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Energy costs are biting hard: UK hotels are now paying roughly three times more for power than they did in 2021, with bills up 81% in just the last year. Combine that with April’s jump in the National Living Wage and the rise in employer National Insurance, plus higher business-rate bills on the horizon, and it’s clear that running a hospitality business is anything but simple.
At Trail, our checklists with built in smart HVAC setbacks already help over 6.000+ British hotels and restaurants keep on top of their energy usage and capture savings during day-to-day operations.
There’s more at stake than just lowering bills. Yes, energy costs are a major budget item, swallowing 7-9% of total operating costs in 2024-25, up from 5% pre-pandemic. That makes it one of the two biggest controllable expenses - second only to payroll.
And on the other hand, you have guests paying attention, too. Booking.com’s latest Sustainability Report finds 84% of global travellers still want the places they stay to actively cut waste and energy. And they notice the changes - whether that’s smart heating controls, refillable amenities or visible recycling efforts.
So, if cost control is your main driver, energy-saving measures give you a double win: they cut your bills and make your hotel more attractive to today’s sustainability-minded travellers.
Most hotel managers feel the pain of their energy bill but don’t always see where those kilowatts disappear. On an average UK property, government building-energy data and hotel-sector studies point to the split below:
Knowing the breakdown lets you target the fattest slices first and that’s exactly what Trail’s daily checklists and smart alerts are designed to do.
So how can you save energy, without compromising the guest experience? Check out our 10 top tips for reducing energy usage in hotels.
LED bulbs can cut energy use by up to 75% compared to traditional bulbs and actually last significantly longer. Not only do LEDs reduce energy consumption but not as widely considered, they can also save on air conditioning costs as they emit a lot less heat.
Use smart thermostats to regulate temperature and install motion sensors where possible to adjust temperatures automatically and avoid heating empty areas. Smart thermostats and occupancy sensors automatically adjust temperatures when rooms aren’t in use, cutting HVAC bills by 10–15% a year.
If you set water heaters to a maximum of 60°C, you can save energy while still staying compliant and meeting health standards (Legionella bacteria can multiply in water between 20–45°C, but it doesn't survive above 60°C). Well-insulated pipes also help minimise energy loss.
Devices left on standby consume unnecessary energy, so use smart plugs or power strips that automatically cut power to these vampire devices to save you money and reduce energy consumption.
Make energy-saving a team effort. Educate your staff about best practices and encourage guests to opt out of daily linen changes with printed material in their welcome pack, or on discreet stickers on bathroom mirrors – this can trim laundry energy by 15-20%.
Low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets reduce water usage, which in turn lowers the energy needed for heating water. Low flow shower heads reduce the amount of water used by half but retain the feel of a normal shower. Simply changing these fixtures can significantly reduce water consumption without affecting guest comfort.
Installing window films or using blinds can reduce heat gain during summer months, leading to less energy used for air conditioning. In winter, they help retain heat, cutting down on heating costs. Research has shown that energy saving window film can reduce the energy used for cooling by up to 35%.
When replacing appliances such as refrigerators, TV’s, opt for energy-efficient models. A rated appliances use less energy, resulting in significant long-term savings.
Conduct regular energy audits to identify areas where energy is being wasted. This can help hotels cut unnecessary consumption and target investments for greater energy savings.
10. Use real-time monitoring & predictive maintenance
Don’t wait for equipment to break down before taking action. Heating, ventilation and kitchen systems often show small warning signs before they become costly failures. Predictive maintenance means spotting those early, like unusual temperature readings or higher-than-normal energy use, and fixing issues before they spiral.
With Trail checklists, teams can log routine equipment checks and capture anomalies as part of their daily tasks. That way, you’re not just reacting to breakdowns, you’re preventing them, saving both energy and repair costs while keeping the service running smoothly.
Technology can be a game-changer in managing and reducing energy consumption in the hotel industry. Here’s how smart solutions, like those integrated with Trail, can help hotels maximise efficiency and keep energy-saving on track.
By monitoring real-time consumption data, smart energy management systems can reduce costs by up to 20%. Trail’s integration with the Carbon Trust energy-saving task page allows you to centralise these insights, making it easy to track energy usage, identify waste, and make data-driven decisions instantly. This streamlined approach helps you to make quick, effective adjustments and stay focused on both efficiency and keeping your guests happy.
Smart technology, like motion sensors and programmable thermostats, allows lighting and temperature to be automatically adjusted based on occupancy, saving energy in unoccupied spaces. Through Trail’s checklists and automated workflows, these systems can be easily monitored and managed as part of your daily operations, making energy-saving second nature for your team.
Predictive maintenance uses data from connected systems to ensure equipment is running efficiently and to prevent unexpected breakdowns. Trail’s platform provides actionable insights and maintenance scheduling tools, helping hotels to avoid equipment downtime, reduce repair costs, and maintain energy efficiency.
Here at Trail, we specialise in helping hospitality operators digitise these crucial processes. By integrating energy-saving tasks into a single, easy-to-use platform, we can help you to monitor, maintain, and reduce energy consumption with less effort, turning energy management into a seamless part of the daily workflow.
Check out more about our hotel industry solutions to learn how your team can easily incorporate these strategies.
It’s no secret that energy efficiency is critical to your business. In this article, we’ve explored practical ways to reduce energy usage without sacrificing guest comfort, and how technology can help to simplify the process.
Our integration with Carbon Statement takes your energy saving potential up a notch by allowing you to seamlessly manage your energy tasks - from identifying and reducing energy waste to monitoring and managing costs - all through one intuitive platform. It’s more than saving money; it’s about creating a sustainable business that meets today’s eco-conscious standards.
Ready to reduce energy costs and boost sustainability?
Let’s chat about how our Carbon Statement energy-saving integration can help you achieve both goals today.
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