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Energy Management

Everyone has felt the sting of rising energy costs recently. Savvy hoteliers have implemented plans to address these increases. It could be a simple operational change or a complex capital investment. Green Lodging News covers the latest news and trends pertaining to energy management. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Energy Management

Home Energy Management
Everyone has felt the sting of rising energy costs recently. Savvy hoteliers have implemented plans to address these increases. It could be a simple operational change or a complex capital investment. Green Lodging News covers the latest news and trends pertaining to energy management. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

How to Save Money, Energy When Your Guests Leave the Light on for You

NATIONAL REPORT—Everyone is familiar with Motel 6’s “We’ll leave the light on for you” campaign. It was definitely a hit. What is not such a good idea is when your guests leave the light on for you. Research conducted several years ago through the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research Program confirmed what most hotel operators already know: Many guests leave the lights on when they leave the room and use the bathroom lights as a night-light. You can’t blame your guests, especially seniors, for wanting the extra light but when the lights are on when nobody is there, or...

USA Technologies Expands EnergyMiser Reach Outside U.S.

MALVERN, PA.—USA Technologies announced it had begun shipping its EnergyMiser product line to Australia, Denmark and Spain. At the same time, the company reported it had stepped up sales of EnergyMisers to Canada, and this month had shipped an additional 300 units valued at $30,000 to Optimum Energy Products Ltd., a distributor in Calgary, Alberta. USA Technologies develops energy management products and cashless payment technology for vending machines. “As in the U.S., international energy services companies are seeking the latest leading-edge energy conservation technology that gives customers relief from rising energy costs,” says Wendy Jenkins, vice president of...

Greener Computers and Monitors Will Soon Hit the Market

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More environmentally friendly computer equipment will soon be available to large volume purchasers thanks to manufacturers like Dell, HP, and others that now have products that meet the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standard. EPEAT-registered computer products have reduced levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury to better protect human health, and are easier to upgrade and recycle, in addition to meeting the government’s Energy Star guidelines for energy efficiency. “These new environmental standards can guide the manufacturing of green computers, laptops, and monitors,” says James Gulliford, assistant administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic...

2007 Energy Star Award Applications Available

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. Award winners will be recognized at the Energy Star Awards Ceremony on March 21, 2007 in Washington, D.C. All organizations participating in Energy Star are encouraged to apply for a 2007 Energy Star Award. To be considered, an organization must meet the specific eligibility requirements in the award application and submit a complete application package by December 15, 2006. Categories include: Efficient Products, Partner of the Year, Product...

Energy Star Site Offers Myriad Resources to Help Cut Kitchen Energy Costs

NATIONAL REPORT—Looking to trim energy consumption and costs in the kitchen? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star “ Commercial Food Service” Web site is not a bad place to start. The site offers guidance on finding appropriate product sizes and models and features information on the four categories of products for which EPA has established energy efficiency specifications: hot food holding cabinets; steam cookers; fryers; and solid door reach-in refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator/freezers. Energy Star-qualified equipment is designed to use less energy and water, while continuing to provide high performance, reliability, efficiency and life-cycle cost benefits. “In general, Energy...

Reduce Signage Energy, Maintenance Costs with LEDs

NATIONAL REPORT—When looking to slash energy costs, chances are a hotel operator will not think of signage first. However, with advances in light emitting diode (LED) technology, signage is not a bad place to start. LEDs offer an 80 to 90 percent energy efficiency gain, last much longer than neon and fluorescent lighting, and require much less maintenance. Valley View, Ohio-based GELcore LLC, a joint venture of GE Lighting and Emcore Corp., is one vendor that offers LED systems for a variety of hospitality applications. Areas where their products can be used include outdoor and indoor channel letter...

USA Technologies Advisor Speaks Before U.S. Department of Energy

MALVERN, PA.—Bob McGarrah, senior energy management advisor to USA Technologies, spoke in front of a public forum sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy last week. He suggested that simple changes to improving vending machine efficiency, with VendingMiser technology, would have a cumulative impact on the nation’s economy. USA Technologies is also taking their message to the U.S. Senate Energy Committee. In a letter to Senators, McGarrah suggested that lawmakers provide incentives to encourage owners to upgrade their existing machines with energy-saving technology that can reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent. “Owners rebuild and refurbish...

Hand Dryers Yield Multiple Environmental Cost Benefits

NATIONAL REPORT—From an environmental benefit standpoint, there are few slam dunks like hand dryers. Used primarily in common areas like restrooms, hand dryers—when offered as the only hand drying option and not alongside paper towels—save trees, energy and money. Not all hand dryers are the same; some are more efficient than others. The bottom line, however, is that they eliminate the need to cut down trees to make paper*, the cost of buying the paper, the labor and disposal costs related to waste disposal, and promote a more hygienic environment. “Hand dryers have always been knows as...

The ABCs of Guestroom Humidity and the Heating, Cooling Connection

NATIONAL REPORT—Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor (moisture) suspended in air. It is measured as Percent Relative Humidity (%RH) or the percentage of water vapor that can possibly be contained in air, at its present temperature. Air at 0%RH is completely dry and free of moisture; air at 100%RH contains all the moisture it can possibly hold at its present temperature and will be exhibited as condensation, fog or rain. The amount or volume of water vapor that can be contained in air varies with air temperature. Air at 50°F and 60%RH contains less moisture in suspension than...

Ozone Laundry Systems Offer Substantial Energy Savings Potential

NATIONAL REPORT—With water heating accounting for approximately 40 percent of a hotel’s energy consumption, it is no wonder that an increasing number of hotels are implementing ozone laundry systems. Provided by about a dozen vendors around the United States, these systems can save about 80 percent in hot water consumption and up to 30 percent in overall water usage. The trend toward ozone system implementation comes at a time when an increasing number of hotels are bringing their laundry operations in-house. Jack Reiff, president of Worcester, Mass.-based Wet-Tech, says hotel operators who switch to ozone systems benefit from much...