Measuring energy consumption, the carbon footprint and providing sustainable investment possibilities are the key components of an E-toolkit which could have a path-breaking impact on the tourism sector, helping hotels reduce their carbon footprint while increasing business profits. The Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) E-toolkit will be presented at the second annual HES Conference, ‘An Innovative Energy Toolkit for Hotels’ during the International Tourism trade fair FITUR 2011 (Madrid, Spain, 20 January 2011).

World Tourism Organization UNWTO;
The HES E-toolkit, an easy to use software application, has been designed to reduce the impact of the accommodation sector on the environment and fight climate change. The E-toolkit provides a practical means for hoteliers to asses their current energy consumption and presents the most profitable investment alternatives in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energies.

Following two years of research by leading energy experts and on the ground testing, this innovative tool will be presented for the first time at the second annual HES Conference; at which representatives from pilot destinations who have been testing a beta version of the E-toolkit will share their experiences. In addition, major technology providers and Europe’s leading energy management agencies will showcase the latest innovations in energy technologies for the accommodation sector.  

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Accommodation units registered with the UNWTO-initiated Hotel Energy Solutions project will have access to the E-toolkit, free of charge. The E-toolkit generates user-friendly reports showing how much energy is being used by each hotel and how this compares to other establishments; presenting the overall carbon footprint of the hotel; and offering suggestions on the latest energy technologies.

Running parallel to the conference and following the success of the first edition in January 2010, FITUR and UNWTO will for the second time organize a special exhibition area dedicated to energy and tourism; FITUR GREEN (19-23 January). Hoteliers will have the opportunity to meet directly with energy experts to discover how a better energy management can reduce operational costs, while making a decisive contribution to diminish the sector’s environmental impact.

The UNWTO-initiated HES project is the industry response to the challenge of climate change. The project - co-funded by the European Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) - aims at increasing energy efficiency in European small and medium hotels by 20% and the use of renewable energy by 10%.

As Europe’s largest hotel energy initiative, the project has been selected as an official partner of the European Sustainable Energy Campaign.