The tourism industry in Greece is experiencing a period of growth, overcoming two difficult years amid the restrictions of the pandemic. However, at the same time, it faces new challenges due to the energy crisis that has increased business expenses. Hotels and other companies operating in the tourism sector are under pressure to reduce energy consumption for cost and environmental reasons. There are many energy-saving practices that you can implement in this direction for your business, and they can certainly pay off significantly.

Take advantage of energy efficient lighting solutions

One of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption in a business is to switch to energy efficient lighting options. Such solutions include for example the use of LED lamps – which consume up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent lamps – the installation of motion sensors in common areas so that there is no unnecessary waste of energy or use of intelligent systems that allow businesses to control lighting remotely or adjust levels based on the needs of each hour of the day.

Implement energy management systems

Using energy management systems can help your hotel or tourism business monitor and manage energy consumption issues more effectively. These systems can provide real-time data on energy consumption, allowing to identify areas where energy use can be reduced. In addition, some systems can automatically adjust lighting and temperature settings based on the needs of the environment, further reducing energy use.

Install renewable energy systems

The future of energy globally is renewable sources, and Greece is in an advantageous position when it comes to solar and wind energy production. The installation of renewable energy systems such as solar panels and wind generators, can contribute to reducing the energy consumption and costs of a tourism business. These systems generate energy that can be used to power buildings and facilities, reducing the need for traditional energy sources.

Improve insulation in your business

Properly insulating a business is another effective way to reduce energy consumption and costs. With the right insulation of walls, ceilings and floors, hotels and tourism businesses can reduce heat loss during the winter months and to keep the interior cool in the summer months. This can lead to significant cost savings in heating and cooling costs.

Train your staff on energy saving practices

Educating your staff on energy-saving practices can also help reduce energy consumption in your business. This training may include; simple practices such as turning off lights and electronic devices when not in use, as well as more complex ones such as optimizing systems to reduce energy use. In this way, hotels and tourism businesses can create a culture of energy efficiency and reduce energy waste.

Look for programs and solutions that will facilitate the energy upgrade of your business

There are programs that can help hotels and tourism businesses in Greece implement these energy-saving practices, providing them with options that will allow them to invest in energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy systems, as well as access the capital they need for staff training and the implementation of energy management systems. The Business Banking Tourism program is implemented for 13th consecutive year from Eurobank and is a comprehensive proposal, adapted to the particular needs of each small and medium-sized business. Its aim is to strengthen local entrepreneurship in areas of tourist interest. It is a comprehensive program of exclusive privileges, banking and non-banking services, which is aimed at the tourist businesses of the island regions, Halkidiki, Crete, but also the two major urban centers, Athens and Thessaloniki. This year the program focuses on financing needs of businesses to upgrade their infrastructure, strengthen their liquidity and reduce their operating costs with the main vehicle being the innovative product POS Cash Advance and the specialized Energy Offsetting program-Net Metering. This is a program with which you can implement your investment plans for the purchase and installation of photovoltaic systems for the purpose of self-consumption of energy and offsetting it. It is aimed at businesses with up to 5 million euros in turnover that want to install photovoltaic systems for self-consumption, allowing you to receive up to 80% of the total cost of your investment for energy offsets, with partial capital disbursements.

At the same time, Eurobank continues to offer non-banking privileges in cooperation with third-party companies that provide their services with preferential pricing to customers who have joined the program.

Cultivate an overall culture of savings

By reducing energy consumption, hotels and tourism businesses can not only save on energy bills, but also reduce their carbon footprint and help protect the environment. In addition to the solutions we have mentioned, it is important that every business can broadcast to visitors of the related one saving culture. In a hotel, placing notices in rooms and common areas reminding guests to turn off lights and electronic devices when they leave the room is a simple but effective way to encourage them to engage in energy-saving practices. It is important that, beyond limiting energy waste, such a practice can even be a reason for the additional support of a business from environmentally conscious visitors.