Business eco efficiency tips
Eco-efficient tourism
Making your business more eco-efficient and sustainable makes good business sense – it can translate into cost savings, enhance your reputation, and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere.
But where do you start? Conversio’s Alex Stathakis provides some pointers.
Energy efficiency
It is important to understand where and when you consume energy. For example, an accommodation business would consume most of its energy during the evening hours with a lot of energy spent on lighting and controlling indoor temperature to keep guest comfortable. In a hospitality business on the other hand, energy consumption will occur throughout the day because of storing, preparing and cooking food. Therefore, accommodation businesses would benefit most from investing into lighting and heating and cooling measures, whereas hospitality might find it useful to consider rooftop solar options.
Switch off energy-consuming equipment, including lights, when you are not using it, especially after hours. This can be done by staff, timer switches or adjusting building control systems. When purchasing new equipment, look for the most efficient options. The Energy Star rating will help you with your purchasing decision. You should also make sure that you purchase the right type and size of equipment for the job
Heating and cooling
The more heat is generated inside the building, e.g. through lighting, computers, kitchen equipment and the hotter the weather outside, the harder your air-conditioning system must work to maintain the desired temperature. Most people feel comfortable in a temperature range of between 18-26°C, provided the temperature is in line with outdoor conditions. Temperatures around 24°C in summer and 19°C in winter are comfortable settings for staff and guests. In winter, every 1°C increase in temperature will increase your energy use by up to 15%. In summer, every 1°C decrease in temperature will increase your energy use by up to 10%. By setting the temperature right, energy use for heating and cooling can be reduced by as much as 50%. In addition, encourage staff and guests to dress for the seasonal weather. Ensure your own workspaces are shielded from draughts and direct sunlight.
Water
Water use can be a large part of your operating costs (and energy bill). Investing in water efficiency and water saving technology for laundry facilities, toilets, showers, and faucets does not cost the world and often have a payback period of less than one year, making them very economically attractive. Just like with energy efficient equipment, many appliances come with a water rating. Check http://www.waterrating.gov.au for more information.
Lighting
Updating your business’ lighting is one of the easiest ways to reduce your energy costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Replace the common T8 fluorescent tubes with the more efficient T5s and use compact fluorescents where possible. Consider this, when switching to compact fluorescent lighting you use around 75% less energy when compared to incandescent lights… LED lights are even better. They may cost a little more, but last a lot longer, create less heat, and use only a fraction of energy compared to other alternatives. Other options include installing light and occupancy sensors, as well as dimmers, and, of course, using as much natural light as possible. Together, these options can save you up to 80% of your lighting energy use
Waste reduction
Many businesses in the tourism sector already use a number of waste avoidance and recycling strategies. These include paper, cardboard and glass recycling, as well as talking to suppliers to ensure that excess packaging is removed and other packaging materials can be returned for reuse. Consider leasing equipment and furniture instead of purchasing them. This can be cheaper in the long run and allows you to upgrade your business on a regular basis without having to purchase new stuff all the time, and you will not be responsible for the disposal. Make sure that you talk to your staff about waste initiatives, explain to them how things are done in your business and what your expectations are. At the same time, do invite feedback and suggestions from your staff. You’ll be surprised by the great ideas that come out of it.
There you go. Some easy, cost-effective tips on how to be more eco-efficient and sustainable.
But do keep in mind that some measures represent a cost. Benefits only arise from effective application, so you need to ensure that whatever you do, it is fit-for-purpose and matches the requirements of your business and abilities of your staff.
If you would like to know more about this topic, how your business can save money, reduce its footprint and bolster its reputation, talk to Alex Stathakis from Conversio.
