Use of Sustainable Energies in European Hotels: The DETOCS Project

Abstract : Hotel buildings consume large amounts of energy compared to other commercial buildings. However, in the coming years they should try to minimize the use of conventional fuels increasing the use of sustainable energies in order to zero their net-carbon emissions. During the implementation of DETOCS project a survey in several EU regions has been conducted, investigating the use of several sustainable energy technologies in nineteen tourism entities. The results indicated that many sustainable, low- and zero-carbon emission energy technologies have been used in hotels and other tourism entities in European regions. They included, energy saving technologies, renewable energy technologies and low-carbon energy technologies which are mature, reliable and cost-efficient. Among renewable energies solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy are the most popular in tourism entities. The use of these sustainable energy technologies can be transferred in hotels located not only in the regions participating in DETOCS project but also in other EU regions. During the survey tourism entities that were using carbon offsetting schemes to reduce their carbon emissions were not identified. The findings indicate that several, technically feasible and economically attractive, sustainable energy technologies can be used in European tourism industry assisting its decarbonization in accordance with the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The results could be useful to all stakeholders of the tourism industry in all European regions.