Reducing tourism’s carbon footprint in Palawan biosphere reserve.
Funded by the European Union’s SWITCH – Asia Programme, the Zero Carbon Resorts project recognizes that tourism generates a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions and aims to reduce tourism’s carbon footprint through three steps known as the “3R approach: Reduce energy consumption, Replace inefficient technologies, and Redesign buildings and systems.
The SWITCH-Asia “Zero Carbon Resorts” project seeks to enable tourism SMEs, such as hotels and resorts, to provide their energy services in an efficient, cost effective, and environmentally sound way. By providing the SMEs in Palawan with the access to energy-saving measures and new green technologies, the dependence on fossil fuels will be lessened.
The project applies the 3R strategy: Reduce-Replace-Redesign. The first step is to reduce the energy consumption in hotels and resorts, and the second step is to replace inefficient fossil-based devices with better, greener technologies. In the Redesign stage, a showcase “Zero Carbon Cottage” will be built in Palawan, which will operate using solar- and biomass-based energy generation systems.
Engineers, building and facility managers, environmental consultants, as well as hotel/resort staff members will get chances to increase their capacities and knowledge through a series of trainings. In parallel, local production of renewable materials and green technologies will be promoted.
SWITCH-Asia Programme
