Hotel Energy Savings
Hotels consume energy, increasing costs and decreasing profits. There are ways to minimize energy consumption. Managers need a multi-tiered approach to stop energy drains. They need to provide easy ways for guests to help decrease energy consumption. They need to launch a positive go-green campaign as described by Energy.gov. Finally, they need to upgrade some equipment and lighting to provide significant savings.
If the hotel has not already done so, it should initiate a system where only certain items are washed each day. Simple signs and a laminated ‘wash/don’t wash’ sign can be used to decrease the laundry, a major energy drain. With a ‘wash/don’t wash’ sign, guests can indicate that their sheets are clean. Staff will only make the bed. This saves them time and decreases hot water usage and electricity by one half. It also relieves some of the pressure on the cleaning staff. Another time saver is on the towel rack. Again, using signs, suggest to guests that they help save water and energy each morning by placing dirty towels on the floor under the sink. They should put other towels back on the rack. This will quickly decrease energy and water bills for washing towels.
To get guests to go along with this energy saver system, launch a ‘go-green’ campaign. This is a public relations campaign, indicating your interest in the environment. This should reach guests who share these sentiments and also those who understand the need to economize. Make sure your desk staff can talk coherently about the green policies. Staff should be able to articulate why the campaign is a positive idea.In addition to the laundry-saver system, you can encourage guests to turn up/down/off the thermostat and turn off the lights when they are out of the room.
To encourage staff to help conserve, suggest that the cleaning staff open the curtains and use natural lighting rather than overheads. Ask managers and able-bodied staff members to use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.
Automated lighting is a smart investment for the bathroom. LED lighting can save money quickly because it uses far less electricity but provides the same light. Automated LED nightlights can provide a dim glow that discourages the use of more expensive overhead lighting. You can replace static thermostats with programmable ones. Many guests are accustomed to these in their own home, and you can encourage their usage through your ‘go-green’ campaign. You can replace energy-hog washers and dryers with high efficiency ones. This can be done over time and will achieve significant savings.
For those with the money to upgrade, there are new water heaters that don’t waste energy at all. They are attached directly to the shower or sink. They heat the water on demand, reducing the expense of maintaining a hot water supply. Some computer software is now available such as that from Green Star to coordinate lighting, thermostats and more. This can keep an eye on costs and usage.
Some hotels have removed all soda machines and just provide one glass front refrigerator that is easily accessed by guests who can then pay for their purchases by charging it to their room. This is much cheaper than the electric supply for multiple machines. These machines may be draining power by the hour and not paying for themselves.