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For further information and advice
This list of areas where energy savings can be made through (longer-
term) investments has been elaborated on the basis of publications
from the UNWTO NeZEH initiative, the Hotel Energy Solutions,
the European Commission EMAS reference document on best
environmental management practice in the tourism sector and the
materials developed by HOTREC’s network of 44 national hospitality
associations in Europe.
This list is not exhaustive. Hospitality businesses wanting to learnmore
about how to further reduce their energy consumption and improve
energy efficiency should contact their relevant national hospitality
association for advice (a list of these associations is available at
the end of this brochure). Further advice can also be obtained from
energy audit companies or from specialised brochures. An indicative
bibliography is available at the end of this brochure.
4. Consider heat-pumps, geothermal heating/cooling and
renewables
When renovating the heating/cooling system, consider installing air heat
pumps or equipment that use renewable energy sources of energy such
as ground water pumps, solar panels, biomass, on-site geothermal energy
generation etc. Such sources can be used for all-kind of energy needs. For
instance, solar panels can be connected to boilers for heating water and/
or for producing basic electrical needs of a hospitality establishment. Eco-
labelled equipment and products help achieving high savings goals.
Focus on the UNWTO Nearly Zero Energy Hotels (neZEH)
The Nearly Zero Energy Hotels (neZEH) project has created an online toolkit released in 2016 for the European
hospitality segment to evaluate energy performance and identify options for energy efficiency.
Buildings consume 40% of the total energy and emit 36% of greenhouse gases in the European Union (EU),
therefore represent a high potential for energy savings. Accommodation is responsible for 21% of the tourism
sector’s CO2 emissions. While there is immense potential for savings, the hospitality sector’s fragmented nature
poses challenges to seizing it. In response to its commitments on energy efficiency and climate change (2020
and 2050 targets), the EU has committed to transform Europe’s building stock into Nearly Zero Energy Buildings
(nZEB). The hospitality sectors of all EU Member States have to comply with nZEB directives by 2020.
The neZEH initiative, supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Commission, was
created to assist Europe’s hotels in this process by reducing their carbon footprint and energy use to Nearly
Zero Energy levels. A ten-partner, pan-European research consortium developed neZEH by building on the World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s successful Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) project, concluded in 2011.
HES established the online e-toolkit that neZEH has adapted for the specific purpose of allowing European
hotels to assess how close their property is to compliance with nZEB regulations, and what improvements are
needed. The e-toolkit mainly targets SME hotels, which represent 90% of the European hospitality market, but
can be used by all types of enterprise. Aside from the e-toolkit, the initiative has also provided hotels with tailored
technical advice and practical training, shared good practices, and undertaken capacity building related to energy
renovations.
Between 2013 and 2016 the initiative implemented renovation projects for 16 Nearly Zero Energy Hotels across
seven EU member states. Championing an approach that can lead to a reduction in energy consumption of up to
70%, these innovators serve as an inspiration towards a more sustainable hospitality sector.
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Making tourism more resource efficient: guidance and solutions to raise energy efficiency in the european hospitality industry