On average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend $2,196 per available room each year on energy. This represents about 6 percent of all operating costs. Through a strategic approach to energy efficiency, a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption would have the same financial effect as increasing the average daily room rate (ADR) by $0.62 in limited-service hotels and by $1.35 in full-service hotels. Energy efficiency provides hotel owners and operators cost savings that benefit the bottom line. Efficiency also improves the service of capital equipment, enhances guest comfort, and demonstrates a commitment to climate stewardship.

Tips to Save Energy for Hotel Owners

• Smart Climate Control – If there is any energy need that all businesses share; it is climate control. From smart thermostats that allow users to program their energy consumption around daily occupancy needs to smart sensors that monitor fluctuations in real-time occupancy, there are no shortage of energy-management tools available to help business save on their energy costs.

• Air Source Heat Pumps – Advances in HVAC hardware technology also offers businesses new opportunities to save on energy costs. Specifically, air source heat pumps make it possible to transfer heat from outside a building to inside it (or vice versa). An Energy Audit or Retro-Commissioning (similar to Local Law 87 of 2009 requirements) is a great way to see if this system is applicable for your hotel.

• Earn the ENERGY STAR: Buildings that rate in the top 25 percent of energy-efficient buildings in the nation may qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. It has several benefits for Building Owners.

• Predictive Monitoring – Like energy-management systems that monitor, track and optimize energy consumption, predictive maintenance enables hotels to use sensor data to identify wasteful or hazardous trends and alert maintenance staff before the issue escalates into a much costlier one. For example, as an HVAC system fluctuates through different levels of performance based around occupancy needs, there will be wear-and-tear on its different physical components.

• Invest in Energy Efficient Appliances – Investing in energy efficient appliances has the biggest impact of any energy saving solution for your hotel. As you add new appliances and transition out older items, always check the energy efficient rating. So, when it is time to upgrade, consider companies like Vending Miser Store who sell ENERGY STAR® rated vending machines. Theses high-tech options are equipped with occupancy sensors to significantly save energy and reduce power usage when not in use.

• Going Green with LEED – Green Buildings are buildings that are energy efficient, make optimal use of resources and have great long-term return on investments. Hotels around the world are going for Green Certifications like LEED due to their many benefits. Get in touch with us to know more LEED Benefits.

• Energy Audits and Retrofits – An energy audit, according to Department of Energy’s Advanced Energy Retrofit Guide for Healthcare Facilities, is the next necessary step after benchmarking. Facilities can hire outside consultants or employ an on-site manager to conduct a thorough audit of all systems. The aim is to detect inefficiencies while the methods vary from simple walkthroughs to placing submeters on individual systems in a building, and comprehensive analysis. Retro-commissioning is the process of ensuring your mechanical systems are functioning as they are designed. All too often we find dampers that are left wide open or air handlers that are running 24/7 but are reporting otherwise to the head-end of the EMS. Retro-commissioning gives you a chance to catch unnecessary waste and recalibrate building systems to function more efficiently.

The Cotocon Group has a wide range of services that can benefit Hotel Owners and save them thousands of Dollars every year with minimal investments. Get in Touch with us to learn more!

Understanding the Steps Involved in the Energy Benchmarking Process

Both NYC Local Law 84 and 133 require property owners to perform energy benchmarking. But how does this process work exactly?

Two data sets form the basis of benchmarking: internal and external. Internal data such as historical energy and water consumption help uncover irregularities within your portfolio. This consists of the actual usage and archival records of properties that share similar features to those in your portfolio. 

Tools such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager can also be used to collect external data. Combining internal and external data sets provides businesses and property managers with data points to make the best energy management decisions.

Verification of energy benchmarking comes into play after you have obtained the data. Make sure your data is accurate and reliable. Some steps include:

• Look for data regarding excessively high or low energy use intensity (EUI) values for your buildings as compared to normalized data.
• Conduct onsite verification.
• A random sampling of utility meter data
• Setting up and following a protocol for filling the gaps, as not all data is ever going to be perfect
• Refer to the baseline, i.e., monitor the energy use of your building against its own past performance.
• Make use of energy management software to check how your building’s energy performance stacks up against what your building should be doing.
• If you are responsible for multiple buildings, compare how each one of them performs compared to others in your portfolio.

An Overview of the Energy Benchmarking Report

Property owners need to submit an energy benchmarking report on the LL 84 and LL133 deadline. This specific document provides a thorough appraisal of a building’s energy usage in comparison to similar structures, delivering invaluable insights into performance and chances for advancement.

Such a report typically contains these major components:

• Energy Usage Data: Thorough data on the building’s total energy expenditure, often separated by type (electricity, gas, water, etc.), furnishes a clear image of where and how energy is utilized within the property. 
• Comparison Metrics: The NYC Energy Benchmarking report matches the building’s energy efficacy against a set of benchmarks. These could be industry averages, historical data of the building itself, or benchmarks from structures of similar size, type, and geographic location.
• Performance Ratings: Numerous benchmarking tools offer rankings or scores that summarize the building’s energy efficiency. These ratings can help property managers comprehend their building’s performance at a glance and contrast it against peers or criteria, such as the ENERGY STAR score in the United States.
• Recommendations for Improvement: Perhaps the most practical component is the part offering suggestions. This section outlines distinct suggestions for energy-saving measures. These could be some simple behavioral changes on the part of the building users. But the measures can also be major equipment upgrades or retrofitting initiatives.
• Financial Analysis: This report often includes a financial appraisal, shedding light on the likely cost savings from implementing the recommended actions for enhancing energy usage. It will also highlight payback periods and include calculations related to return on investment. 

You should submit an energy benchmarking report by the specified deadline every year to avoid penalties imposed by Local Law 133 and 84.