Stakeholders’ Perceptions of the Possible Energy Sustainability Solutions in the Hotels of the Canary Islands

Andrés Lorente de las Casas, Ivelina Mirkova and Francisco Ramos-Real
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Andrés Lorente de las Casas: Departamento de Economía, Contabilidad y Finanzas, Instituto Universitario de la Empresa, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Ivelina Mirkova: FPI Scholarship Researcher in Dpto. de Economía, Contabilidad y Finanzas de la Universidad de La Laguna, Camino la Hornera s/n, 38071 La Laguna, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-26

Abstract: Energy production and consumption represent the most significant sources of CO 2 emissions in the world. An isolated island scenario such as the case of the Canary Islands, where dependence on fossil fuels is almost complete needs an effective integrative strategy for energy efficiency in order to reduce the carbon footprint. The objective of our work is to propose an effective design for an integrative and sustainable energy transition strategy in the hotel sector of the Islands. To achieve this, we implement a qualitative/quantitative technique called Q methodology. Our study was conducted with a carefully selected group of 31 experts from diverse areas related to the energy sector who were asked to rank-order their degree of agreement or disagreement with 30 key energy discourses (statements). The results of our analysis identify four profiles of stakeholders’ mindsets: the “Low-carbon”, the “Techies”, the “Skeptics”, and the “Trusting”. A well-defined integrative strategy could be identified which includes self-consumption using renewable energies, simplification of the administrative procedures, and promotion of the use of heat pumps, among others. A further interesting consensus result among all four groups reveals experts’ uncertainty regarding the post-COVID-19 reality.

Keywords: Canary Islands; energy transition; Q methodology; hotel industry; renewable energies; energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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