---
title: "Sustainability Magazine: Why Hotels Can't Afford a Passive Approach to Energy"
description: Budderfly outlines why hotel operators need a proactive energy strategy, and how energy-as-a-service helps hospitality portfolios lower costs and meet sustainability goals without upfront capital.
image: https://news.budderfly.com/hubfs/Sus%20Mag%20Article%20Sept.png
---
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Sep 23, 2026
# Sustainability Magazine: Why Hotels Can't Afford a Passive Approach to Energy
September 8, 2026 - Budderfly was featured in a Sustainability Magazine article by Chloe Williment on why hotel operators can no longer treat energy as a background cost.
The article notes that energy makes up roughly 6% of hotel operating expenses, according to Energy Star, and that hotel utility costs have climbed 28% in recent years, per the American Hotel and Lodging Association. It also cites U.S. Travel Association data showing nine in 10 travelers look for sustainable travel options.
The piece walks through what keeps hotels from acting, including high upfront capital costs, multiple types of HVAC equipment within a single property, round-the-clock operations, and doubts about whether upgrades will deliver the promised savings. It then makes the case for energy-as-a-service as a way to fund, install, and manage efficiency upgrades without upfront capital investment. Jason Allan, Senior Regional Director of Operations at Palette Hotels, credited Budderfly's turnkey model with cutting energy use, updating critical systems, and advancing its sustainability goals, adding that "exceptional guest experiences begin with strong operations behind the scenes."
Read the full article [here](https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/why-hotels-cant-afford-a-passive-approach-to-energy).
---
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