If 10% of the hotels in Mexico reduced their energy consumption by 30%, the CO2 mitigation potential that could be achieved would be 287 thousand tons of CO2 eq. per year. This and other data can be found in the Guide to Energy Efficiency in the Design, Construction and Operation of Hotels in Warm Climates, which illustrates energy efficiency measures, cost-benefit data, and information on the importance of promoting energy efficiency in the hotel sector, as well as business models and financing options.

The guide was produced within the framework of the PEEB and FELICITY global programs of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in conjunction with the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

It is possible to achieve a 30% reduction in energy in a beach hotel, with a return on investment of 2.5 years, using passive and active energy efficiency measures. The Guide to Energy Efficiency in the Design, Construction and Operation of Hotels in Warm Climates uses practical examples to illustrate the energy efficiency and renewable energy measures that can be used, with even zero-energy hotels possible.

This guide was presented during the virtual forum “Experiences, Models and Alternatives of Energy Efficiency in Accommodation Establishments”, which served as a space to publicize the economic and environmental benefits of implementing the environmental sector’s energy optimization model for lodging establishments.

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment (SEMARNAT), Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE), GIZ México, Global ABC, EDGE, Green Key, Grupo Posadas and Hoteles Misión participated in the Forum.

Virtual Forum: “Experiences, Models and Alternatives of Energy Efficiency in Accommodation Establishments” © SEMARNAT, PEEB, FELICITY.

The event was broadcast on digital platforms such as Cisco Webex and Facebook, reaching more than 500 attendees in total and more than 15,000 reproductions on the social network.

The guide was developed within the framework of two global programs: the Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB), which combines the technical knowledge of GIZ with that of the Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maitrise de l’Energie (ADEME) and the Financing Energy for Low-carbon Investment – Cities Advisory Facility (FELICITY) financed in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB). This collaboration is an example for both projects supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Guide to Energy Efficiency in the Design, Construction and Operation of Hotels in Warm Climates. © SEMARNAT, PEEB, FELICITY

The guide is available for download on the SEMARNAT page: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/565858/Gu_a_de_eficiencia_energetica_hoteles__comprimida_.pdf

Hotel Misión Tulum Sky Roof © Hoteles Misión

Impacts on the operation, infrastructure and market, are some of the risks that climate change poses for the tourist destination of Riviera Nayarit-Puerto Vallarta. In the face of such a climate emergency, the Association of Entrepreneurs of Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas) (AEBBA) has taken the lead in promoting ecosystem-based adaptation solutions.

Entrepreneurs recognize that conservation of the bay, mountain forests and wetlands are a priority for socio-economic development, to ensure water in the future and protect against floods and storms.

 

Credits: © ADAPTUR / Mariana Rodriguez Aguilera. Mountain forests in Riviera Nayarit-Puerto Vallarta

 

The commitment was ratified on August 2nd through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, between AEBBA and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Cooperation for Sustainable Development), as well as the creation of a Green Agenda Committee, which will be led by entrepreneurs from the region. During the event, the president commented:

” Today we assume this challenge of starting the process of adaptation to climate change in our companies and partners, as something indispensable with a sense of urgency.”

The objective of this collaboration is to build joint solutions between the private, public and civil society sectors, which is why the state and municipal tourism authorities of Nayarit and Jalisco expressed their support for the initiative. Some highlight actions are: making adjustments to the policy and regulatory framework, encouraging financial mechanisms to implement adaptation solutions, and integrating the risks of climate change into new developments in real estate and tourism infrastructure.

 

Credits: © AEBBA / Ana Lilia Medina. Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between AEBBA and GIZ

 

Riviera Nayarit – Puerto Vallarta is one of the three pilot sites in Mexico to implement the Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate in cooperation with the private sector (ADAPTUR). It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and the technical support of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC).

 

Credits: © ADAPTUR / Ana Lorena Gudiño Valdez. Business leaders of Riviera Nayarit-Puerto Vallarta