Energy management in hospitality : a study of the Thessaloniki hotels

Abstract

Due to the economic crisis, hoteliers are nowadays more

environmentally conscious than ever because it can cost far more

to operate a lodging facility if it is not sustainable. Hotels

use huge amounts of energy, therefore, investments in more

efficient energy use can lead to significant reductions in

energy consumption, operating costs and energy bills. Some

innovative energy management systems could cut energy costs for

hotel owners by up to 65%. The study included in this paper intended to identify the energy

saving systems in the 4 and 5 star hotels of Thessaloniki,

Greece as well as explore whether these systems reduce the

energy and consequently the operating costs of the hotels.

Moreover, the findings were compared against the industry

averages and a number of solutions for energy efficiency and

cost reduction are suggested. Simple green practices (such as

energy-efficient lighting) could contribute in costs

controlling, as well as in environmental sustainability. Other

cost-effective solutions suggested to facility managers include:

the adoption of eco-labelling, use of energy toolkits,

participation in projects aiming to reducing energy use and the

integration of wireless energy management systems. Training of

the hotel managers and their staff can lead to better

understanding, energy saving and certainly increased

profitability.