Exploring methods and practicalities of conducting sector-wide energy consumption accounting in the tourist accommodation industry

Abstract

Sector-wide environmental accounting is an important mechanism for reducing resource consumption and the production of waste output. However, to date, little attention has been paid to the practicalities of conducting sector-wide environmental accounting in fragmented, service-oriented industry sectors that comprise a diversity of small to medium-sized enterprises. This study explores such practicalities through a series of independent energy audits conducted in the Australian tourist accommodation industry. Three distinct energy consumption audit techniques are reviewed in the light of findings made from 35 energy audits, and more than 200 telephone and face-to-face interviews held with various accommodation sector representatives. The three sector-wide energy consumption accounting methods reviewed are: the Floor Area Method, the Multiple Regression Method and the Mandatory Reporting Method. In light of different business structures, different in-house environmental accounting practices, and other major factors affecting resource consumption, mandatory reporting is found to be the most efficient and effective method. To facilitate its use, it is recommended that: a) governments consider requiring resource consumption or waste production figures to be made generally accessible, b) businesses are required to collect energy consumption data over several years in order to calculate relatively accurate models that capture the factors driving energy consumption, and c) standardised accounting spreadsheets are developed to facilitate data collection for different types of enterprises.

Operators’ Perceptions of Energy Use and Actual Saving Opportunities for Tourism Accommodation

“…The wide range of parameters manifests in the great variation in energy use for different businesses, typically measured in kWh per square metre, kWh per room night or per guest night. It also highlights the difficulties of benchmarking and deriving sector averages (Warnken, Bradley, & Guilding, 2004). An overview of energy use data from different studies and across different accommodation categories is provided by Becken and Hay (2007) and by Bohdanowicz and Martinac (2007).…”

A sustentabilidade em meios de hospedagem: enfoque na materialidade dos serviços

“…Gás e diesel utilizados para a geração de energia térmica e elétrica no próprio meio de hospedagem Bardhan (2012), Chan (2011), , Filimonau et al (2011), Georgei & Bombeck (2012, Hu et al (2015), Kasim & Dzakiria (2009), Lai et al (2012, Mishra (2016), Molina-Azorín et al (2009), Qi et al (2017, Rabontu & Babucea (2015), Sharma (2009), Sozer (2010, Styles et al (2015), Tang et al (2014), Trung & Kumar (2005), Warnken et al (2004, 2005),Xuchão et al (2010, Zubair et al (2011).…”

“…,Fazelpour et al (2014),Filimonau et al (2011), Freitas & Almeida (2010,Georgei & Bombeck (2012),Hu et al, (2015), Karatzoglou & Spilanis (2010),Kasim & Dzakiria (2009), Lai et al (2012,Le et al (2006),Legrand et al (2012),López-Gamero et al (2011), Mensah (2014a, Oreja-Rodríguez & Armas-Cruz (2012),Rivera (2004),Santos et al, (2017),Sousa & Eusébio (2013),Sozer (2010),Trung & Kumar (2005),Warnken et al (2004), Xuchão et al (2010.…”

Serviced apartment complexes in Australia: a critical analysis of their potential and challenges for sustainable tourism

“…Detailed per capita energy and water audits (e.g. [16]) still have to be carried out to unambiguously identify whether good energy and water use performances have been retained.…”