Managing Energy Consumption ENERGY SAVING IS ONLY GOOD IF IT SAVES YOU MONEY. ENERGY SAVING IS BETTER IF IT MAKES YOU MONEY.

GUESTS APPROVE OF ENERGY SAVINGS.  Hotel guests who care about the environment will choose you over others, if they know about your environmental efforts.  Maho Bay Resort, in the U.S. Virgin islands, reports that media interest in the resort’s environmental programs has made a publicity budget unnecessary for the past ten years.

How To tell Guests  Use placards in rooms.  Use signs or table tents in public areas.  Inform guests at check-in.  Display your Environmental Policy.  Small signs calling attention to specific areas of savings.

Electricity use accounts for 60% to 70% of utility costs of a typical hotel.  LIGHTING  HEATING VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING  LAUNDRY AND KITCHEN  GENERAL OPERATIONS

Lighting is about 30% to 40% of Hotel Electricity Costs.  North Carolina’s Administrative code 15A NCAC 18A.1800 requires 10 foot-candle illumination in Hotel common areas and 30 foot-candles in guest rooms. (at 30 in. off the floor)  Light energy saving rate of 50% or more is possible, when rooms are occupied.  Electricity to run a light bulb can cost 100 times more than the bulb did.  Energy efficient compact fluorescents use a third the watts, making the electric bill smaller for the same light.

Lighting is about 30% to 40% of Hotel Electricity Costs.  Inefficient bulbs create serious heat that can run up air conditioning costs.  CLEANING fixtures once a year can save as much as 30% in room lighting.  Is outdoor lighting being used well and inspected regularly?  Old style EXIT Signs can cost $250 /year to run, while LED EXIT signs can cost $3/year.

The Easy Lighting Cost Savers  CHOSSE LOWER LAMP WATTAGE. Today’s bulbs are brighter but use less wattage.  TURN OFF UN-NEEDED LIGHTS.  USE TASK LIGHTING. It puts light where it is needed, saving wasted overhead lighting.  INSTALL TIMERS AND MOTION SENSORS. Controls can SAVE 10% or more of lighting costs.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)  HVAC systems have coils that need cleaning and/or filters that need changing. Dirty coils and filters cut efficiency and could create many thousands of dollars in extra costs.  HVAC Fan motors and drive belts need maintenance. A worn belt can mean 10% extra motor operating costs.  Look for heat sources under thermostats. Such as coffee pots or computers  Use Zone and Automatic Controls.

Laundry and Kitchen  Properly use and maintain equipment.  Periodically clean refrigeration condenser coils can save thousands.  Is there “over” refrigeration or freezing?  Can the kitchen exhaust be better balanced?  Use energy saving appliances.  The timing of when you use equipmentoften makes or looses an energy profit.  The timing of when you use equipment often makes or looses an energy profit.

General Operations in Energy  Are Ice Machines energy efficient?  Are office machines energy efficient?  Are hot water heaters maintained?  Are boiler tubes cleaned every few years?  Are Pool pumps and filters cleaned?  Can pool filter running time be reduced?

Employee Power Saves Energy  Employee Common Sense makes all the difference in energy savings.  What employees and management know about energy saving helps then to spot energy waste.  Rewards and incentives remind employees to save energy.  Energy saving practices often save work-hours.

Energy Bills can LIE  Problems with meters could go undetected for years.  Compare electric bills with the same periods in previous years to detect costly hidden problems or practices.  Rate Schedules can be adjusted once a year to get the best rates, as equipment, practices, and circumstances change.  Rate Schedule fees and penalties can show something is wrong with your operation.

FREE Energy Audits are Available NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA)