As energy costs continue to rise and building codes become more rigorous, lodging facility professionals are searching for higher-performing building envelope assemblies. One such system, structural insulated panels (SIPS), helps reduce energy consumption up to 60 percent compared to other structural systems, while providing a host of other construction and operations benefits. An SIPs Primer SIPs are a prefabricated, engineered building system typically used for walls and roofs. They are composed of structural-grade wood panels such as oriented strand board (OSB) laminated to both sides of a rigid insulating foam core like expanded polystyrene (EPS). The system provides both structural strength...

A water consumption ratio is a metric by which we can begin to understand the actual consumption of water at recreational water attractions. As identified in part one of this series, the water consumption ratio is the number of gallons used daily as top off for a water attraction divided by the total initial fill gallons. The ratio represents the portion of the water actually consumed on a daily or monthly basis. This article profiles several outdoor waterpark attractions and analyzes their water consumption versus their water use. For purposes of our discussion, the initial fill gallons equate to the...

Buzz about the Internet of Things is everywhere, and many companies are trying to figure out how their devices can connect to the Internet in a smart way to bring new benefits to users. For instance, the Nest smart thermostat has become a poster child for the Internet of Things, spurring Google to acquire Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in early 2014. Although the consumer-focused Connected Home market may be the most talked about segment of the IoT, industrial applications, infrastructure management, energy management, environmental monitoring, and medical and healthcare systems are all looking to the Internet of Things to...

More than two decades ago, a company that manufactures circuit boards* for use in a variety of electrical products was facing a quandary. To clean their circuit boards, the company was using a solvent that contained ingredients determined to be harmful to the environment. As a result, they were given two years to phase out the use of these solvents. Company management decided they had four possible options to address this situation: 1.    They could simply not clean the circuit boards, a solution referred to as the “no-clean” process. 2.    They could turn to cleaning processes that use nonsolvent cleaning chemicals. 3.  ...

Being comfortable in a hotel is one of the top guest priorities, which can mean a chilled, air-conditioned room, steaming hot shower, or keeping the television on all night. However, guest comfort and satisfaction can sometimes come at a cost, equating to big energy footprints and hefty utility bills. On average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend $2,196 per available room each year on energy. It’s no surprise that energy represents the single fastest-growing operating cost in the lodging industry (according to the EPA). To track and manage that growing energy use number, hotels can benchmark their buildings, which can result...

At the management team meeting for a major hotel in a Northeastern city, the consensus is that the priority for the 2016 capital budget is to update the lobby.  Earlier in the meeting, the facilities team presented a report on the state of the hotel’s core systems, including HVAC, lights and water infrastructure. The management team decides to do the lobby upgrade in 2016 and the HVAC/lighting and water conservation projects in 2017 and 2018. This is a very logical and thoughtful plan, with one hidden problem: The team just cost the hotel money. Funding the energy system upgrades...

This article challenges some common myths about green retrofits and makes the case for taking the first step or additional steps, beyond towel reuse programs and lighting and toilet retrofits, to reduce your property’s carbon footprint. The Why Myth: Going green or greener means depriving my guests and decreasing their comfort level. Converting to more efficient plumbing and lighting fixtures can occur without any compromises to guest experience, if designed correctly. Some retrofit measures such as new controls on space heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems can even improve the guest experience, while cutting utility costs. Myth: I can’t be sure that I’ll...

“How much water does an outdoor waterpark use?” I am frequently asked that question, but the answer isn’t as simple as it seems. Calculations for outdoor waterparks are heavily dependent on factors that simply don’t apply to their indoor counterparts, namely those related to climate and the environment. There is no way around it—outdoor waterparks require large amounts of water. Public perception often assumes that the outdoor waterpark is constantly being refilled with a giant spigot that is tapping the community’s water supply, which may be at a premium. Water use, however, is not water consumption. Facilities that practice proactive...

Over the years I’ve learned that everyone in this world deserves to use healthier and environmentally sound products. But more important than just products, I have learned that sustainability as a whole deserves to be mainstreamed. Every consumer should be able to make the sustainable choice. The recent ban on foam in New York is a great step towards achieving that goal. Earlier in the millennium we saw a greater scope of businesses using foam. Companies ranging from corporate foodservice providers to high end restaurants utilized expanded polystyrene. Today, we see that cities across America are joining the ban on...

Many people see a doctor at least once a year, but how good are we about tracking the health of our buildings? If your hotel or resort hasn’t had an energy audit or retrocommissioning in the past two to three years, you’ve likely accumulated tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in added utility costs per year. An energy audit is a detailed analysis of energy and water usage, resulting in a list of no-, low-, and high-cost energy conservation measures (ECMs) appropriate for your site. The goal of an audit is to reduce a building’s energy and water usage...