TECHNOLOGY : ENERGY MANAGEMENT
energy consumption has its own monitoring challenges , for a large global chain like Wyndham Worldwide , an entirely different set of needs arise , including the tracking and reporting of the company ’ s energy initiatives worldwide . In recent years Wyndham , in conjunction with its Green Council framework , began quantifying its progress in energy management and conservation through its annual Global Reporting Initiative and Carbon Disclosure Project reports .
Even the franchisor ’ s headquarters in Parsippany , New Jersey , is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) Silver-certified , and among other sustainable policies , it uses 100 % wind-generated electricity .
“ What we ’ ve found is that there is tremendous opportunity to continue to focus on what I call the ‘ low- to no-cost things ,’” says Faith Taylor , Wyndham ’ s senior vice president of sustainability . “ There ’ s a lot of training and education around where you set your thermostat , how housekeeping actually cleans and opens and shuts the curtains , making sure you change the filters or do caulking … all very simple things . Doing that consistently , you can see up to a 10 % to 15 % reduction of energy usage .”
The next step for Wyndham , Taylor says , has been to identify and potentially overhaul systems at properties , emphasizing centralized energy management platforms . Like Rawlings , Taylor is finding wireless in-room sensors to be the answer in cases where wired retrofits would prove too costly , and she also notes LED lighting is already passing compact fluorescents as the best choice in some settings .
“ LED is really the next generation , especially in the public spaces where you have parking lights on all night and the lobby areas ,” Taylor says . “ There are examples now of that technology being more affordable , lasting longer and giving you a better ROI .”
Wyndham Hotel Group has worked to promote energy conservation through educational initiatives like Champions of Green , a panel at its recent global conference , spotlighting
“ THERE ’ S A LOT OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION around where you set your thermostat , how housekeeping actually cleans and opens and shuts the curtains , making sure you change the filters or do caulking … all very simple things . Doing that consistently , you can see up to a 10 % to 15 % reduction of energy usage .”
– Faith Taylor , Wyndham Hotel Group
owners who have been successful in developing sustainable energy policies . Wyndham provides franchisees with a list of some 130 steps a hotel can take to save energy and reduce carbon emissions , stressing that hotels should do whatever they can to get started .
“ We have several owners who have implemented solar , and they ’ re seeing a tremendous benefit and ROI , whether it ’ s solar for the hot water heater , a full parking space that ’ s been converted into solar panels with shelter , or solar where one franchisee has turned his entire acreage behind his facility into a solar farm ,” Taylor says . “ Property maintenance is also huge . Just changing a filter for your A / C units and your heating units once a quarter makes a huge difference .”
Far from finished As much as some hotels and chains have done to address sustainable energy consumption and management , there is still plenty more to accomplish . Experts are predicting costs will continue to fall for investments like solar and wind power , which will spur greater implementation down the road . “ I think solar is going to get much more efficient ,” Taylor says . “ They are putting solar chips on bendable exteriors instead of just glass , and that will revolutionize that business .”
The ongoing work to enforce and promote healthier greenhouse emissions across the globe — especially in the European Union and major industrialized Asiatic nations like China and India — will also play a large role in spreading greener hotel practices . Taylor cautions anyone considering moving into these markets to be ready to employ green practices , because it will be expected going forward .
“ China already has a voluntary green certification program , and they are looking at within two years or so putting in regulations around this ,” Taylor notes . “ As you develop your business in those markets , you are going to be concerned about how efficient you are .”
In the end , it all comes down to good business sense : Hotels need lots of energy , and it ’ s not getting any cheaper .
“ There are not only ecological considerations , but also economical reasons ,” Kempinski ’ s Kreuter says . “ In some countries it is not just the price but also availability of energy , therefore one must integrate renewable energy as much as technically and economically possible into the hotels ’ energy supply . Renewable energy and energy efficiency will be the most important issue of the future , because hotels need energy all the time .”
58 HOTELS June 2012 www . hotelsmag . com