Activities to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

According to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (2022), ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy for all is pivotal. Energy-related CO₂ emissions are increased by 6 percent in 2021. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by making power on-site with renewables and other climate-friendly energy resources. Examples include rooftop solar panels, solar water heating, wind generation, fuel cells powered by natural gas or renewable hydrogen, and geothermal energy.

Seven hints for minimizing energy usage in tourist accommodations [8] ):

1. Monitor energy use: The most effective step to reduce energy consumption is to monitor energy use. This will provide an idea regarding where your energy is being used the most. You can come up with a plan for minimizing consumption. Businesses can monitor their energy consumption by installing a business energy monitor, a device that helps measure energy consumption and usage habits.
2. Staff and guest training: Since your staff spends most of their day overseeing operations and working on the premises, they are aware of the areas where most of the energy is being used efficiently and where energy is wasted. Brief your staff about your plan to make your environment more sustainable. Training the staff and guests is key to changing their behaviors to minimize energy use by turning off the lights and other appliances such as computers instead of leaving them on standby. Training staff by holding seminars or short meetings and handing over informational brochures to the guests will increase awareness about gas emissions and carbon footprint as well.
3. Inspect and maintain appliances: Oftentimes energy-consuming and control equipment such as boilers consume lots of energy when they are functioning poorly. Regularly inspect these appliances for damage and make sure to replace and repair any parts that may be damaged. Inspect pipes for leakage and have the gas appliances in your accommodation service inspected.
4. Optimize the HVAC system: Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems consume most of the energy, especially in businesses providing lodging services. First, set an optimal temperature range for all the areas in the hotel. Since every room/area has a different heating/cooling requirement for a different time each day, this will help reduce energy consumption and the utility bill.
5. Go solar: The sun is a renewable source of energy and businesses should be taking advantage of it. You can reduce your consumption by switching to solar panels. This will not only protect you from rising energy costs but also helps you stay in the competition.
6. Maximize energy efficiency with better insulation: Insulating appliances such as ducts, walls, HVAC systems, and water pipes will help reduce energy consumption.
7. Install air-source heat pumps: ASHPs are a sustainable method to heat your home and water. This gadget absorbs heat from the air outside to heat your accommodation and water. Even though these pumps require electricity to run, they are energy efficient. The amount of electricity used is far less than the amount of heat produced, making them more sustainable.

Tourism is responsible for aptly 8 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. From plane flights and boat rides to souvenirs and lodging, various activities contribute to tourism’s carbon footprint. The majority of this footprint is emitted by visitors from high-income countries [24] There are many ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector, including energy efficiency, fossil-fuel switching, the efficient use and recycling of materials, and investing in renewable energy  [16,17] The major types or sources of renewable energy are [28,3] Solar energy from the sun; geothermal energy from the heat inside the earth; wind energy; Biomass from plants, and; hydropower from flowing water.