Hospitality industry urged to save energy

A brochure outlining a programme to help UK restaurateurs save up to 40% on their energy bills was launched last week at the Restaurant Show 2004, held at Olympia, London.


Entitled Save Energy to Increase Profits, the plan intends to help the industry do exactly what it says on the tin. Its timely launch coincides with the energy sector preparing to hike up gas and electricity prices this Autumn (see related story). Predictions have forecast that, by next year, gas prices will have risen by 50% on 2003 figures.

Backed by the Government, the Hospitable Climates Energy Efficiency Advisory programme is free of charge and shows restaurant owners the benefits of energy saving.

With the days of cheap energy apparently gone forever, the hospitality industry needed to wise up to ways of saving money, according to Professor John Forte, a principal in the Hospitable Climates management team.

“Huge increases in energy prices, together with the impact of the Climate Change Levy which has added 15% to industry energy bills, has made it imperative for UK restaurateurs and the hospitality industry generally to follow energy saving advice,” Professor Forte stated.

Chairman of the UK Restaurant Association Nick Scade also pointed out that the benefits of joining the programme were just as important for tackling environmental issues as for saving money.

“This free advice and guidance will help restaurateurs take small practical steps to reduce their energy bills, increase profits and reduce energy consumption,” said Mr Scade. “This in turn will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Levels of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK have been reduced considerably by the programme since its launch, equalling the equivalent to 133,617 hot air balloons, contributing to the Government’s commitment to meeting targets set by the Kyoto Protocol (see related story).

By Jane Kettle

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