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HOSPITABLE CLIMATES

DECEMBER 2005

Hospitable Climates Proving an invaluable support to Hospitality Assured

Success of two major HCIMA initiatives at the University of St Andrews

The Residential and Business Services department at St. Andrews University's initially achieved the HCIMA-led Hospitality Assured accreditation in 2000; and since then has been successfully reassessed for the standard on five occasions.

"Hospitality Assured continues significantly to help us in developing our standards of business and service excellence whilst refocusing on the needs of our customers," explains Hamish Johnston FHCIMA, Head of Support Services at St. Andrews University's Residential and Business Services department. "In addition, in 2001, we signed-up to Hospitable Climates—the HCIMA's free-of-charge energy efficiency advisory programme. Managed by the HCIMA on behalf of the Carbon Trust, the programme has been designed to cut energy consumption in the UK hospitality industry by as much as 40 per cent, and reduce harmful carbon emissions which have such a serious impact on climate change.

"Not only has the Residential and Business Services department benefited hugely from this initiative, but it has also helped us in with our Hospitality Assured re-assessments. Energy saving — being the cornerstone of most environmental policies—is an appropriate cost saving response to Hospitality Assured's 'society perception' requirement. This is where Hospitable Climates has such an important role to play— especially in view of current soaring energy prices and the need to combat the Government's Climate Change Levy."

Student halls of residence are traditionally areas which experience substantial energy consumption and potential energy waste. In November 2000, the University of St. Andrews addressed this issue by signing-up all 15 of its university residences to the free-of-charge Hospitable Climates programme.

"Initially, our main energy efficiency focus was on general good housekeeping and training staff to appreciate the importance of their role in achieving energy savings," explains Hamish, who was the winner of the 2001 Hospitable Climates UK Champion of the Year Award. "At the start of our energy efficiency initiative, aided by Hospitable Climates, residence staff were given a list of Best Practice energy saving tips. This was subsequently developed into a proper training programme that is now used during staff induction. Employees also take part in an annual refresher training course, based on advice provided by the Hospitable Climates programme."

Additional methods—employed by the department to maintain staff enthusiasm for, and interest in, energy saving—include:

• Publishing tips, hints and relevant news in the department's Staff Newsletter
• Distributing on a monthly basis year-on-year energy consumption data for both gas and electricity
• Operating an internal Hospitable Climates Champion scheme — awarded annually to the residence team that has saved the most electricity and gas in the course of the year

Each hall of residence has its own 'Environmental Supremo', who co-ordinates energy saving and recycling initiatives on site. Regular meetings are held throughout the year to review progress, discuss 'best practice' and roll out new ideas throughout all residences. Before the Hospitable Climates initiative was introduced, there was a general trend of a five per cent increase year-on-year in electricity consumption. By contrast, over the four year period since the introduction of Hospitable Climates, the overall increase in electricity usage has been held to a consumption-neutral level and the resulting reduction in the cost of electricity consumed over the period has led to a total saving of £27,000. Whilst tariffs for gas have increased substantially over the period 2001 to 2004, the reduction in gas consumption has been 990,000 kilowatt hours — saving in cost terms £11,821. The total savings for the period to date, therefore, are £38,821.

What makes Hospitable Climates so successful?

Hospitable Climates offers UK accommodation operators, publicans, contract caterers and restaurateurs - regardless of size - a free advisory service to help reduce energy consumption in the hospitality industry by between 20 and 40 per cent. Since its launch in 2000, the programme has attracted over 5,000 participants and that number is growing daily against a backdrop of soaring energy prices. The programme is now delivering cumulative cost savings in excess of £13 million per year and is helping to meet the UK Government's Kyoto Agreement targets for annual reductions in carbon dioxide emissions—a total of 131,000 tonnes of C02 has been saved since Hospitable climates was launched. Saving 130,000 tonnes of carbon is the equivalent to the amount of carbon that would be absorbed by planting 650,000 trees!

The 2005 Hospitable Climates Customer Satisfaction Survey revealed that 97.7% of respondents would recommend Hospitable Climates to other businesses, and that energy efficiency is becoming a major issue at board level, with 22% more energy savings decisions being taken as a result of the programme than in 2002. The reason for the success of Hospitable Climates is that it works. The common-sense industry-based advice given in the publications is easy to follow and can easily become part of any company's training programme.

At the heart of Hospitable Climates is a series of 'Energy Measures Fact Files' — designed to take unit managers from the first step of appointing an energy champion through all the areas of potential waste and savings. The Fact Files include: 'Getting Started'; 'Insulation Providing Comfortable Buildings'; 'Efficient Management of Boilers and Boiler Controls'; 'Energy Efficient Lighting Solutions'; 'Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning'; 'Energy Efficiency in Kitchens'; 'Energy Efficiency in Housekeeping and Guest-rooms'; 'Energy Efficiency in Offices, Front-of-House and Public Areas';  'Energy Efficiency in Sports Facilities/ Health Suites'; 'Energy Efficiency in Laundries and Dry Cleaning Operations'; 'Energy Efficiency in Outhouses, Outdoor Areas and Equipment'; 'Energy Efficiency in Restaurants, Cellars, Food Service and Banqueting Areas'; 'Training'; 'Monitoring and Targeting'; 'Introduction to Energy-efficient Technologies'; 'Boiler Technologies'; 'Conventional, Combi and Condensing Boiler Technologies'; 'Combined Heat and Power'; 'Building Management Systems'; and 'Occupancy Linked Controls'.

Enhanced Capital Allowances and Interest-Free Energy Loans

The Climate Change Levy possesses a silver lining for UK hospitality operators - the fact that Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) are available which allow them to invest in modern technologies such as combined Heat and Power (CHP), modern boilers or energy-efficient lighting without tying up their own capital. ECAs allow purchasers of energy-efficient technology to claim 100 per cent of the costs against their profits in the first year. For general enquiries about the ECA Scheme, please contact the Carbon Trust's Energy Helpline on: 0800 58 57 94. Further information is available at: www.eca.gov.uk/etl.

In addition, the Carbon Trust is urging the hospitality industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to consider interest-free Energy Loans as an ideal funding source for energy-saving projects. Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in England and Wales are eligible for interest-free unsecured loans of between £5,000 and £100,000 from the Carbon Trust. The loan funding can be used to upgrade premises or replace equipment, such as lighting, boilers or insulation, with more energy efficient versions. Small and medium-sized organizations in Northern Ireland are currently eligible for loans of up to £50,000. For more information and to request an application pack, contact the Carbon Trust on: 0800 58 57 94 or visit: www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/energy

Similarly, businesses in Scotland—with less than 250 employees and a turnover of under £25 million—can also benefit from interest-free loans ranging from £5,000 up to £50,000. These are available from Loan Action Scotland—telephone: 0800 092 9002; email: loanactionscotland@thewisegroup.co.uk  and website: www.energy-efficency.org

Free-of-Charge Services

UK hospitality businesses, that join the Hospitable Climates programme, will be expected to follow the advice given from industry specialists in order to reduce their energy consumption. In return, they will receive the following services, at absolutely NO cost:

• Targeted advice about energy saving techniques
• Confidential comparison of the energy consumption of their own operation year-on-year
• Access to experts who offer advice about new development and refurbishment projects
• Free training materials
• Access to the Hospitable Climates Forum to exchange energy saving ideas access to help and advice line

Further information

To obtain further details on 'Hospitable Climates' and joining the programme, contact: Linda Martin, HCIMA Programmes Director; or Olivia Otero, HCIMA Programmes Administrator, on telephone: 020 8661 4916; or email: lindam@hcima.co.uk; or hospitableclimates@hcima.co.uk or oliviao@hcima.co.uk or visit the Hospitable Climates website at: www.hospitableclimates.org.uk