Energy consumption and attitudes for the promotion of sustainability in buildings: The case of hotels
International Journal of Energy Sector Management
ISSN: 1750-6220
Article publication date: 22 June 2012
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the effect of attitudes in promoting sustainable operations in hotels. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the interaction between the users' behaviour and the way energy is consumed in Greek hotels in a long‐term period.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, two scenarios are developed, using the Long Range Energy Alternative Planning software (LEAP). Each scenario exhibits different findings proposing significant, but easy to apply alterations to hotels. The first one is the Business as Usual (BaU) scenario, and it is developed based on the current trends in energy use in hotels. The second is the Policy scenario, which is developed based on the existing legislative framework, Greek and EU. Through interviews with open‐ended questions, hoteliers' responses reveal their views and attitudes in energy initiatives, along with the level of information they have on the existing energy legislation – Greek and European – to reduce energy consumption in buildings.
Findings
This research project, aims at identifying the hoteliers' views in applying energy efficiency measures in their facilities. The BaU scenario displays the current energy consumption in hotels, without policy interventions. The Policy scenario displays the effectiveness of each proposed measure in all services offered in hotels. This analysis provides recommendations in order to improve the current energy framework.
Practical implications
This methodology provides the development of a model that combines the existing energy measures considering also the end‐users' behaviour. It shows the areas that need to change in order to reduce energy consumption in the whole population of Greek hotels. It is a process that could be applied easily in other countries, not only in Greece.
Originality/value
This paper is a generic research analysis. The data collection has been selected for the first time from the sample of hotels. This type of research has not been developed previously in Greek hotels, since attitudes, energy consumption and measures have not been combined previously, in order to promote sustainable operations in hotels.
Keywords
Citation
Maleviti, E., Mulugetta, Y. and Wehrmeyer, W. (2012), "Energy consumption and attitudes for the promotion of sustainability in buildings: The case of hotels", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 213-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506221211242077
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited