The world is becoming more and more focused upon energy consumption and the eco-focused hospitality industry have been amongst some of the businesses who have been ahead of the curve in realising the importance of progressive energy sourcing and management.  

Energy Consumption

For eco-hotels based in an urban areas the options for non-carbon based energy is to source "green energy" from their national suppliers.  Who provide options for energy produced by solar or wind power.  Although the rates for power produced from renewable sources can be considerably more expensive, as fossil fuel prices start to rise the gap between the two energy options may begin to narrow.  

For eco-lodges there maybe a lot more choices for alternative energy usage.  Depending on their location they maybe able to use natural resources such as  wind power or solar power either on the property itself or at a national or regional level.  There are also a number of other less well-known forms of energy generation that can be used by small eco-lodges in rural locations like; wood-fuelled heating, hydroelectricity, solar water heating, ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps.  The Scandic hotel chain have made what maybe the first to have really drawn a line in the sand for the use of renewable energy, by committing the company to being carbon neutral by 2025.  

Energy Conservation

Part of intelligent energy usage is keeping a tight rein on it and not wasting energy necessarily.  Conservation of energy, can form part of eco-accommodation providers waste management policy perhaps taking the form of low flush toilets, there by saving on the energy used to treat and pump the water used in the flush as well as low energy lighting, movement sensitive lighting so lights only go on when someone is in a room.  Reduced usage of heating or air conditioning in many cases the removal of air conditioning.  

Obviously it's great to use green energy,  and to cut or drive down energy usage but all of that applies to once a guest has arrived at an eco-lodge or a eco-hotel.  One of the recent developments in the field, is the offering of discounts to guests who have shared a car, used public transport or cycled to their destination, this is a great example of incentivising energy conservation as it lifting above just being the responsible thing to do, it also rewards the guest and means they can either retain the saving for another trip or have a meal or a few drinks with the money and raise a glass to their progressive behaviour.