Providing free or low-cost access to green options for local mobility appeals to guests who are conscious of their carbon footprint. Options include encouraging use of local transport, bicycles and electric vehicles over land and providing kayaks, rowboats and other water-based modes of transport.

The most effective way for accommodation managers to encourage eco-efficient transport is to offer discounts to guests arriving by public transport, and to provide a pick-up service for these guests.

 Circular economy, the Green Key to being more eco-friendly

Hotel's inspiring three pillars

Water consumption in public spaces is highly variable, and depends on the services offered and the number of visitors on any given day. Installation of efficient fittings, selected through 'green' procurement processes, reduces the overall amount of water used, and the treatment and disposal costs, as well as energy consumption when heated water is limited or regulated (showers and basin taps).

The following applications can be taken into account:

Biomass heating systems can be used for space heating in buildings, hot water and production, or any combination of these. The most relevant source of biomass heat for the accommodation sector is wood, and the most efficient conversion pathway is through direct combustion, which can mean burning wood chips or pellets in boilers, or larger pieces in gasifying wood boilers.

Full marks for energy

• Hotel's clear focus on resource efficiency and the environment paves way for great results
• 100 % of its power is generated by renewable energy sources

Owners of the Hotel Rural Vale do Rio in rural Portugal had a vision to design, build and run a sustainable welcoming hotel. 

Opening the door to savings

• Traditional sector explores renewable energy alternatives
• The results prove to be worth the investment

A Finnish door factory situated in Northern Ostrobothnia changed its former electricity based water circulating heating system into one using geothermal heating, an abundant and renewab;e source of energy store deep in the ground. 

After an investigation of viable alternatives, a new system was introduced and the savings were clear to see.

Key benefits

Hybrid renewable energy solution in Finland

Retail chains have tools which were unimaginable ten years ago to help them replenish their stock just in time. Despite these developments, the amount of food wasted is still high. Systemic problems in the way food is ordered and handled are difficult to fix even with the latest automated inventory systems. SMall amounts of repeat waste can add up.

The best way to fix a systematic problem like this is to fix it at source. One retail store in Finland, Kauppavalmennus Ltd., used a digital application to analyse and remedy a persistent food waste issue.