Energy and business travel

Every part of our business uses energy and its contribution to our carbon footprint is second only to airline fuel. Our energy consumption includes electricity and gas used in our buildings and vehicle fuels used for business travel.

A priority in our strategy to reduce our energy use is first of all to gather more accurate data on how much energy we currently consume. In our retail stores in particular, obtaining precise data can be difficult as we rarely own the buildings our stores are based in, and our landlords may pay the energy bills for the whole buildings. In the UK, therefore, we are currently installing smart metering across our retail network. This will give store managers the detailed data they need to be able to set targets and monitor the impact of reduction strategies.

In anticipation of the upcoming Carbon Reduction Commitment in the UK, we have been reviewing energy data across our estate. This has highlighted the need for improvements in data collection, which are already underway. We have also identified the need for an individual employee to be focused on our energy performance, so have established the new role of Energy Services Manager within the UK's Estates team. The Energy Services Manager will liaise with the sustainability team to ensure an integrated approach to energy management.

Many of our businesses are taking advantage of new, efficient technology to help lower their energy consumption. For example, Thomas Cook in Hungary replaced old equipment with energy-efficient new models and installed an automated building management system that switches off lights and other electrical equipment out of office hours. In India, we replaced our aging air conditioning units with more energy-efficient ones. Thomas Cook Germany has installed motion sensors to control bathroom lights and is using efficient LED lights in its lifts and emergency signage.

Increasingly, our companies are switching to renewable sources of energy, which result in low or no carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Thomas Cook Belgium and Austria buy all electricity for their head offices and retail stores from 100% renewable supplies. Our Scandinavian airline increased the number of solar panels at its offices in 2009/10, contributing in a per employee reduction in CO₂ emissions of 6%. Across the Group, 2.8% of our total electricity consumption comes from renewable sources.

Thomas Cook UK reviewed its company car fleet in 2009/10 and developed a website on which drivers can monitor their mileage and access tips on driving efficiently. We selected vehicles with greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions for our fleet, reducing the average CO₂ emissions across the range from 165g/km to 129g/km and increasing the average fuel efficiency from 40mpg to 58mpg. In Germany, when buying new vehicles for our company car fleet, we invested in models with technology that optimises fuel use and reduces emissions.

Performance data

Total indirect energy consumption by primary source

Energy consumption in retail and office premises

Electricity consumption in hotel premises

Direct energy consumption by source

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