Hospitable Climates On-line Energy Efficiency Discussion Forum Now Open

Feb 14, 05 | 8:49 am

HCIMA initiative welcomed by the BHA 

An on-line energy efficiency Discussion Forum – allowing hospitality businesses around the world the opportunity to network over this vitally important subject – is now open for business on the website of the Hotel & Catering International Management Association’s (HCIMA’s) Government-backed, free-of-charge Hospitable Climates energy efficiency advisory programme: www.hospitableclimates.org.uk  .

The Discussion Forum has been designed to help put hospitality professionals in touch with their peers in the industry. It is ideal for hospitality industry operators who have an energy question that they want answered; have information they would like to share about successful energy efficiency practices they have undertaken; or require advice on energy efficiency equipment they are considering introducing. If, for example, they are about to install Combined Heat and Power (CHP) equipment and don't know how to go about it – the chances are that someone out there has done it before and can help them avoid making unnecessary mistakes. To join in the discussion – visit www.hospitableclimates.org.uk and click on the Discussion Forum button.

Welcoming the Discussion Forum’s introduction to the Hospitable Climates website, Bob Cotton OBE FHCIMA, Chief Executive of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), said: "This is a very valuable initiative which could help many hospitality businesses. Energy costs are rising rapidly and need to be contained through good practice.  The site has the potential of saving businesses in the industry significant sums of money – not to mention valuable time in investigation and research."

HCIMA Chief Executive Philippe Rossiter FHCIMA added: "Achieving greater energy-efficiency is the cornerstone of most hospitality industry environmental policies, and the new on-line 'Discussion Forum' will encourage the global exchange of ideas and information that will lead to enhanced 'best practice' energy-efficiency management. Against a backdrop of soaring energy costs and the Climate Change Levy, which has added as much as 15% to energy bills, it is more important than ever for UK hospitality businesses to sign-up to Hospitable Climates."

Managed by the HCIMA on behalf of the Carbon Trust, Hospitable Climates offers a free advisory service, designed to help reduce energy consumption in the UK hospitality industry by as much as 40 per cent – improving bottom-line profits and customer experience (see ‘Notes to Editors’). Since its launch in 2000, Hospitable Climates has seen combined cumulative savings by over 4,000 businesses, currently signed-up to the programme, exceed the £14 million mark!