Whether it’s air conditioning or heating, every business has the need for climate control, and often a dedicated HVAC system. Internet of Things and machine learning are helping businesses save significantly on their energy consumption and costs. From smart thermostats that allow users to program their energy consumption around daily occupancy needs to smart sensors that monitor fluctuations in real-time occupancy, there are no shortage of energy-management tools available to help business save on their energy costs.
2. Auto Shutdown Sockets
A major energy cost for many hotels is standby power, it refers to the way electric power is consumed by electronic and electrical appliances while they are switched off (but are designed to draw some power) or in a standby mode. This is where automatic shutdown sockets come in. These are simply smart power outlets that use infrared sensors or timers to cut power to any connected device when the device is not in use or the room is unoccupied. In other words, they allow hotels to save on powering devices whenever they are not in use.
3. Air Source Heat Pumps
Smart thermostats aren’t the only way that business can save on their heating costs. Advances in HVAC hardware technology also offer businesses new opportunities to save on energy costs. Specifically, air source heat pumps make it possible to transfer heat from outside a building to inside it. The science behind Air Source Heat Pumps involves using the principles of vapor compression-refrigeration to absorb heat from one place and release it to another. The advantage for hotels is that ASHPs can be used as energy-efficient space heaters or coolers, removing the need to overload a central HVAC system to accommodate the specific needs of a smaller or compartmental space.
4. Solar Panel Technology
Rising economic superpowers and Australian suburbanites aren’t the only ones benefiting from the rise and proliferation in solar technology. Hotels of all sizes are leveraging increasingly affordable photovoltaic technology to reduce their energy costs. Solar power technology offers businesses a two-fold opportunity: to reduce energy consumption from the grid and sell excess production back into that grid. Therefore, hotels can save on their energy costs and subsidize whatever energy consumption they still have to pay for.
5. Smart Lighting
Smart energy-management systems are not limited only to HVAC systems. Smart lighting technology also enables hotels to better understand their energy needs, automate their consumption and adapt to real-time to changes in occupancy. Some companies have managed to cut energy costs by 75 percent and improved productivity by 20 percent by converting to a smart LED lighting system. Just like EMS helps hotels adjust energy consumption based on real-time climate-control needs, smart lighting systems also enable properties to set preferred lighting times and track activity to improve workflow throughout the facility.
