Benefits of cutting down energy wastages to hotels

This article describes the benefits of cutting down energy wastages to hotels. In most of the hotel buildings accounting for almost half of the national energy use and carbon emissions, energy efficiency is vital at a national level. To help improve efficiency, businesses are required to carry out a range of duties, especially in air conditioning system. Since this report is about increasing efficiency of the air conditioning system, our group members have discussed about the key benefits to the hotel and to the country by cutting down energy wastages as implementing above mentioned approaches. 

Air conditioning can account for a third of annual electricity costs for 5 star hotels. Improving the efficiency of the air conditioning can lead to significantly lower energy bills. Not only that improving this system can improve the efficiency rating that particular building receives when an Energy Performance Certificate is required. Therefore key benefits to the hotel are,

• Since it used VSD, it can control pressure or flow without the use of a separate controller. Suitable sensors and electronics are used to interface the driven equipment with the VSD.
• Energy is saved by replacing mechanical fluid flow controllers with integrated motor speed control. Generally, these energy savings translate into cost savings and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for a given level of production.
• The soft start characteristic of VSDs eliminates voltage dips and reduces starting shock on motor, couplings, gears and driven equipment, in turn reducing maintenance.
• Running at reduced speed reduces wear on all drive train components and reduces the need for high maintenance items such as dampers, throttling valves, etc.
• The range of flow control is generally higher with VSDs compared to mechanical controllers and the likelihood of surges and vibration is reduced.
• Maintenance costs can be lower, since lower operating speeds result in longer life for bearings and motors.
• Eliminating the throttling valves and dampers also does away with maintaining these devices and all associated controls.
• Controlled ramp-up speed in a liquid system can eliminate water hammer problems.
• The ability of a VFD to limit torque to a user-selected level can protect driven equipment that cannot tolerate excessive torque.

 

Apart from above benefits there are some other general benefits that 5 star hotel can encompass. Benefits are,

Improved image - hotel management is demonstrating that they recognise their responsibility towards the environment. Promoting themselves as an environmentally friendly business is a strong marketing message which is likely to attract new customers to their business.

Reduced tax bills - all businesses that use more than a domestic level of energy pay the climate change levy, an additional charge added to energy bills. The fewer units of energy used, the lower the tax paid.

Tax incentives available for businesses that buy and use energy-efficient and water-efficient technologies

Other benefits of efficient air conditioning systems include improved staff comfort and productivity, and general benefits of reducing environmental impact, such as a better image for hotel business among customers, investors and employees.

Ultimately 5 star hotels can achieve their milestones. That is,

-        Save money

-        Reduce overhead costs

-        Gain a competitive edge over more wasteful competitors (other 5 star hotels)

-        Improve reputation among customers, suppliers and employees

-        Gain more profit and succeed in hotel sector