Tech Talk

Green energy

Here's another reason why the development of technology is a godsend. As the industry tries to battle out environment-unfriendly practices, technology comes to its rescue with greener alternatives to energy sources. Sanjeev Bhar delves deeper

Warnings of global warming are everywhere, and yet hotels continue to trudge along with their diesel generators and coal-fuelled heaters. A premier reason for this is, of course, the cost factor. The initial investment to incorporate a greener, renewable and clean energy source is enough discouragement, however noble the intentions may be. But a closer analysis will reveal that despite the initial cost, the long-term use of sources like solar panels or LED (light emitting diodes) may considerably reduce fixed costs over time.

Selecting the right type of energy source therefore is most vital, depending mostly on the kind and level of usage. While electricity remains the basic source for all needs in a hotel establishment, other options seem to be attracting considerable hotelier attention - solar energy, battery-operated equipment, LED, or piped natural gas (PNG). Instead of adopting a particular energy source throughout the property, one can have a combination of energy sources. Specific areas can make use of natural sources or alternate sources in order to minimise electricity bills and simultaneously increase the viability of other sources wherever applicable.

The right choice

Considering hotels resort to heavy machineries for various operations, solar panels and batteries cannot come to the rescue. Anil Kumar, chief engineer of Uppal's Orchid - An Ecotel Hotel, Delhi says, "At present, we are resorting to diesel generators and invertors as an alternate source of energy." According to him, the scope of alternate sources of energy that can be used in hotels is minimal because wattage loads required for generating the requisite output for machines and equipment is significantly high, which cannot be handled through any other clean alternate source. Therefore, diesel generators will continue to meet energy requirements in a hotel during emergency situations like power cuts, voltage abnormality, etc.

Kumar adds, "There are certain areas where different technologies can be made use of to decrease the reliance on electricity. Solar energy is one such area. In fact, our hotel will be adopting solar energy this year in areas where it will prove most efficient." Solar panels on roofs, like Photovoltaic (PV) systems, are used in some parts of the US to convert sunlight into electricity. However, it requires a huge initial investment. Kumar adds, "We are investing approximately Rs 10 lakh for the set-up which will not only address our landscaping needs but also reduce the need for lighting in rooms, corridors, etc." He explains that the solar mode of energy is costly but with latest technology in place and prices becoming competitive, the payback period has reduced from three to four years to a year and a half.

On the other hand, the LED option can be used for areas requiring minimal energy like string light sets, LED flickering lights, curtain lights, drape lights, string to string lighting, party lights, battery-operated lights, chandeliers, etc. Piped natural gas (or PNG) is another medium for heavy cooking and convection ovens that usually run on electricity. This is a cheaper and a cleaner source of energy and more and more hotels are increasing relying on it.

Reusing exhaust energy

Hotel buildings are getting larger and taller, increasing the demand of energy consumption. In such a scenario, it is worth considering energy re-utilisation. This system is extensive and needs sound supervision from companies specialising in energy rotors and energy recovery systems. This is one area which has not been extensively ventured into. Sonali Dutta, vice president (Corporate Affairs), Bry-Air (Asia), says, "We have systems where we use energy recovery equipment to lower the consumption level of energy." She explains that energy re-utilisation is becoming a key factor for limiting energy loads in operating sound HVAC-based systems. Energy recovery from air-conditioning exhaust is used in large air-conditioned spaces like hotels, hospitals, auditoriums, etc. Dutta adds, "The heart of the energy recovery equipment is the heat wheel, which helps to recover energy from air-conditioning exhaust and not from boilers. The energy thus recovered is used to pre-cool/pre-heat the incoming fresh air thereby saving energy." There are number of applications of energy wheel-based products like treated fresh air systems and energy recovery ventilators. This is another classic example how technology can make use of exhaust (lost) energy thereby saving consumption costs.

Engineers claim that various equipment can be used keeping in mind the product design and design system of hotel equipment to promote better facilitation of energy usage. Steam generated in hotels is re-routed to the equipment that can be run on steam energy. Heat transfer equipment is installed to enable withdrawal of heat energy for another task. According to them, efforts are on in engineering to get better systems in place towards reducing energy usage where planning and application will be key. Energy recovery equipment like enthalpy wheels, energy recovery ventilators, treated fresh air units effectively provide the solution for improving IAQ by curtailing energy costs. Heat extractors, inline duct fans, CO2 sensors, evaporative cooling pads, energy recovery ventilators, treated fresh air units, are used too, aiming at productive usage of energy and reducing wastage. This proves that hotels cannot do away with environmentally-unfit generators completely but can go for cleaner options, reducing the load factor on generators and electricity consumption, thereby saving on costs for which units need to be on a strong foothold with right technology to adopt such options.