With summer approaching, we really feel for hotel and guesthouse owners. We know that you have plenty to occupy your attention – not least the guests occupying your rooms. The last thing you need is a boiler breakdown or an air handling unit that’s acting up. And more broadly, you’ll be concerned about how to cut energy costs to boost your bottom line. Here at Hodgkinson Bennis, we can help to develop energy-efficient hotels.
New plant and better pipework for energy-efficient hotels
Energy may be a small proportion of total turnover for hotels or guest-houses. But The Carbon Trust reports that hot water, heating and air conditioning account for 75% of a typical UK hotel’s energy consumption. This increases markedly for larger establishments with pool or spa facilities.
The obvious place to start in reducing energy consumption is new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment (HVAC). Hodgkinson Bennis are experts at fitting and commissioning new plant in hotels, while allowing you to maintain your service with minimum disruption. This may be everything from an air handling unit to new control systems such as an optimum start controller. It’s worth bearing in mind that new biomass boilers may qualify for the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Another option, depending on the age of your building, may be for us to undertake a simpler redesign of your hot water system. Many older buildings waste hot water through redundancies. While point-of-use heaters might not be appropriate in a hotel, rationalising pipework will still save people having to run the water until it becomes hot. By reducing the length of pipes leading to hot water taps, we can make the design of your pipework more efficient.
Maintaining equipment makes for energy efficient hotels
We’re also experts in devising a servicing schedule to ensure that your system goes on operating at peak efficiency. We can undertake annual gas safety checks for gas equipment. For steam boilers and high-pressure hot water boilers over 110 degrees centigrade, we can undertake Pressure Systems Safety Regulations inspections. Similarly, we can maintain your system’s 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.
Staff and guests can reduce bills
On a day-to-day basis, it will be staff and contractors who contribute to making an energy efficient hotel. Incentivise housekeeping staff 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. Use night setback periods too, allowing temperatures in common areas such as corridors to fall to 16oC late at night.
Similarly, excessive heating of stored hot water is wasteful and could scald staff or guests. Regularly monitor hot water temperature to ensure it remains at its optimum 60oC. This is adequate to kill bacteria and is sufficiently warm for staff and guests to use.
Guests can help out too. Many hotels already have notices in their bathrooms about reusing towels to reduce water and energy usage. Why not replicate that message for other elements in the room too? If you have an energy-efficient boiler or cooling system, explain how it works. And encourage guests to avoid opening windows to control the temperature, or leaving taps running.
With our years of experience, Hodgkinson Bennis can help you create a more energy efficient hotel. Contact one of our team today!
Call: 0161 790 4411
About Hodgkinson Bennis
Hodgkinson Bennis design, install and maintain 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.
At Hodgkinson Bennis, we have and industrial 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. The efficiency of our steam and hot water systems can significantly reduce carbon footprint. Fuel efficiency is of particular importance for both private and public sector organisations. Our newest boiler ranges are already making an impact on fuel usage for leisure centres and sports facilities across the UK.