ENERGY
RGY – IS IT THE ANSWER?
conventional boiler) for times when Small scale roof-mounted wind renewable energy capacity.
there is insufficient sunlight. They can turbines (not considered effective in 4. Providers that supply a high
also be used for space heating urban areas); proportion of energy from ‘renewable’
(especially if associated with Ground source heat pumps for sources – in effect this means that you
underfloor heating). Some systems properties that do not have mains gas. are supporting a supplier that has a
have pay back periods of five years No matter which technology you demonstrable commitment to
or less. choose to invest in, check on the expected renewables. All energy companies
Natural ventilation systems designed life span of the equipment you select and have a target to meet to generate
to operate without the need for all of its components. 10% of their electricity from renewable
refrigeration or fans, working on basic sources by 2010 (known as
principles, whereby hot air rises above INVESTMENT IN GREEN OR Renewables Obligation) and it is likely
cool air. RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM AN that some suppliers will fail to meet
Ground source heat pumps, suitable ENERGY PROVIDER this target. By supporting those that
for properties with underfloor heating, For most hospitality businesses, the are likely to meet the target, you will
or those with high demand for low most cost effective and realistic option for be supporting their efforts to provide
temperature heating (such as a purchasing renewable energy will be renewable energy.
swimming pool). buying on a green tariff from an existing 5. Providers that supply a high
Solar-powered lighting for outside energy provider. This option can still proportion of energy from nuclear
areas where lighting is not essential provide good PR value and send a clear generating plant. While some
for health and safety reasons, and message to the Government and our environmentalists continue to shun
where there is irregular staff usage. customers that we want to buy nuclear power, others are increasingly
Small-scale wood chip or wood- non-polluting forms of energy. If you embracing it as the only practical
burning boilers linked into hot water choose to go down this route, then you short term solution to mitigate the on-
systems (especially modern high can choose from the following (in declining going growth in carbon emissions
efficiency boilers). order of ‘greenness’): implicated in global warming.
CHP units for businesses demanding 1. Providers that build and operate You can obtain price comparison
a constant source of heat (e.g. a renewable energy equipment on your material and a list of relevant suppliers of
swimming pool). behalf (either on your site or remote renewable energy from Energywatch on
Your business may be able to qualify from it). Most of these companies 08459 060708 or by using one of the
for a grant or interest-free loan for some operate wind turbines from your websites for switching suppliers, which are
of these technologies. Check out the property (or a location in proximity to listed at www.energywatch.org.uk. These
Energy Saving Trust web site it), so your location will have to be websites are designed for domestic
www.est.org.uk if your business is small appropriate to secure energy from consumers but will give you an idea of
scale (primarily a domestic property) or the this source. The costs of buying suppliers with green tariffs who operate in
Carbon Trust web site electricity in this way can be your area. You should remember when
www.carbontrust.co.uk if it is larger to competitive with a conventional calculating likely savings that you will
find out more details. supply, although you will usually have currently be paying the Climate Change
Do not dismiss other technologies out to commit to a long term relationship Levy on any electricity you consume and
of hand - many exist that have not been (12 years is not uncommon). this will not apply to any energy that you
extensively tested in the hospitality sector. 2. Providers that offer a ‘green tariff’. buy from options 1, 2 and 3 on the list
Businesses that are dependent on electricity This means that for any electricity that above.
for space or water heating, that do not you purchase from that supplier, they
have access to mains gas, or that are will generate the equivalent value This article is provided courtesy of The
located in areas that are, for example, from renewable energy sources Considerate Hoteliers Association
particularly windy or that have easy access (although, of course, the electricity www.consideratehoteliers.com, an
to a ready supply of biomass fuel (usually delivered to your property cannot be association run by hoteliers, for
wood, woodchips or pellets) may be able guaranteed to come exclusively from hoteliers who wish to
to benefit from other technologies and renewable sources). It is not always commit to a
enjoy a relatively short payback. These easy to purchase energy on a green responsible
may include: high efficiency woodburning tariff and most companies have a environmental
boilers, small scale wind turbines that waiting list for commercial customers. and socially
supply electricity directly to the business, or 3. Providers that offer a ‘green fund’. acceptable
systems that use the latent heat in ground This means that some of the money agenda.
water for space heating. you pay goes to support renewable They
Other technologies that will make a energy installations, or research or provide
definitive statement about your other environmental programmes. As advice,
commitment to renewable energy, but will above, purchasing energy from a encouragement
have payback of usually more than five provider with a green fund does not and networking
years include: mean that the electricity delivered to amongst members,
Photovoltaic panels that collect the your property will have been allowing the great and the small of
energy of the sun and convert it into generated directly from renewable the hotel world to co-exist in close
electrical energy which is usually sources, but you will be supporting harmony, based on an ethos of sound
stored in batteries; the development and expansion of common sense.
SUSTAINABLE FM | APRIL 2008
|33
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44