Ten green practices for hotels
10 November 2010
Here are 10 business practices to help save money, while implementing green practices.
➊ Re-commission: Tune up your operating systems so each is working properly. According to Energy Star, this can save 15% in energy costs.
➋ Put it on your card: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning, along with lighting, represent almost 70% of the energy used by hotels. Installing a key card energy management system, which only powers a room when a guest is inside, can save 45% in energy expenses without compromising guest comfort.
➌ Tweak the heat: By raising the thermostat two degrees and using a ceiling fan, you can cut energy costs by about 14%.
➍ Rest your computer: Program your computers to go into low-powered sleep mode when not in use. This can save up to US$50 annually per computer.
➎ Increase performance: Switching from incandescent bulbs to CFLs in non-guest areas and guestrooms can reduce your overall lighting expenditure by up to 35%.
➏ Snack smart: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a single vending machine running 24 hours a day costs US$400 to operate. Install occupancy sensors to reduce energy during long periods of non-use, like overnight. These sensors, which turn the machine on only when a customer is present, can save up to 50% in machine operating expense.
➐ A royal flush: Older toilets use up to 3.5 gallons per flush, while newer, more efficient low-flow toilets use just under half that amount at 1.6 gallons per flush, a substantial decrease in water usage.
➑ Slow the flow: As with the low-flow toilets above, installing low-flow (2.5 gallons per minute) showerheads in guestrooms can result in big water savings. Older showerheads average about 3.5 gpm.
➒ Hit the pool: Keeping a heated hotel pool covered when not in use can save 50% to 70% of the pool's energy.
➓ Bulk up: Buying in bulk means less packaging, less waste and a lower per unit cost. Items like soap, shampoo and conditioner are perfect candidates for tasteful bulk dispensing in guestrooms.
Source: The Green Business Bureau www.gbb.org.
Originally published by our US sister publication Hotel & Motel Management
A shame that your are still talking of "putting it on your card" in point 2 above. That keycard technology is outdated and instead you should be putting in an automated and intelligent room occupancy detection system using combination of motion sensors & door sensors to optimise the room temperature settings and control the lighting. This automated technology beats the energy savings of a keycard on/off system usually by at least 30-40% plus. For a start guests cant "trick" the automated system by leaving their cards in when they are out of the room. You need to look urgently at products such as INNCOM to get the best energy savings on guestroom usage.