Tourism businesses in Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to go green

Tourism businesses in Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to go green – and more than 40 have already answered the call.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s marketing and tourism section has joined forces with  Carbon Trust Wales to run an energy reduction project.

Council marketing and tourism development officer Hywel Davies said: “We are working with  Carbon Trust Wales to help reduce Carmarthenshire tourism businesses carbon footprint, and we have signed up 43 businesses to join in this pilot.”

They will work with the businesses to reduce their carbon emissions which will benefit the environment and also benefit the businesses through reduced energy bills.

Carbon Trust Wales innovation manager , Karen Griffiths said: “Other benefits of saving energy include: improved reputation as a green tourism business; managing rising energy costs; reduced maintenance costs; improved controls and potentially improved grading. This project will endeavour to increase knowledge of new technologies and provide insight into available grants and funds.”

During this month the businesses will be visited for an on-site survey looking at a range of areas including heating systems, lighting, cooling and appliances. Following the survey they will be presented with an action plan outlining improvements that can be made.

By the middle of December they will receive a full report on how the opportunities outlined within the action plan can be delivered as well as information on the business case for implementing changes.

All participating organisations will be invited to the Carmarthenshire Tourism Summit in February 2013 to share their findings from the project. Carbon Trust Wales will then also advise on establishing support on an on-going basis.

The council’s executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “I’m delighted that we are working with the Carbon Trust Wales to safeguard the environment and at the same time boost local tourism businesses by helping them to keep their costs down.”