Why Energy Efficiency is the “First Fuel” for the Future of Hospitality
In the competitive world of hospitality, the margins between a good year and a great one are often found in the operational details. Today, one of the most significant challenges facing UK hoteliers is soaring energy costs. But what if we told you that the key to protecting your profits isn’t just about sourcing cheaper energy, but about using less of it, without ever compromising on guest comfort?
Our latest whitepaper, “Cut Costs, Not Comfort: The Profit Case for Hotel Energy Efficiency,” explores how the hospitality sector can harness smart technology and data to future-proof operations.
The Silent Profit Killer: Energy Waste
The UK hospitality sector is a powerhouse, contributing £93 billion to the economy annually. However, it is also incredibly energy-intensive, because hotels are always on, using systems like HVAC, lighting, and laundry 24/7.
Recent data reveals some staggering facts:
- The hospitality sector’s annual energy costs exceed £1.3 billion.
- Hotels alone account for more than 8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
- Most businesses waste enough energy to reduce their bills by 10% with little to no capital cost just by changing user behaviour.
We call energy efficiency the “greatest story never told” because it is the cheapest and fastest way to achieve clean energy, but not enough business owners are talking about it. However, as a hospitality business, every kWh you don’t use is a kWh you don’t have to pay for, and the impact on your bottom line can be huge!
A Holistic Approach to Savings
While many hotels look for a solution to rising costs, we know that the most successful are integrated into wider strategies. Our whitepaper explores five key pillars of energy efficiency in hospitality, so you can incorporate it in a strategy of your own:
- Smart Technology and AI: Implementing an Energy Management System (EMS) like Eniscope allows you to see waste in real-time and automate savings.
- Efficient appliances: Upgrading to A-rated appliances or using tech like CUES to make existing refrigeration smarter.
- Employee and guest engagement: Training “Energy Champions” and empowering guests with sustainable opt-in choices.
- Retrofitting: Improving the building fabric, such as insulation and glazing to reduce baseline demand.
- Renewables: Sourcing clean power, which works best when paired with monitoring to ensure that green energy isn’t being wasted.
Success in Action: Sankara Hotel
At Best.Energy, we don’t just talk about savings; we deliver them. By partnering with Best.Energy to deploy the Eniscope platform, the Sankara Hotel (Marriott Bonvoy) achieved a 20% site-wide energy reduction. Through real-time monitoring and AI-driven insights, they gained visibility into high-use zones like laundry and kitchens, turning efficiency into a shared responsibility across their staff.
Ready to Lead the Race to Net Zero?
Sustainability is no longer a luxury in the hotel and hospitality sector. It’s an expectation. 84% of travellers now say sustainability is important to them, so by adopting the measures in our whitepaper now, you’re building a more resilient, profitable business while protecting the planet.