Although customer satisfaction is always top consideration, hotel managers are increasingly recognizing the various high-impact benefits of energy-efficiency efforts.
Creating a more sustainable business can help properties, from small B&Bs or motels to large hotel and resort facilities, reduce energy usage and improve their bottom line without compromising guest comfort.
BP Holiday Inn room
Operating nonstop to meet the needs of guests, hospitality properties of all types have vast opportunity to implement cost-effective, energy-saving solutions. Through the Energize Connecticut programs, The United Illuminating Company (UI) is available to help these businesses better understand their energy usage and identify ways to save money through energy-efficiency improvements.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades offer a strategic solution to better manage temperature controls, increase efficiency, and enhance guest comfort. By transitioning to higher efficiency HVAC systems with automated controls and occupancy sensors, hotels can immediately reduce operating costs and impact long-term savings while maintaining optimal room climate.
Hotels can further reduce energy consumption by implementing an energy management system (EMS). Allowing facility managers to control heating and cooling needs based on occupancy and demand, the EMS monitors guest room temperatures remotely and signals HVAC systems to run at a more-efficient level when guest rooms are empty.
Lighting is another area of significant potential impact on energy usage. Outdated lighting throughout guest rooms, common areas, and parking lots of hospitality facilities can be retrofitted with high-efficiency LED systems. Lasting much longer than traditional incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs and requiring far less electricity to operate, LED lights are a cost-effective way to reduce energy costs, streamline maintenance, and improve hotel ambiance.
BP Holiday Inn equipment
Hotels can also gain efficiency by improving water delivery systems with low-flow showerheads and faucets and efficient toilets. For facilities with on-site food and laundry services, there are additional opportunities to reduce energy and water usage through equipment upgrades, including refrigeration controls, exhaust fans, faucet aerators, and high-efficiency washers and dryers.
UI partners with facilities on energy-efficiency projects, providing technical guidance and assessing available financial assistance. The utility assisted the Bridgeport Holiday Inn in securing a $283,446 incentive through the Energy Efficiency Fund to help cover some costs associated with a multi-million dollar renovation of the full-service hotel and conference center. Overall, the hotel is realizing an estimated savings of $124,555 annually in energy costs due to efficiency measures implemented.
“The savings garnered through energy-efficiency upgrades can be significant for businesses within the hospitality sector,” said Pat McDonnell, senior director of conservation and load management with UI. “Our insight on the latest technology and efficient design models allows us to craft a custom plan for facilities to achieve efficiency in a most cost-effective manner while improving customer experience.”
UI also worked alongside the New Castle Hotels and Resorts’ Hilton Garden Inn on an energy-efficiency project, offering a strategic action plan after completing an energy audit on the Shelton location. Through the Energy Opportunities program, the hotel implemented a new EMS with occupancy sensing thermostats throughout the rooms and suites. The Hilton Garden Inn earned a Summer Savers Award for its efficiency efforts and received a $13,110 incentive payment through the Energy Efficiency Fund for completing the project.
Hotels can utilize Energize Connecticut programs to assist in ongoing efforts to maximize efficiency and control operating costs. The programs are part of an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Connecticut Green Bank, the state, and your local electric and gas utilities with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-efficiency programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE.
