Home Publisher's Point of View Energy Storage Systems—One More Easy Way to Reduce Electricity Costs

Energy Storage Systems—One More Easy Way to Reduce Electricity Costs

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Could the battery in the electric vehicle you are driving today help store and provide energy for your hotel tomorrow? It may happen soon thanks to the partnership between Green Charge Networks and Nissan that was announced last month. Green Charge Networks is one of the companies mentioned in the article I posted last week on energy storage technology. For those of you not familiar with energy storage systems, they are currently being deployed primarily in California. They help reduce demand charges that typically account for at least 30 percent of a commercial electricity bill, and often as much as 50 percent. Demand charges are based on the highest 15 minutes of electricity usage each month.

Energy storage systems combine predictive software and safe, reliable batteries to proactively store and discharge energy. The systems can access energy reserves during times of peak electricity demand to avoid short-term usage spikes and the corresponding demand charges—all with no human intervention or impact to operations. The storage systems can also provide personalized energy recommendations based on a hotel’s specific electricity needs and usage patterns.

So far energy storage systems have made the most sense in areas with high utility costs. Being able to reuse battery systems from electric vehicles will help to reduce storage system costs.

Vehicle Charging Causing Demand Spikes

If you run a hotel you are familiar with spikes in electricity usage—whether caused by HVAC systems, laundry equipment, or even electric vehicle charging systems. At the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., electric vehicle charging is a sporadic, high-usage activity that creates a spike of demand on the grid, triggering a demand charge. Even a couple of EV charges per month can result in a surprisingly high addition to the hotel’s energy bill. To mitigate the effect of those spikes, the Shore Hotel chose to link their EV charging station to an energy storage solution. The vendor was able to show how its energy storage solution could identify the EV charging draw and immediately discharge enough power to avoid a demand charge-inducing spike.

Last fall, Stem, Inc. announced it had finalized an agreement to deploy advanced energy storage systems and real-time energy intelligence software across 68 of Extended Stay America, Inc.’s California locations. Many other properties, including San Diego’s Ocean Park Inn, have also installed energy storage systems.

I mentioned cost earlier. The two suppliers mentioned in my article—Stem, Inc. and Green Charge Networks—are making it easy for hotels to afford the energy storage systems. The financing Stem provides allows a hotel to not pay for installation. “You just pay one low monthly fee and you keep the savings,” says Gabe Schwartz, Marketing Manager for Stem. “Hotels don’t have to pay for the hardware.” With Green Charge Networks, through a Power Efficiency Agreement (PEA), installation and maintenance is free and energy bill savings are shared.

Could energy storage systems become a low hanging fruit that eventually all hotels will have? Time will tell but if the suppliers bring down the cost of their systems to the point where they make sense even in areas where utility costs are low (reusing vehicle batteries will help), it could happen.

Green Lodging News Adds Kulvase & AirRevive as Directory Partners

Green Lodging News welcomes Kulvase and AirRevive as Green Product & Service Directory partners. Kulvase utilizes a patented technology, which cools the water in the vase, thereby minimizing the deterioration of flowers and making them last two to three times longer. Roses frequently are so healthy that they start to grow new leaves and generally last about three times as long—typically about three weeks. Some robust varieties can last six weeks or longer. Kulvase technology diminishes the need to have to change the water, cut the flowers and rearrange the flowers. All one has to do is add water every couple of days. No chemicals are required. For more information visit www.kulvase.com or e-mail dsmith@kulvase.com. You may also call (307) 640-5002.

AirRevive provides the hospitality industry with an affordable, energy efficient alternative to replacing fan coil units up to 35 years old by re-commissioning existing units to “better than new”. AirRevive’s re-commissioning service integrates custom refurbishment and cutting-edge EC motor technology to reduce fan coil unit energy by up to 80 percent. Refurbishment results in coil temperature reduction and optimized airflow; this combination is the best practice to retrofit the EC motors. Re-commissioning improves guest comfort by reducing humidity and noise and attaining accurate temperature settings quickly. Call (954) 660-2300 for more information. You may also e-mail info@airrevive.com or go to www.airrevive.com.

Who is Your Sustainability Champion?

Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Looking for Guest Columnists

Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Planning Advertising for 2015?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2015. Many excellent spots are available on the website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2015 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

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