It’s been a tough year for the hotel and leisure sector. After months of lockdown, many people are still reluctant to travel very far from home. Foreign travel restrictions may have prompted an increase in demand for staycations. But nevertheless, occupancy rates in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs are still down year-on-year across the UK. Of course, this means that many hoteliers want to make sure that their customer service is better than ever. In this blog, we’ll look at how we can ensure hotels have nothing to worry about when it comes to hot water and cool air.
Reliable HVAC can make for hotel energy efficiency
Energy is a small proportion of total turnover for hotels or guesthouses. But hot water, heating and air conditioning account for 75% of a typical UK hotel’s energy consumption. The Carbon Trust reports that this increases markedly for larger establishments with pool or spa facilities. New heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment (HVAC) can reduce energy consumption.
Hodgkinson Bennis are experts at fitting and commissioning new plant in hotels, while allowing normal service to continue with minimum disruption. It’s worth bearing in mind that new biomass boilers may qualify for the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Remodelling existing equipment may also help, whether that’s an air handling unit through to control systems such as an optimum start controller. In older buildings, we can redesign hot water systems to avoid redundancies and rationalise pipework, even if point-of-use water heaters are less helpful in a hotel.
Energy efficient hotels need regularly maintained equipment
We’re also experts in devising a preventive maintenance schedule to ensure that systems continue to operate at peak efficiency. We can maintain pipework to ensure that heating and hot water are distributed effectively throughout your system. And we can maintain water and wastewater equipment too, from self-closing taps for sinks to dual-flush cisterns for lavatories.
As well as regular maintenance, we’re on hand to perform regular testing and inspection services. We can undertake annual gas safety checks for gas equipment. For steam boilers and high-pressure hot water boilers over 110 degrees centigrade (oC), we can undertake Pressure Systems Safety Regulations inspections.
Working to reduce energy bills by changing staff and guest behaviour
Staff and contractors can contribute to making an energy efficient hotel. Housekeeping staff should be encouraged to report if temperatures diverge from the recommended 19-21oC for guest bedrooms, and 26-27oC for bathrooms. Many systems function inefficiently, because someone made a short-term decision about temperature settings based on particular weather conditions. Hotels can also use night setback periods, allowing temperatures in common areas such as corridors to fall to 16oC late at night.
Similarly, monitoring and reducing excessive temperature of stored hot water is also a great way of tackling energy efficiency. Not only is this a wasteful practice, but overheated water can scald staff or guests. The optimum hot water temperature is 60oC. This is adequate to kill bacteria and is sufficiently warm for staff and guests to use. Setting boiler thermostats to deliver water at this temperature can reduce energy consumption.
Guests can help to reduce energy consumption too. Many hotels have notices in their bathrooms about reusing towels to reduce water and energy usage. It’s worth replicating such messages for other elements in the room. For instance, explaining how an energy-efficient boiler or cooling system works helps guests to understand about sustainability efforts. And hotels can encourage guests to turn off bathroom taps and avoid opening windows to control the temperature.
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Contact one of our team today to find out more about how Hodgkinson Bennis can deliver on hotel energy efficiency.
Call: 0161 790 4411
About Hodgkinson Bennis hotel energy efficiency
Hodgkinson Bennis designs, installs and maintains the most fuel-efficient commercial and industrial boilers. Headquartered in Manchester, we work across the UK, particularly in the North West, North East and throughout the Midlands. Contact us today to discuss how we can deliver advanced commercial and industrial boilers, and our range of other services. At Hodgkinson Bennis, we have worked with commercial and industrial boilers since 1872. This history gives us an enviable amount of experience as pioneers in the industry. We place an enormous emphasis on ensuring the health and safety of all team members, suppliers, contractors, and the public. We provide the most fuel-efficient boiler solutions for industrial and commercial applications.