Originally published in AAHOA Lodging Business, July 2008

SUSTAINABLE -SOLUTIONS IN HOSPITALITY
Lisette Ditters

From the seasoned business traveler to families on vacation, today’s hotel guests are well-versed in the range of lodging options available in the marketplace. Before they arrive for check-in, they check out amenities and services, and comparison-shop for lodging in virtually any destination. Whether working or planning an exotic getaway, guests seek properties that measure up to their high expectations on many levels.

A sustainably-lit hotel room can -provide soft and unobtrusive lighting that both pleases guests and reduces costs. (inset: a 32-watt CFL lamp)

As today’s hospitality climate continues to change and an increasing number of eco-conscious guests continue to seek out environmentally-responsible initiatives from all of their product and service providers, the installation of sustainable lighting solutions can build brand loyalty among guests. Consumers and corporations often make purchase decisions based on an organization’s environmental stewardship. An investment in energy-efficient lamps, ballasts, and other lighting solutions which reduce the environmental impact of a property’s operation can pay dividends that are worth more than just the energy savings. Such investment earns respect from customers and increases their willingness to become repeat guests.

Improving Operational Efficiency

Opportunities for hospitality organizations to save money through new and energy-efficient lighting systems abound. Lighting systems account for an estimated 18 percent of the energy used in buildings¹. Hotel operators who choose high-performance lighting solutions can gain an edge over competitors. Energy efficient lighting solutions can also reduce maintenance concerns and are subsequently less expensive to own and operate.

But there’s more. Cost reductions through energy efficiency are quantifiable and can be described using key financial metrics, such as revenue per available room (RevPAR) or the equivalent increase to the average daily room rate (ADR). Through a strategic approach to energy efficiency, a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption would have the same financial effect as increasing the ADR by $0.62 in limited-service hotels and by $1.35 in full-service hotels².

Significant Saving Opportunities

Because hospitality properties operate 24-7, even small gains in efficiency can lead to significant savings. In guest rooms, a 32-watt CFL lamp can provide high levels of light output while saving 67 percent in energy costs compared to a 100-watt incandescent, delivering energy efficient task lighting that reduces costs while promoting sustainable design.

Replacing outdated lighting systems with more efficient, environmentally-friendly solutions will reduce energy consumption and disposal costs. Selecting lighting components that perform better over time also means fewer lamp replacements and disruptions to hotel operations. Working with fewer lamp types and standardizing wattages can reduce complexity, making maintenance more manageable and less costly.

One clear way to generate savings in general areas such as meeting rooms and back of the house is by using a energy efficient fluorescent systems that reduce energy consumption by using 25-watt T8 linear fluorescent lamps (instead of 32-watt) driven by high performance electronic ballasts. And when looking for energy efficient fluorescents, don’t forget to review mercury levels in the lamps; lower levels reduce the impact to the -environment.

While energy and cost savings are key, hospitality professionals don’t want to derive these savings at the expense of the guest experience. Fortunately, there are lighting solutions that will allow for delivery of both. There is a lot of development in trying to make proper 3-way solutions for dimming CFLs. And if CFLs don’t provide a good solution for your property, there are now energy-saving dimmable halogen lamps on the market that can provide the white light of a halogen source while saving up to 33 percent more energy than comparable standard incandescent equivalents. For lobbies and meeting rooms, there also are solutions to save energy and maintenance: IRC PAR and MR Halogen reflector lamps provide same bright white light, while saving in energy cost as compared to standard halogen lamps and has longer life than such lamps.

LEDs represent yet another viable lighting option for the hospitality sector. Highly-efficient, long lasting, bright, and reliable, LEDs represent the future of hospitality lighting, from signage and cove lighting to ambient illumination. LED solutions can generate millions of colors to provide a customizable ambiance in lobbies and restaurants, and they now also offer high-quality white light without the maintenance complexity of other traditional lighting methods to provide huge energy and maintenance savings.

And this exciting new technology also creates opportunities for new ideas like 2-watt LED nightlights to guide the pathway to the bathroom in darkened guestrooms with a soft and unobtrusive glow to avoid the high-wattage bathroom light being used to do the same.

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, reductions to a property’s environmental impact can help build a positive brand image, enhance guest relations, and save money on energy and maintenance. By tapping into the market’s broad range of high-performing, energy efficient lighting technologies, you can achieve an optimized lighting system that meets your guests’ needs, reduces energy consumption and costs, is flexible enough to fit the requirements of each unique space, and helps to preserve and sustain our fragile environment — a package of benefits which truly helps to meet all of your corporate goals.

¹ http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/commercial/
² http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/challenge/learn_more/Hotel.pdf

Lisette Ditters is the -director of market segments for -Philips Lighting. For information on Philips lighting -solutions, contact Charles Bastien, -National Account Manager, at charles.bastien@philips.com