Energy

Virtually every business has a balance sheet expense called 'energy'. For some, the amount is only a few percent of the total operating expense, but for many businesses - particularly in the tourism sector - it is a major item that heavily influences 'bottom line' profits. Yet, many businesses do not understand the way they use - and often pay for - energy, which is often inefficient and results in both Greenhouse Gasses emissions and unnecessary expense. As a major global economic sector with substantial environmental impact, the tourism industry provides many opportunities to use and benefit from clean and renewable energy systems. For some tourism businesses, renewable energy offers an opportunity to demonstrate an environmental credential that their customers desire. For others, it may simply be a bottom line decision. Whichever may be the case, renewable energy offers a particularly attractive solution to the challenge of energy supply in tourism. Visit the UNEP's Energy Branch to see how UNEP addresses the environmental consequences of energy production and use, such as global climate change and local air pollution.

UNEP publication. Switched On: Renewable Energy Opportunities in the Tourism Industry

Water

The tourism industry is a major consumer of water as many tourist complexes require exorbitant quantities of water to maintain operations (especially where golf courses are involved). Competition by tourism for scarce water supplies has lead to instances of water diversion from farmers, effectively driving them out of agriculture and their livelihoods. Water conservation and management are the most effective means to combat the declining supply of potable water resources. Many actions can be taken by tourism companies to reduce their impact on local potable water supplies and enhance the sustainability of their operations. These actions include low flow toilets, water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors, rainwater collection, hot water schedules, recycling gray-water systems, water efficient utilities (for example water-efficient washing machines in hotels), asking guests to recycle towels and reduce changing bed linins during their stay, basic maintenance (ensure faucets are not leaking and toilets are not running), and landscaping with local plants.

Waste Management

The environmentally acceptable management of waste has become a global challenge due to increasing consumption trends among rapidly growing populations, urbanization, industrialization, and limited resources for proper disposal. The tourism industry is a large contributor to the global waste issue. In 2001 it was estimated that the world's 692.5 million tourists produced 4.8 million tons of solid waste and this volume has undoubtedly increased in recent years. The improper disposal of waste is responsible for a host of environmental, economic, and social health problems. These problems include the contamination of surface and groundwater resources, denigration of local flora and fauna, increase in disease and a general decrease of the aesthetic qualities of destinations. Visit the UNEP's "waste" web site for more information about UNEP's approach to waste management.

UNEP publication. A Manual for Water and Waste Management: What the Tourism Industry Can Do to Improve Its Performance.