Posted on October, 26 2011

WWF’s South Pacific Programme has initiated a pilot programme in Fiji, working with the tourism sector, to identify simple solutions to increase energy efficiency in hotels and resorts, cut carbon emissions, save the industry money and reduce its impact on the environment.

Hotels and resort operators in Fiji could potentially save thousands of dollars per year in energy costs while cutting energy consumption by an average of 21%, and reducing carbon emissions through simple energy efficiency measures.

A technical and financial feasibility study conducted by Australian consultants Cool nrg on behalf of WWF, identified that the annual electricity bill saving for an average hotel of 150 bedrooms would be in the order of FJD 185,000, or just over USD 100,000.

The Tourism Energy Efficiency Investment Programme (TEEIP) for the Pacific was launched in early 2011 with funding support from WWF Switzerland and the WWF Coral Triangle Programme.

The objective of TEEIP is to overcome barriers to Fiji hotels and resorts investing in energy saving infrastructure through retrofits, and to leverage the generation and trading of carbon credits which could potentially be a source of funds for climate change adaptation projects around the coastal areas of Fiji.

The programme is developed by WWF in collaboration with tourism building owners and occupants across Fiji, and builds on the low carbon tourism initiative between the Fiji Government and the Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association. It is expected to produce triple bottom line benefits for the businesses, the environment and local communities.

According to Project Coordinator Monica Patel, the tourism sector across Asia and the Pacific needs to ensure that energy infrastructure uses the best clean and efficient technologies and services to avoid being locked into high carbon emitting technology that will last for several decades, creating a significant ecological footprint on the environment.

As part of the feasibility study, WWF collected energy usage data from 24 hotels and resorts and found that the potential savings were estimated between 2,500-5,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year by replacing high carbon emitting technologies with energy efficient ones for lighting, chillers and air conditioning equipment.

While the potential revenues from trading in carbon credits was estimated at a modest USD 35,000 per year, this figure is likely to increase as the numbers of hotels, resorts and even commercial buildings included in the programme grow.

Responses to the feasibility report from the industry and the Fiji Government have been positive with a strong message to WWF that the industry wants to reduce the amount being spent on energy for its hotels and resorts and to improve their environmental performance.

Already a number of Fiji hotel operators are undertaking significant energy efficiency measures and using renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on diesel fuel. However, they are keen to consider additional measures and to explore the carbon credit trading option.

Fiji’s Department of Energy is also keen to see the programme develop and sees it as a good fit to the Government’s Low Carbon Tourism Programme to ensure Energy Security, a goal of the National Strategic Plan.

The next step for WWF SPPO is to work with the industry and government to establish a TEEIP multi-stakeholder group, determine the programme structure, develop a Project Design Document, identify sources of funding for the programme management and operation and to secure partnerships with a consortium of interested hotel and resort operators.

WWF will also work with government and industry to encourage effective policies and frameworks to encourage uptake of Energy Efficiency measures across the tourism industry and other business sectors.