greening your lodging - heating and cooling

Money Saving Tips - Heating and Cooling
Reprinted with permission from www.GreenLodgingNews.com

• If your pool is used during the weekends only, reduce the temperature/heating during the week.
  
  
• Save energy by cleaning heating and cooling coils regularly. Also change filters regularly.
  
  
• Keep condenser water as cool as possible within an acceptable range.
  
  
• Air conditioners, where possible, should be out of the sun and away from heat loads.
  
  
• Use condenser water to pre-heat supply on hot water systems.
  
  
• Increase chilled water temperature in winter (saves power from the chiller operation).
  
  
• Use timers or sensing devices to ensure that air-conditioners or heaters are not in operation longer than required.
  
  
• Keep all doors and windows closed during hot weather. When possible, keep all shades, blinds or draperies closed in guestrooms during hot weather. During cooler months, keep shades, blinds or draperies open.
  
  
• Explore options such as solar energy or heat pumps.
  
  
• Insulate hot-water-holding tanks, pipes, ducts, wall and roof spaces to reduce heat loss or gain.
  
  
• Weather-strip and seal around all doors and windows.
  
  
• Check all insulation and duct work for air leaks. Repair leaks as needed using approved materials and methods.
  
  
• Install hot water systems as near as possible to where the most frequent use occurs. Explore the purchase of tankless water heaters.
  
  
• Make sure your hot water system thermostat is not set too high. Having to add cold water to cool too-hot water is wasteful.
  
  
• Hot water systems exposed to outside temperatures will cost more to operate. Wherever possible, enclose the systems or install internally.
  
  
• Do a boiler combustion analysis to make sure it is running efficiently.
  
  
• Remove obstructions (furniture, drapes) that restrict air flow from heating, cooling units.
  
  
• Older, through-the-wall PTAC units typically do not have a very good weather seal around the compressor inside the sleeve of the unit. Contact the manufacturer of the PTAC to see if they have a retrofit kit that can be installed to seal these outside openings.
  
  
• Change air handler filters up to four times a year.
  
  
• Set temperature settings to the minimum setting to ensure guest and employee comfort.
  
  
• Secure HVAC controls in meeting rooms and offices so that only maintenance or engineering staff can adjust the temperature.
  
  
• In hotels with single-paned windows, install reflective films or storm windows to reduce heating or cooling loss.
  
  
• Hotel entrances that feature revolving, self-closing or double doors prevent air from escaping.
  
  
• Install ceiling fans in guest rooms or public areas where appropriate. These can reduce heating or cooling costs by as much as 40 percent.
  
  
• Check the HVAC system regularly for leaks or obstructions.
  
  
• Size an HVAC system appropriately. An oversized system will waste energy.
  
  
• Properly positioned trees around a property can reduce heating and cooling costs.
  
  
• Install a control device on guestroom windows or sliding glass doors to ensure HVAC cannot run when they are open.
  
  
• Install a heat recovery system to capture waste heat. For example, waste heat produced in the laundry area can be collected and used to preheat water so that the water heaters do not use as much energy.
  
  
• Flush the hotel’s water heaters every six to 12 months to eliminate sludge on the bottom of the tank.
  
  
• Consider biofuels as a heating oil option.
  
  
• The formula to follow when determining PTAC size is 30 BTU/h per square foot. If, for example, a guestroom is 300 square feet, one would need a 9,000-BTU/h unit. It is always better to err on the smaller size. PTACs with heat pumps use up to 60 percent less electricity than ones using electric heat.
  
  
• Switching to a lower pressure drop HVAC filter is one of the easiest changes building owners and facility managers can make to reduce energy costs.
  
  
• Purchase digital thermostats that offer precise temperature control and long battery life.
  
  
• Retrofit PTACs with UVC kits to improve air quality and energy performance.
  

Reprinted with permission from www.GreenLodgingNews.com.