Good reasons why going green is a better way to operate as a tourism business:
- Increased efficiency - Water, electricity and gas are some of the biggest costs for tourism businesses. With prices high, becoming more efficient will help reduce your bottom line.
- Reduced waste - Waste is a double cost - wasted money on purchasing and wasted money on disposal.
- Added appeal - Customers increasingly expect businesses to operate in an environmentally responsible way
- Added value - Many actions that you may take, such as using local products, will also add to the quality of your offer.
- More resilience - Taking action now will make you better prepared for the higher costs and tougher legislation predicted for the future, as well as the impacts of a changing climate.
Get started with an Environmental audit
Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited is working in partnership with the University of Northampton School of Applied Sciences to provide a limited number of free environmental audits (resource efficiency audits) for tourism businesses in the county.
Savings of 10 to 20% of water and energy bills for very little cost are typical and a small hotel has saved £10,000 per year by implementing a systematic approach to managing resources.
The audits cover energy, water and waste and include a site visit of around 2 hours by an expert from the University. The audit investigates the whole operation of the tourism business, including looking at utility and waste bills. From the audit, a report and action plan is produced to help the business get started on reducing costs. The audit includes expert advice, which includes identifying potential sources of grants or loans for capital investment needed to improve resource efficiency. Tourism businesses also receive details about validated VisitBritain green tourism accreditation schemes and opportunities for further training.
Audits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For further information please contact: Kathy Holley on 01604 892731 email: kathy.holley@northampton.ac.uk or Susan Kay on 01604 609539 email: susan.kay@northamptonshireenterprise.ltd.uk.
Training
For information about “Welcome to Excellence - Green Advantage” training courses for tourism businesses, please contact: susan.kay@northamptonshireenterprise.ltd.uk
Useful Links
Envirowise
Envirowise offers free, independent support to your business helping you to become more resource efficient and save money.
Envirowise can offer businesses (whether small or large) advice and information on how to counteract the impact of rising costs through smarter procurement practices, ensuring process control, better water management, energy efficiency, waste management and greener packaging.
For more information visit the envirowise website: www.envirowise.gov.uk
For a case study on a hotel – http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/CS616R
To encourage waste minimisation within the office, Envirowise has developed a CD toolkit to help you, take a step-by-step approach to office waste reduction. The toolkit will guide you through the relevant steps that are needed to ensure the biggest impact possible.
For the envirowise Green-Officiency Toolkit –
http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Sectors/Commerce/EN548-Green-Officiency-Challenge-Toolkit.html
The short guides below are packed with useful information for hotels and hospitality:
http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/Sectors/Hospitality-and-Catering/Key-Services/Environmental-Factsheets.html
- EN794 General hospitality
- EN795 Drinks service
- EN796 Food preparation
- EN799 Green procurement and the supply chain
- EN800 Gardens and grounds maintenance
- EN801 Assessment form for hotel rooms
- EN802 Self-assessment form for the hospitality industry
VisitEngland
There is plenty of information about the benefits and advice about going green you can visit: www.visitengland.com/green
“9 reasons to be green”
You can download the following case studies guide – “9 reasons to be green” – a VisitEngland publication celebrating nine sustainable tourism champions, each of them the winners of the regional heats of the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, those who have gone on to the national competition.
It aims to showcase best practice amongst the industry and inspire others to make changes that can positively affect their environmental, social and economic impacts.
Click here to download file (Adobe PDF® file – file size 728 KB)
Green Accreditation
The Green Tourism Business Scheme can evaluate and award your green credentials to help you prove to potential customers that you are a making a minimum impact on the environment. They also offer advice and support. To find out more visit the website: www.green-business.co.uk
