Environmental and self-sufficiency assessment of the energy metabolism of tourist hubs on Mediterranean Islands : the case of Menorca (Spain)
Sanyé Mengual, Esther (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Romanos Pueyo, Héctor (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Molina Roig, Catalina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Oliver Mascaró, M. Antònia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Ruiz, Núria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Pérez López, Marta (Observatori Socioambiental de Menorca)
Carreras, David (Observatori Socioambiental de Menorca)
Boada, Martí, 1949- (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals)
Garcia-Orellana, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Duch Cortinas, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Geografia)
Rieradevall, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)

Date:	2014
Abstract:	Energy performance of island tourism has been analyzed in the literature. However, tourist services tend to concentrate in tourist hubs, especially where mass tourism predominates (e. g. , Mediterranean), and the energy metabolism of these systems has not yet been assessed. The present paper models and estimates the energy metabolism of tourist hubs in the Menorca Island (Spain) by integrating social, geographical and environmental methods. Mobility (both external and internal) and consumption of lodging services were characterized through surveys to users (tourists) and business managers. An environmental assessment evaluated CO₂ emissions, and energy self-sufficiency potential was estimated via GIS data. The results indicate that, on average, a tourist consumes 4756 MJ with associated emissions of 277 kg of CO₂ per stay (20 days on average). Of all the energy flows, external mobility contributes the most to total emissions (77%). For every day spent in a tourist hub, a tourist consumes between 29 MJ and 93 MJ in lodging services, consumption that could be 100% satisfied by photovoltaic systems, and these systems would result in positive effects for the island. Sustainable tourism management might focus on promoting environmentally friendly transportation, energy efficient practices, and environmental communication through ecolabeling.
Grants:	Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia FPU-AP2010-4044
Note:	Sostenipra
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Energy modeling ; Tourist hubs ; Self-sufficiency ; Carbon emissions ; Transport
Published in:	Energy policy, Vol. 65 (Feb. 2014) , p. 377-387, ISSN 0301-4215

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.011

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA) > Sustainability and Environmental Protection (Sostenipra)
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