The Carbon Trust which helps businesses of every size move to a low carbon strategy through carbon reduction and low carbon technologies, has just published a case study featuring the Torridon and its energy-saving initiatives.

You can read the full text of the report below.

Case Study: The Torridon

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Carbon Management for
small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) in Scotland

The Torridon is a luxury hotel located in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Winner of the AA Hotel of the Year Award (2012-2013) and voted one of the world’s best hotels, it is set in 58 acres of parkland at the end of a sea loch.

Due to the fantastic location of the hotel, owner Daniel Rose-Bristow feels an obligation to protect the natural environment as much as possible. For guests who enjoy outdoor pursuits such as walking and fishing its location is a key attraction.

In addition, the hospitality industry is facing increasing pressure to show its commitment to the environment as more and more consumers base their decisions on where to stay depending on a hotel’s green credentials. Coupled with the significant key driver of the financial savings on offer, the hotel embarked on the Carbon Management programme with the aim to reduce its carbon emissions by 41% by 2017.

As part of its Carbon Management Plan, the hotel is implementing a number of projects including implementing a staff awareness training programme. Changing staff behaviour is key to the hotel’s efforts to reduce its energy usage and carbon emissions.

Carbon reduction projects identified included:

• Implementing a staff awareness training
• Upgrading building insulation
• Introducing food waste composting
• Installing a biomass boiler to replace oil fired heating
• Carbon savings of 41%
• Cost savings of £61,000 per annum in real terms

By implementing these projects The Torridon Hotel will reduce carbon emissions by 148 tonnes CO2 per year and cut costs in real terms by approximately £61,000 a year. If the hotel were to carry on as usual without implementing these measures, carbon emissions would increase by 691 tonnes over the five years of the plan, with the cost to the hotel estimated at £302,343.

“We have already begun the implementation of some of our Carbon Management Plan projects such as installing a 360kw wood chip fired biomass boiler to replace our current oil fired system. The new boiler and district heating network will link the hotel, Inn and staff accommodation and provide all hot water and heating needs. Other projects include training our staff to be more environmentally friendly in their approach, such as purchasing more eco friendly supplies. We
will also be looking into the possibility of a rocket composter for food waste and upgrading the insulation in the hotel and Inn. The Carbon Management programme has been a fantastic way for us to kick start our energy saving work at the hotel.”

Dan Rose-Bristow, owner of The Torridon

Carbon Trust Scotland’s Carbon Management programme designed to help SMEs develop a targeted framework to deliver energy, carbon and cost savings over a five year period.

Image credit: The Carbon Trust

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