Hotel & Motel Management - February 4, 2008 - (Page 30)

30 Technology ENERGY MANAGEMENT H&MM February 4, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition BY JASON Q. FREED, ASSOCIATE EDITOR EMS provides link to savings An energy-management system can be as simple as a standalone thermostat in a single room programmed to change room temperature depending on occupancy. When the thermostat is linked to other hardware within the room or property, the real savings begin. A breakthrough in energy management came when manufacturers developed thermostats that could sense if a room was occupied or not. “If you look at a hotel, the energy consumed in the guestroom is the most signiﬁcant amount,” said William Fizer, president of Lodging Technology. To determine room occupancy, the thermostat, equipped with a heat sensor, is linked to the door handle. The digital sensor on the thermostat coordinates with the handle to determine when someone enters or leaves the guestroom. “It has a dramatic impact,” said Rami Belson, president of Energex. “For example, we can see when there is no need to send housekeeping, and we can monitor elements of security, like when a room is occupied without being sold.” Newer systems link thermostats to windows and balcony doors to save on cooling costs by turning down air conditioning when a window is open. “You have to determine what is acceptable to the guest without making it uncomfortable,” said John Tavares, v.p. of marketing at Inncom International. Networking with a hotel’s property-management system also provides beneﬁts. When employees can determine a room’s occupancy, they can plan housekeeping and checkout functions accordingly. Today, energy-management system vendors are offering customization. By linking with a property’s PMS, employees can program a room easily, preparing it with the preferred lighting and temperature. “Surveys indicate that nobody likes to walk into a dark room,” Tavares said. “If you tell housekeeping to leave the entry light on, there goes your energy savings. Light switches that talk to the thermostat can be beneﬁcial.” ENERGEX Quotable “ CIRCLE NO. 120 It needs done at the property level and it needs done automatically. You cannot rely on housekeeping to do it, and don’t rely on the guest to do it.” WILLIAM FIZER, president, Lodging Technology http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.HotelMotel.com http://www.inncom.com http://www.inncom.com

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Hotel & Motel Management - February 4, 2008 Contents Murray, Keltner to Keynote Atlanta Event ABVI Approves Per-room Fee Hike Growth, Guest Loyalty on Lexington’s Plate Perspective Legally Speaking AAHOA Update Marketing Matters Consultant’s Corner On Finance Training Trends HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Outdoor Furniture Limited-service-hotel-chain Report Energy-management System Provides Link to Savings Upgraded Bedding Program Cost Comes Due Less Hot Water Equals Less-costly Bills Events Learn to Take Advantage of Lower Insurance Costs Brokers Will Remain Unscathed in 2008 Transactions Ad/Edit Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - February 4, 2008

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