Moto manager named energy-saving champion

Area general manager for Moto, Rob Bracken has been named the 2006 Hospitable Climates Champion of the Year by the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA).

The award recognises Bracken's commitment to making Moto's Toddington Motorway Service Area on the M1 in Bedfordshire more energy efficient, with costs reduced by nearly £20,000 over a two-year period.

Hospitable Climates is the HCIMA's Carbon Trust-backed energy efficiency advisory programme, designed to reduce energy costs in the UK hospitality industry by as much as 40%, while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.

"As much as 80% of our energy savings have come from asking ‘do we really need this on?'," explained Bracken. "For example, the broiler in the Burger King unit used to be turned on at 7am in readiness for opening at 10am. It is now turned on half an hour prior to service."

Improvements were made at Moto's Toddington site following an energy efficient audit carried out by a Carbon Trust accredited consultant. Other changes included the installation of light sensors for external lights and replacing an existing boiler with a state-of-the-art system, insulated against heat loss.

Another energy saving measure involved issuing tokens to those using the showers, giving each user a three-minute session.

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By Matthew Batham

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