Pub and restaurant groups representing 80% of managed outlets have signed up to an energy efficiency benchmarking system to highlight where energy savings can be made across the hospitality sector and allow companies to measure their efforts against competitors.
Carbon Statement, a carbon management company, is using the data to analyse how energy efficiency will impact profitability and environmental performance, so far the data has shown a 2% difference in operating margins between the best and the worst energy performers.
“Too many companies are wasting hard earned profits by not taking energy efficiency seriously. The leading companies that prioritise and implement optimisation initiatives invest up to 10% of their annual energy spend every year – and are seeing results,” said Mark Chapman, director of Carbon Statement. “As energy prices continue to rise, efficient operators will continue to enjoy a significant competitive advantage, especially as the sector operates on such slim margins.”
The rising cost of energy has spurred the programme from the Hospitality Sector Carbon Reduction Forum, which has stated that, in face of rising energy costs, companies within the hospitality sector would need to reduce energy usage by 35% over the next two years across waste and water as well as energy to maintain profitability.
This equates to companies increasing sales by 12% over the next 5 years on a like for like basis just to maintain the current level of profitability.
