Airbnb launches sustainability education hub for Big Energy Saving Week
UK: Airbnb has launched an online resource for hosts and homeowners looking for advice on how to become more sustainable and energy efficient to mark Big Energy Saving Week.
The hub features educational videos from energy saving experts at Big Clean Switch, anti-food waste app Oilo and eco-friendly superhosts on Airbnb.
Over the coming months, the hub will include a dedicated guide on eco-hosting that is currently being drafted by Airbnb’s host community. Eco-hosting is a rapidly growing trend among UK and international travellers, with 64 per cent of guests saying they chose an Airbnb because they value environmental sustainability.
The launch follows a recent ‘Meet the Experts’ event in Edinburgh [5 November] for Airbnb hosts, where a sustainability and energy efficiency advice was showcased by a number of trusted authorities, including Big Clean Switch, OLIO and sustainable tourism accreditors Green Tourism.
The event was held in response to growing demand within the Airbnb host community to learn more about eco-friendly hosting, as hosts look to make themselves more sustainable, both for guests and their local communities.
Patrick Robinson, director of public policy at Airbnb, said: “For many hosts on Airbnb, making their homes more sustainable has become a top priority and we want to help them make that a reality. That’s why we have been busy working with leading organisations in this space and leveraging the eco-hosting expertise of our superhost community to help empower all hosts to become more sustainable.”
Anna Jones, a host from Pembrokeshire, said: “There are many easy steps hosts can take to improve sustainability – lots of little changes can make a big difference! Not only is this great for the environment, but being eco-friendly is something more and more guests are looking for as part of their travel experience.”
Earlier this month, Airbnb announced its plans to measure the carbon footprint of both Airbnb’s corporate operations and the carbon footprint of travel facilitated by the Airbnb platform. Measuring environmental impact informs Airbnb’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and set a new standard for sustainable travel.
For more information, visit the Airbnb website here.
