KEY POINTS:
The tourism industry is getting a lesson in helping to preserve the precious environment it relies on to draw visitors from around the world.
The industry has joined the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) in a new project to improve the energy efficiency of tourism businesses, and limit their toll on the environment.
The Tourism Energy Efficiency Programme (TEEP) involves a six-month pilot project, signing up 12 New Zealand tourism operators to carry out subsidised energy audits of their businesses.
Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said TEEP would provide practical help for tourism businesses to reduce their electricity consumption, fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
"The environment is New Zealand's key tourism product, one of the main reasons that international visitors come here and is also important in domestic travel," Mr Cossar said.
"The Tourism Energy Efficiency Programme will help tourism businesses to improve their environmental performance, improve their energy efficiency and achieve costs savings for their businesses at a time when electricity and fuel costs are rising."
Christchurch's Amber Park Holiday Park is one of the first to get the audit. Owner Braden Lee said it had given him plenty of food for thought, as well as a valuable marketing opportunity.
"For three or four months a year we have a lot of European visitors who are very aware of this type of thing, with everyone going green," Mr Lee said. "So for us we have to start going down that track. It saves us money at the bottom line too."
A host of ideas had been provided, ranging from installing more efficient light bulbs, through to replacing the park's diesel boiler with solar or heat pump technology.
"You can pick and choose what you want. So you do the small things first. Every bit counts."
EECA chief executive Mike Underhill said tourism businesses could be more competitive if they got the best out of their large energy bills.
"We know from the leadership that has already been shown in the tourism sector, that sustainability is a winner, both for the bottom line and in terms of attracting more visitors to New Zealand."
