered a total of £60,000 for three individual projects that were looking to reduce their CO2 missions by making their hostels more eco-friendly. More than 18,200 people across the globe voted for 15 worldwide projects, all of which aimed to reduce CO2 emissions.

This competition is close to Hostelling International's heart. The HI mission is to encourage a greater knowledge and appreciation of the social and cultural values of the world, promoting global interaction while reducing our carbon footprint. As a not-for-profit organisation, HI promotes the value of youth and backpacker travel around the world and pushes all profits into pioneering projects like the HI Sustainability Fund. As an accommodation provider, HI is unique with its goals to reduce the environmental impact of tourism and work to promote green travel.

The winning project from YHA England and Wales wins £25,000, for its ground-breaking Biomass Boiler project at YHA Pen-y-Pass in Wales that will save 92.2 tonnes of CO2 each year. The new Biomass Boiler will reduce carbon emissions at the popular Youth Hostel by 86% and is part of its plan to reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs.

Caroline White, chief executive of YHA, said: "We are all absolutely over the moon about winning the HISF grant for YHA Pen-y-Pass. The hostel, high up in the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park, means so much to thousands of people who explore the area each year.  The grant will ensure we can make the experience we offer at the site even better through innovative sustainability.  Thank you to everyone who voted for us and please come and see the work for yourselves next year and stay at YHA Pen-y-Pass!"

The second place accolade and a donation of £24,800 goes to the As Corcerizas hostel in Spain, which has already been offering environmental education and promoting sustainable technology for more than 10 years. The hostel plans to promote renewable energy even further by installing a wind turbine, helping them towards their goal of being 100% sustainable. "Here, in Red Española de Albergues Juveniles (REAJ), we want to thank HI for this amazing
initiative that helps to preserve our environment and make a more sustainable world, I also want to thank everyone who voted for our Youth Hostel and contributed to Spain win the contest," said Sergio Montoya, chief executive of the Spanish Associations REAJ.

A further £10,000 will also be given to HI-USA to help upgrade 10 of their hostels across the country to Gold Certification in Sustainable Education and Travel.  HI's chief executive Mikael Hansson says: "We are delighted to award those three projects this money, which will reinforce to our customers the importance of our mission - to
promote the value of global youth travel at the same time as working towards a more sustainable future."

The other shortlisted projects Included:

AUSTRALIA - Using sustainable technology and solar hot water systems to increase the hostel's energy efficiency

BOLIVIA - Reducing the use of plastic bags by manufacturing new ones from long-life linen and recycled material.

BRAZIL - Use of solar panels in a hostel, and offering sustainable education to local children.

CANADA - Refurbishing a popular hostel's roof to provide better insulation and increase thermal resistance

CHINA - Converting an abandoned building into a sustainable education facility.

ICELAND - Practical education on sustainability through lectures, workshops and movie festivals.

ISRAEL - Installing a new water heating system using solar energy

ITALY - Educating children to promote a sustainable future

NETHERLANDS - Encouraging hostel staff and guests to reduce waste, use less water, reduce fuel consumption and promote health and wellbeing.

NEW ZEALAND - Reduce carbon emissions by harnessing geo-thermal energy to power a large city hostel

SLOVENIA - Educating staff in the Slovenia network on how to implement sustainable living in each hostel.

SWITZERLAND - Use of wood pellet heating system to replace current use of oil.

You can learn more about the HI Sustainability Fund by visiting the HI blog.

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For further information please contact:
Rebecca O'Connor
Tel: 01707324170
Email: roconnor@hihostels.com