It’s a common theme on the road to pandemic recovery – hotels are facing real challenges to their profitability due to decreased revenues and dramatic increases in operating costs as a result of supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and Covid-related expenses. In the face of this scenario, what is a viable solution? Improving a property’s energy efficiency (EE) is a game-changing approach to addressing this challenge during these unprecedented times of pandemic recovery.
Conducting an EE audit delivers a blueprint for energy-related savings that makes sense for an individual property. Aligning with an experienced professional, such as National Grid, to guide the process is crucial to implementing short- and long-term plans to realize results. This article – the second in the series – will focus on how to leverage and optimize lighting as a result of a property’s EE audit in order to operate a more environmentally friendly property and achieve financial success.
Strategies To Enhance Lighting & Elevate Savings
Since lighting accounts for a significant amount of electricity consumed on-property, lighting changes can provide substantial energy and financial savings that positively impact a hotel’s bottom line. Here are a variety of strategies to consider for operating a more energy-efficient and financially stronger property.
Consider Upgrades
- Upgrade lighting by replacing light bulbs with more efficient, low-energy ones, which use up to 80% less energy and often last much longer than other bulbs. Replace incandescent bulbs in guest rooms and other areas with ENERGY STAR® LED lights, quickly becoming the standard for table, floor and reading lamps, plus as bathroom vanity lighting. Upgrade incandescent and CFL bulbs to LED (especially for task lighting or specialty/decorative applications). Replace incandescent and T12 fluorescent lamps in back‐room areas such as kitchens and office space with CFLs or LEDs and high‐performance T8 lamps and electronic ballasts, a combination that can reduce lighting energy consumption by 35%.
Install Timers & Motion Sensors
- Set up occupancy/motion sensors in low-traffic areas, such as conference rooms, restrooms, storage rooms and other areas with varying occupancy to save energy and reduce maintenance costs. For hallways, utilize a combination of scheduled lighting and dimming plus occupancy‐sensor controls after hours.
- Determine where lights have been left on in unoccupied spaces, and install automatic controls to better regulate lighting. These area include offices, restrooms, conference rooms, kitchen/food service area, hallways, exercise/spa/recreation areas, storage, and vacant guest rooms.
- Install timers on bathroom heat lamps and consider connecting bathroom exhaust fans to light switches to reduce excessive operation.
Leverage Daylight
- Use natural daylight to improve a hotel’s indoor environment while reducing energy use and peak demand. Whenever possible, any lighting renovation should start by using daylighting as much as doable in order to reduce electric lighting.
- Use dimming controls in locations where natural lighting can temporarily supplement or replace fixture lighting (such as near windows, skylights, light tubes).
Diminish “Pollution”
- Reduce “Light Pollution” (excessive, unwanted or inappropriate use of outdoor artificial light) – especially from a property’s signage, billboards and poorly designed lighting. Use warm-colored lamps (with a yellow hue as opposed to bright white) when possible to create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Automated controls, dimmers, motions sensors, timers, and shielded fixtures that shield the light source to minimize glare all effectively contribute to reducing light pollution. Consider de-lamping any areas where the lights are too bright and cause glare, and de-lamp and/or remove ballasts of fluorescent fixtures that are not in use.
Conduct Assessments
- Purchase an inexpensive light meter to assess whether any areas are over-lit, compared to requirements or design levels.
- Look for and minimize “day-burners.” For example, exterior and parking lot lighting that should be on only at night, but remain lit in daylight due to a failed switch or a dirty light sensor; daylight sensors can make a huge difference by turning off during the day what’s only needed at night.
- Evaluate cleanliness of lamps/fixtures (dust, bugs, any debris) and the need to institute a regular cleaning plan for maximum light output.
- Determine if reflectors can be practically added to amplify existing lighting.
Make It A Group Effort
- Get the hotel team involved. Educate and train staff on ways to improve lighting/energy efficiencies, and incentive them to think of ways to revamp energy consumption throughout the property.
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Implementing a variety of lighting changes – from upgrading bulbs and using timers and motion sensors to incorporating more natural daylight, reducing “light pollution,” assessing equipment, and involving all employees – are crucial to reducing energy and delivering significant financial savings. Doing it right, though, requires expert insight. Work with an experienced partner like National Grid in order to truly understand what hotels can do to make a meaningful difference on hotel costs and profitability.