A hotel or a restaurant may limit air pollution by using renewable energy sources instead of those, which emit harmful exhaust gases to the environment. Solar collectors, specialist windmills can be installed; heat energy from geothermal sources or biomass can be used. It is also possible to connect to a hydro energy installation. Further actions that can be taken to reduce air pollution are:
- Serving filtered tap water instead of bottled water reduces waste and air pollution (smaller demand for bottled water means smaller production of packaging, which translates into less air pollution);
- Planting a garden/park/forest within site boundaries or on the roof;
- Free parking for guests driving hybrid or electric cars with free charging which will encourage them to use such vehicles;
- Free bike-renting service for guests to move around, offering appropriate equipment (helmets, basic tools, maps) will reduce fuel gas emissions.
A hotel or a restaurant can also compensate for their emissions by making a carbon offset. It is a compensatory measure made by an individual or company for carbon emissions, usually through sponsoring activities or projects, which increase carbon dioxide absorption, such as tree planting (http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/carbon-offset (access on 14.04.2015).
Under those links: http://www.endscarbonoffsets.com/directory/?worldregion=7&locationFilter=office, http://www.endscarbonoffsets.com/directory/?worldregion=6&locationFilter=office, http://www.carboncatalog.org/providers/europe/ you will find lists of carbon offsets providers in Europe. By visiting each provider web page you may calculate your emissions and donate for an offset project. On those web pages you will also find out more information about reduction of emissions in your business and being more eco-friendly in general.


This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.