Energy Management Systems

The cost of power to drive air conditioning systems, water heating and lights is a significant element of the operating expenditure for a property.  There is no doubt that these are all essential services to enhance the comfort of your guests and villa owners.  However, just think how much energy is wasted keeping rooms cool or lit when they are vacant!

An Energy Management System (EMS) solves this problem through interfacing with the Property Management System (PMS) to ensure optimum settings are applied to all in-room appliances.  At guest checkout air conditioning thermostats can be set to a high temperature, water heating switched off and lighting minimized.  At guest check-in, room temperatures can be reduced, water heaters can be switched-on and all lighting reactivated. It is also possible by incorporating movement sensors and door sensors to moderate settings when a room is allocated but unoccupied.

Zigbee wireless technology has now made possible the retrofit to a property of an EMS whereby the thermostats, relays and sensors communicate with wireless controllers which in turn are connected to the hotel IP network to interface with the centralized management software. These devices can be fitted very quickly, even in a hotel with high occupancy and so there is no need to wait until a renovation program takes place.

Clearly a benefit of an EMS is the reduction in power consumption but there are several less obvious paybacks too. Reducing the workload on air conditioning plant preserves its life and reduces maintenance costs. Many systems can provide valuable statistical information available to the engineering department to help them optimize environmental settings to achieve further savings. The occupancy sensors have also been known in properties to highlight unwise practices by housekeeping staff such as propping open doors along a line of rooms creating an imbalance of cooling and also a security risk. They have also been known to eradicate the elicit letting of rooms by front desk staff to their friends!

Payback for an EMS will vary with its sophistication and the specific circumstances of a given property although as a rule of thumb three to five years should be anticipated and this most certainly out lasts the plant that the system controls. In addition, one should not underestimate the importance of operating a “green” hotel in attracting both corporate and individual guest loyalty.

DXI is helping several resorts and hotels manage their energy efficiency.  Call us now to discuss further this very important issue and we will help you understand what is in the market and how quickly you will achieve ROI.