UNWTO launches Hotel Energy Solutions Toolkits

MADRID-13 September 2011-The Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) e-toolkit, the main output of the Hotel Energy Solutions project, provides hoteliers with a report which shows their current energy use and recommends appropriate renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and actions. It further sets out what kind of savings on operational expenses hotels can expect from their green investments through a return on investment calculator.

Testing of the toolkit was finalized in August in more than 100 European properties in four different pilot destinations: Haute-Savoie, in France, Palma de Mallorca, in Spain, Bonn, in Germany, and Strandja, in Bulgaria, with very positive feedback from hotel owners and managers.

Goal is to Improve Energy Efficiency
In response to the challenge of climate change, the HES project aims to increase energy efficiency (EE) in European small and medium hotels by 20 percent and their use of renewable energies (RE) by 10 percent, demonstrating that economic growth and sustainability can, and should, go hand in hand.
The online toolkit, alongside other resources-a web based "Energy School," a series of research reports to better understand EE and RE technologies and promotional materials for hotels to sensitize their guests to energy saving-will be made available free of charge to all accommodation establishments registered with the project.
While built for European Union Member States in line with EU Energy Policies, the project is expected to be rolled out globally over the coming years. Once adapted for non- EU Member States, the project will benefit hotels worldwide, thus contributing to climate change mitigation while helping hotels increase business profits.
Hotel Energy Solutions is a UNWTO-initiated project supported by the European Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation under the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. The project has been implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) as well as the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME).

For further information:
www.hotelenergysolutions.net