According to a study designed by PwC and the Spanish Energy Efficiency Technology Platform called How to Boost Energy Efficiency in the Spanish Hotel Sector, if the Spanish tourism sector reached an agreement on the implementation of energy efficiency plans, it would be possible to save up to 210 million euros (about US$250 million).
This initiative would also avoid the emission of 835,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually.
Within the study it was evidenced that 89% of the hotels that participated in the survey have already executed in their facilities some project that involves the issue of energy efficiency, most focused on lighting solutions.
It was also found that energy costs represent 9% of the management costs of a hotel establishment, a figure that can range from 4% for properties that have a basic consumption such as lighting, hot water and heating, and 25% for those that have spa services, heated pools and other added values that require the use of energy.
On the other hand, 69% of the establishments expressed their intention to implement in the short term energy efficiency solutions in their properties, on which the survey report indicates that in order to identify in which place or process of the hotel the greatest potential for energy efficiency is located, it is first necessary to analyze various elements, among them the weather conditions of the area where the establishment is located, the age of the building, the category of the hotel, the services it offers, the state of the structure, etc.
According to Blanca Perea, director of the energy sector at PwC, integrating energy efficiency processes and strategies in a hotel not only contributes to economic and energy savings, but also to the company's image.
"Making the great potential for energy efficiency tangible requires that the agents involved regain the confidence to distribute the risk and return of projects in a balanced way, work on the go-to-market model of energy service companies, equipment manufacturers and installers and design efficient financing formulas. The meeting with the sector shows that this is possible," concluded Perea.
