Hospitality Tips

Management

  • Identify one person to drive an energy reduction program.
  • Use a per occupied room approach to energy conservation: set goals and post results.
  • Manage the number of vendors your property is using. Reduce the number of shipments and consolidate orders because every invoice costs money to process.
  • Eliminate shipping and handling costs where possible.
  • Use approved vendors from your franchise and management companies.
  • Reduce your refuse pick-ups to compensate for reduced occupancy.
  • Reduce the number of daily newspapers to match the reduced occupancy.
  • Book your hotel guests into sections of your hotel.

Maintenance

  • Change all HVAC and PTAC filters. Clean all PTAC and HVAC coils. Efficiency equals energy savings.
  • Check all window and door seals, then caulk and insulate where necessary.
  • Check and repair all leaky toilets, tubs, showers and sinks in guestrooms, public areas and kitchens.
  • Check and replace all defective sink aerators, an inexpensive way to conserve water and save on your water bill.
  • Reduce the landscaping water cycles where possible. Use mulch to conserve moisture and reduce recurring water bills.
  • Change exterior lighting timer switches to turn on and off by zones. For example, create zones of every third lamp, and have each zone turn on 30 minutes apart, and turn off 30 minutes apart, instead of all at once.
  • Convert lighting to low wattage, fluorescent bulbs wherever possible to save money on your electric bill.
  • Convert all exit signs from incandescent to LED signs.
  • Install motion sensors in offices, public restrooms and shops (including laundry and housekeeping) to turn lights off when the room is vacant.

Housekeeping

  • Clean light bulbs as part of the daily cleaning.
  • Wash full loads of laundry only, as partial loads waste energy.
  • Start a linen and towel re-use program (guests choose whether or not to have linens and terry towels cleaned daily).
  • Substitute bulk hand and face soap for individual bars in guest and public bathrooms.
  • Reduce bathroom amenities without affecting guest service.
  • Teach room attendants to conserve energy when cleaning guestrooms.
  • Turn off AC units in the unoccupied areas (minimum heat in frigid climates).
  • In occupied rooms, set the thermostats to coordinate with the daily temperature. For example, if the outside daily temperature is going to be between 63° and 80°, turn the unit off. If it is over 80°, set to low cool with the temperature dial in the middle (~78°). Between 55° and 62°, set to low warm with temperature dial in the middle (~65°).
  • Use cold water laundry washing where possible.

Energy Plan

We've compiled a list of low-cost and no-cost steps you can immediately take, as well as some long-term strategies that will pay for themselves in energy savings over time.

  • Replace standard bulbs with compact fluorescents.You can achieve the same level of brightness with a 17 watt energy efficient fluorescent light bulb as you can with a standard 60 watt light bulb. Yet the lower wattage bulb uses less energy (about 74% less) than its incandescent counterpart and lasts 10 times longer.

Energy Savings

  • Turn off your computer, printer and other peripherals.For each hour that you turn them off, you will save 0.14 to 0.35 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which can add up to an incredible $80 to $200 per year!
  • Install ceiling fans over beds and in dining and living rooms.A ceiling fan can reduce air conditioning costs by creating a "wind chill" effect. Set your thermostat as high as 80°F, but it will feel more like 76°F directly under the fan. Note, however, that you won't realize any savings unless you set the air-conditioner thermostat higher.
  • Turn off lights that are not in use. Install timers or occupancy sensors in conference rooms, restrooms and all the places where lights may be left on needlessly for hours, or even days. Wall-switch models are designed to replace standard wall switches, so they're easy to install.
  • Install dimmer switches. By dimming the lights in a room you use less electricity. For example, a light bulb at 50% brightness uses approximately 40% less electricity. A dimmer switch also extends the life of your bulbs. A bulb at 50% brightness will last approximately 20 times longer.