[ncgreenhotels] Money saving tips

[Tom Rhodes]

Colleagues,

Here is a list of money-saving tips from the Green Lodging Newsletter
that I thought you'd benefit from.
Money-Saving Tips: Energy Management
05/30/2006 
* During low occupancy periods, place guests in closely-located
guestrooms.

* Install energy management systems in guestrooms, meeting rooms and
other public spaces.

* Hire an energy expert to conduct an audit of your hotel.

* Ask your energy providers or local government if they offer any type
of incentive program for implementing energy-efficient equipment or
processes.

* Improperly maintained air handlers can waste up to 32 percent of the
energy they consume. Check HVAC controls for proper calibration.

* Check all duct work for air leaks and repair where appropriate. Air
ducts should be cleaned monthly.

* Check all electrical systems for loose connections or poor motor
conditions. Without proper preventive maintenance, these systems
typically generate a 5 to 10 percent energy loss.

* Purchase renewable energy from your local utility.

* Shut down office equipment such as photocopiers and computer monitors
when not in use.

* Explore the purchase of a fuel cell power generator.

* Install energy misers on vending machines.

* Install thermal-glass windows.

* In hotels with whirlpools in use, keep the aerator on only when
needed.

* Furnaces and boilers should be completely inspected by a professional
mechanical contractor at least once or twice a year.

* Electric meters should be submetered to make it easy to identify the
largest electricity users at the hotel and to recognize problem areas.
Set targets for energy consumption per meter.

* In swimming pools, remove foreign material from the strainer baskets
in the skimmer and pump regularly to maximize water recirculation.

* Operate your pool pump during off peak hours.

* Implement an employee awareness program and encourage them to report
energy waste to managers, maintenance or engineering personnel.

* During the winter, ceiling fans should be set to draw air toward the
ceiling.

* Shut down one or more of your elevators during periods of light
traffic.

* Program your elevator to remain stationary on the exiting floor rather
than returning to the main floor.

* Encourage staff to use stairs when moving between one to two floors
when not carrying loads.

* Install draperies with thermal reflective liners.

* Use light-colored reflective surface on roofs.

* Tint windows that receive direct sun.

* Assign someone to monitor energy consumption on a consistent basis.

* Implement a comprehensive preventive maintenance program to monitor
all potential areas of energy consumption.

* Turn off coffee makers, hair dryers and other appliances or personal
electronics while guestrooms are unoccupied.

* Put together a written energy management plan. Key components should
include energy forecasting and procurement, facility audits, financial
analysis, integrated building upgrades, equipment purchasing, new
construction and preventive maintenance.

* Use adequate amount of insulation in ceilings, exterior and basement
walls, flooring and crawl spaces.

* Use solar panels to generate electricity.

* Purchase minibars that use LED lighting and that incorporate
energy-efficient cooling systems.

* Metal tile panel roofing systems can help reduce energy costs. Also
consider green roof systems that incorporate soil and plants.

* Watch for scale build-up in boilers, hot water heaters, cooling
towers, humidifiers, washing machines, dishwashers, and shower heads.
Hard water that leaves scale build-up results in more energy consumed.
Water conditioning can address scale issues.

* Contract with an energy monitoring and reporting service to track
utility costs and interpret billing trends.

* Beware of energy vultures: plugged in appliances, radios, clocks and
other items that are on around the clock.

* Be cautious of energy remarketers when planning your energy purchasing
strategy. Locking in rates can actually eliminate incentives to save
energy.

* Participate in as many Energy Star programs as possible.

* Purchase computer products that meet the Electronic Products
Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standard. They meet the Energy
Star guidelines for energy efficiency.

* Purchase hand dryers with automatic sensor controls.

* Train housekeepers to turn off lighting and heating and cooling
equipment when not needed. Provide bilingual instructions.
Spanish-speaking employees typically think in terms of Centigrade,
rather than Fahrenheit. This can cause difficulty for them in setting
thermostats to the proper temperature. Issuing each room attendant a
simple placard with a sketch showing a typical guestroom thermostat
setting can easily resolve this problem.

* Weather stripping on outside entrances typically lasts less than two
years. Placing a brush-type of weather stripping that does not affect
the operation of the door and that provides a good seal from the outside
cold weather will pay handsome dividends. 	



Visit us on the Web at: www.p2pays.org

Tom Rhodes
Environmental Specialist
NC WasteTrader.com
NC Division of Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistance
1639 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699
(919) 715-6516


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