As the travel industry continues on the road to recovery post-pandemic, hotels are dealing with challenges impacting a property’s profitability, including decreased revenues and dramatic increases in operating costs due to supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and Covid-related expenses.
A game-changing approach to address this challenge is to improve a property’s energy efficiency (EE) profile, which requires a disciplined, step-by-step process. This article – the first in the series – will focus on the elements of an EE audit from which a blueprint can be created for operating a more environmentally friendly property and achieving financial success.
First Step – The Right Partnership
To be effective, an EE audit needs to be conducted properly, so where does a hotel begin? First and foremost, leave the audit to trained experts who know the essential steps to take and what to look at in order to formulate an energy-savings plan that makes sense for an individual property. Align with an experienced professional, such as National Grid, to guide the process as the best way to implement short- and long-term plans to realize results.
An excellent resource, the EPA EnergyStar Program refers to a treasure map of EE opportunities within the lodging sector – areas to “hunt” for short-, medium- and long-term opportunities, encompassing “soft” (such as staff and guest training) and “hard” (like equipment, appliances, repairs, etc.) elements.
Specifics Of An EE Audit
An EE audit involves a detailed assessment of an entire property across seven key categories, from evaluating procedures to identifying areas of improvement in order to determine potential energy-related savings. Here is a snapshot of what gets assessed and suggestions for starting on a more energy-focused approach to operations and money savings.
Facility Management and Benchmarking
A hotel must know their starting point of baseline energy and water use, and then track savings from there. Those figures should be measured against comparable properties to see where a property stands. For optimum facility management, start a shift in employee mindset. Advise and encourage housekeeping and maintenance teams to report any issues (such as leaks), turn off lights when not in use, and adjust temperature to minimum levels after cleaning empty rooms.
Lighting
A review of lighting usage typically reveals areas for savings. Consider purchasing an inexpensive light meter to assess whether any areas are over-lit, compared to requirements or design levels. Determine where lights have been left on in unoccupied spaces (including offices, restrooms and storage areas) and install automatic controls. Look for “day-burners” – for example, exterior and parking lot lighting that should be on only at night, but remains lit in daylight due to a failed switch or a dirty light sensor. Use natural daylighting and dimming controls to improve the indoor environment while reducing energy use and peak demand.
Building Envelope
Examining what separates the interior and exterior of a building starts by inspecting doors and windows to identify gaps or cracks that can be weather-stripped, caulked or filled with foam insulation. Consider strategic landscaping to save money on water bills and space cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. Check on the roof – take photographs and notes on any damage, cracked shingles or other surface aging, and also see if the roof is still under warranty.
HVAC
There are countless ways to improve HVAC operating efficiency and positively impact hotel profitability. Ensure that HVAC system components are being maintained regularly by either qualified staff or through an annual maintenance contract for tune-ups both pre-heating and pre-cooling seasons. Ensure free airflow to and from supply/return registers (clear furniture, books, papers, or other materials). Identify and prevent any instances of simultaneous heating and cooling.
Kitchen/Food Equipment
Opportunities to save energy in hotel kitchens has grown significantly. Identify worn and/or leaky door seals/gaskets on refrigerators and freezers. Check that refrigerator coils are clean and free of obstructions. Ensure that range hoods and exhaust fans are only running when the range is being used, and see that unused appliances are unplugged or on a power strip that is shut off.
Water: Hot and Cold
Survey water use to identify optimum practices. Find and fix any leaks, especially hot water leaks. If a hotel has hot tubs, cover after use to reduce heat loss and maintain cleanliness. Typically, set the water heater temperature at 110 – 120 degrees or per local code to prevent scalds and to save energy and money.
Office Equipment/Plug Load
Administration areas are sometimes overlooked when it comes to assessing energy usage, but the savings to be realized are important. Identify any equipment left on overnight (including any left in sleep/idle or screen-saver mode) that should be turned off when not in use. Make sure that power management settings are activated on computers, monitors, printers, copiers and other equipment.
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A properly-executed EE audit allows hotels to uncover ways to save money while also become greener. These audits are comprehensive – much more goes into them than what’s stated here – so work with an experienced partner, such as National Grid, in order to truly understand what hotels can do to make a meaningful difference on hotel costs and profitability.