Here are some simple but practical changes which have all been made by tourism businesses to reduce environmental impact and save money at the same time.

Save Energy

• Reduce the temperature of a room by one degree. You could cut your heating bill by 10%.

• Replace tungsten bulbs with energy efficient, compact fluorescent lamps and slim line tubes. This can make immediate savings of 50% and last 10 times longer.

• Run a ‘Switch Off’ campaign. It is always cheaper to switch off lights, however short the time period.

• Switch off computers monitors when not in use. Screen savers do not save energy.

• Change to renewable ‘green electricity’energy sources. To find a supplier and check green tariffs contact OFGEM on 0207 9325836.

• Replacing 120 regular bulbs with 120 5watt lo-energy candle bulbs saved one hotel £400 per annum with a payback of 1.5 years.

• Replacing electrical appliances with A-rated energy-efficient ones can save £420 per annum with a payback of 4-5 years.

Save Water

• Fix dripping taps as these can waste enough water each day to run a shower for 5 minutes

• Cistern displacement devises such as ‘hippos’ and ‘save-a-flushes’ reduce the volume of water required to fill a toilet cistern by up to 3 litres per flush.

• Low and dual-flush toilets should be considered if replacing existing units.  The maximum cistern volume of new toilets is 6 litres, compared with 9 litres for older models.

• Turn off taps fully. A 5mm stream of water wastes 523m3 of water per year. This could cost between £250-£705 a year.

• Fit push-button taps to reduce water use by up to 50%.

• Supply restrictor valves: install these in supply pipes and keep the water flow constant. Regardless of fluctuations in water pressure (can reduce water flows by 56%).

• Check out ‘dry urinals’ – they don’t smell and may save you significant amounts on your water bills.

• A towel arrangement can prevent needless washing of towels and brings immediate savings. This can be achieved by placing a notice in rooms to inform guests.

Reduce Waste

• A hotel operating better waste practices was able to reduce their waste by 85% and saved £300 per annum on waste bills.

• Making compost from kitchen and garden waste can reduce 50% of all refuse going to landfill.

• Each tonne of newspaper recycled saves 4100kWH of energy

• Junk mail can be stopped by calling 08457 034599

• Use both sides of paper to reduce your use by 50%.

Purchasing

• Support local producers, particularly organic producers

• Recycle printer cartridges

• Support Fair Trade products. If your store doesn’t have the product you want, ask the manager to stock it.

• Use phosphate free soaps and detergents

• Using ‘washing balls’ instead of washing powder can save £35 per annum on detergent – and because of fewer rinse cycles being required can reduce electricity costs too.

• Using pottery soap dispensers instead of disposable bottles will save money and prevent waste with a payback of less than six months.

Transport

• Ensure your visitors know how to reach you by public transport

• Encourage staff to car-share

• Provide facilities for walkers & cyclists

• Join and/or promote a carbon off-set scheme

Support Biodiversity

• Conduct a nature audit of your facilities – promote it to your guests.

• Plant native trees and shrubs

• Establish a wildlife area to encourage insects, butterflies etc

• Put up bird or bat boxes

Visitor Experience

• Join and promote a visitor payback scheme

• Introduce a towel agreements with guests

• Provide Information on protected landscapes, environments etc

• Provide information on walking, cycling, public transport etc

Marketing & Management

• Have an environmental policy & keep it on display to staff & visitors

• Introduce environmental awareness into staff induction & training

• Create an environmental information pack for visitors

• Use IT to reduce paper usage – promote email and web addresses

• Support community related environmental projects

• Monitor your usage of electricity, oil, gas and water etc

An excellent framework to help you introduce these measures is the Green Tourism Business Scheme.  Click here for more details.

For case studies and examples of how other businesses have gone green click here