Working together for climate protection: DEHOGA and BGA energy efficiency campaigns

Energy efficiency is the answer to climate change and rising energy prices – and a key competitive advantage. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) and the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade, Services e.V. (BGA) recognised this and launched industry-specific energy efficiency campaigns with their state and federal associations. The focus of the campaigns: sharing knowledge, creating benefits and contributing to climate protection – all in the context of energy efficiency.

The campaigns have received support from the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The overarching goal of the project was the transfer of know-how between DEHOGA, which has been designing and implementing an industry-specific energy campaign for several years, and BGA, which wanted to create and establish a new energy campaign for wholesale and foreign trade. Both associations have different priorities, given their distinct experiences with energy campaigns.

DEHOGA could build on and further expand its existing programme:

• Revising and updating established formats (e.g. practical guidelines, on-site options, networking events),
• Expanding the DEHOGA Environmental Check,
• Establishing new formats (e.g. publication of success stories).

The first steps for BGA included:

• Establishing a network,
• Setting up a new website and information package (guides, checklists, tips, online tools, etc.),
• Developing a campaign identity and publicise the campaign.

adelphi was helping both associations with the content and organisation of their work. The energy efficiency campaigns were initially designed to run for three years and have received public funding as part of the Federal Environment Ministry's climate protection campaign.