The Hotel Energy Solutions (HES) developed the e-Toolkit aiming to improve the energy efficiency in the hotel industry.

The Hotel Energy Solutions project is the accommodation industry\’s response to the climate change challenge that the world is facing. Initiated by the United Nations World Tourist Organization (UNWTO), the HES has developed a new software application that will be able to measure energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of small and medium hotels in the European Union.

Science and Technology Fighting Climate Change

After 2 years of research by leading energy experts and on the ground testing, the e-Toolkit serves to reduce the impact of the accommodation sector on the environment and fight climate change. This innovative software application lets hoteliers assess their current energy consumption and also shows the most profitable investment alternatives in terms of energy efficiency and renewable energies for a successful return on investment (ROI).

France, Spain, Germany and Bulgaria Share Experiences

At the HES Conference, representative from pilot leading destinations committed to the sustainable development of tourism and innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energies shared their experiences on the e-Toolkit.  Pilot destinations where beta versions of the e-Toolkit have been tested include  Haute-Savoie, France, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Bonn, Germany,  Strandja, Bulgaria. They also received professional training from leading energy and tourism agencies.

Sustainable Tourism

Building a sustainable way of  living includes to vacation with environmental responsibility. Choosing destinations and hotels that are committed to fight climate change is a way of doing it. Why not try something different and give the planet a chance while doing it?

The HES project was co-founded by the European Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME). The project aims at increasing energy efficiency in European small and medium hotels by 20 percent and the use of renewable energy by 10 percent.

As Europe\’s largest hotel energy initiative, it has been selected as an official partner of the European Sustainable Energy Campaign.