These days, hotels spend a lot on energy. In fact, according to a study by Energy Star, hotels spend an estimated $2,196 per room every year just for energy consumption. It doesn’t help that guests are more focused on being comfortable or taking care of business instead of saving energy while on their trip. These trends can make it rough for hotel owners to cut their energy costs down low.
How Hotels can Save Money on Energy Consumption
Hotels need to take a leadership role in energy efficiency to save money and help save the environment. These establishments can make informed decisions about how to make energy-efficient improvements for the rooms and the whole property by examining the average energy use of its hotel rooms. Let’s explore some precautions hotels can take to save on energy costs.
1. Putting in Better Lighting
Hotels are typically filled with light, with all the different lights found in each and every room. However, that doesn’t mean they all need to be the brightest or consume the most energy. Instead, hotels should consider replacing the old, inefficient lights in their hotels with new and more efficient lights.
For example, hotels can replace traditional incandescent lamps with LEDs for better energy efficiency. Today’s LEDs are about 80 percent more efficient than what is currently being used.
2. Installing Lighting Controls
Tying in with the first precaution, hotels can also control the energy consumption of their lights by installing a lighting control system. These systems can control the lighting in multiple rooms and floors. Furthermore, these control systems can set the brightness of the rooms and be automated to turn off at certain times.
For example, this system can be set to turn off the lights in empty hotel rooms at night. This can be particularly beneficial during summer when many rooms are unoccupied.
3. Upgrading the HVAC system
Modern HVAC systems have been able to improve their energy efficiency by 30 to 35 percent. This can be done by installing variable-speed drives and variable-air-volume systems. Also, HVAC systems that can automatically adjust the temperatures depending on occupancy levels are another great way to save energy.
These automated control systems can help cut down on the need to run air conditioning or heating systems at times when there are no occupants in the rooms. HVAC systems are typically the biggest consumers of energy in any property. Thus, it’s definitely in a hotel’s best interest to keep their system up-to-date.
4. Getting LEED Certified
A hotel with a LEED certification is one way for guests to know that their hotel is environmentally friendly. Hotels that have achieved LEED certification have shown a 15 percent improvement in their energy performance. The EPA gives out a wide range of LEED certifications based on specific criteria that must be met by the hotel.
Save More by Going Green
Advancements in technology have made it easier than ever to improve energy efficiency in hotels. Through a combination of these precautions, hotels can significantly improve their energy performance, cut down on their energy bills, and provide a more environment-friendly experience for everyone.
Improve your hotel’s energy efficiency by going green. If you’d like more information on saving on energy costs, contact the experts at PTY Custom Lighting and they will help you find the custom hospitality lighting that fits your hotel’s needs.
