Home Guest Columns Your Hotel is Energy Efficient. Now What?

Your Hotel is Energy Efficient. Now What?

1773
0
SHARE

Operating around the clock, whether there are only two guests or 200, hotels consume tremendous amounts of energy. For a full service hotel in the United States energy costs are usually between 4 and 6 percent of revenue. International properties, historic hotels and luxury resorts can see energy costs hit 10 percent or more—so it’s not surprising that sustainability efforts in the hospitality industry are usually focused on energy efficiency measures first.

Leading hospitality brands and smaller boutique hotels are both pioneering the charge to go green, incorporating conservation and efficiency measures into all operations. Nearly all hotel brands, from Hyatt to Wyndham to Hilton to local boutique hotels, are incorporating sustainability objectives. Guests are now accustomed to seeing those reminders about reusing towels—and they’re listening to them.

But while energy conservation is a vital first step, hotels will always require energy to provide great service and amenities. The future of hotel sustainability will depend on where this energy comes from and how it is produced. Renewable energy, produced on-site at the hotel property, is a viable solution that has become increasingly cost-effective. Compared to just a few years ago, the cost of solar PV modules and energy storage has dropped dramatically, and financing structures are also easing or completely removing upfront costs. Wind and solar systems can pave the path to greater energy cost reductions, lower a hotel’s carbon footprint, and beckon a new group of customers who leave each visit more informed about environmental sustainability.

The Importance of Site Analysis

Creating a customized renewable energy system is much less complex than it sounds. From small beach resorts to hotels in major urban areas, the first step is site analysis. This process reveals the specific sun and wind resources at a given location so that the system can be designed to produce the maximum output of energy. There are tools available to make this process easy and accurate for the given location. Many of the same qualities that attract tourists to certain locations also make them ideal for clean energy production—steady breezes, sunny climates, and unobstructed views. Site analysis can also help hotel owners understand their property’s capacity and free, virtually unlimited, sources of energy, and take advantage of them to generate power for their business.

More and more, renewable energy is an added attraction for guests. At the Hilton Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the installed vertical axis wind turbines have brought media attention and local buzz, catapulting conversations about sustainability into the mainstream. The systems can also serve as a powerful visual that portrays a hotel’s full spectrum of conservation and sustainability measures, which usually take place behind the scenes.

Various financing structures eliminate upfront installation costs for hotel owners, and the incredible savings from renewable energy will pay for the system and then some. These financing agreements typically include operation and maintenance for the lifetime of the system, to ensure the system produces renewable energy consistently and reliably for years to come.

Climate change and diminishing fossil fuels are putting a strain on tourism and the hospitality industry. Renewable energy offers a breezy solution.

Ryan Gilchrist leads UGE’s Enterprise Division, delivering clean energy solutions for commercial clients. He can be reached at ryan.gilchrist@urbangreenenergy.com.

LEAVE A REPLY