Systems

Smart cooling

Use of technology for optimum guest satisfaction is an imperative in the service industry and maintaining the air conditioning,the room temperature and the humidity becomes an inevitability. With a little planning, hoteliers can control expenses and bring in cost-effectiveness. By Sayoni Bhaduri

Cost efficiency is an aspect that plays on every hotelier's mind. Hence, the instructions percolate down to the staff - reduce costs at all costs. That mindset in an industry such as hospitality almost never works. There has to be technological solutions as well as proper assessment to counter costs.

Costs are not the only thing that can be reduced. At a time when the environment requires special attention, the right technological solutions can help reduce our carbon footprints, especially as a country that is responsible for a large percentage of the total pollution.

AC/DC

Deciding upon cooling solutions is crucial while thinking of costs. A little long term planning can help save up maintenance costs. Traditionally, hotels follow a routine method of cooling for their spaces. All three-star hotels and below prefer split or window units for guestrooms, while packaged units are used for public space. For other hotels a centrally operational air conditioning system is an inevitable choice; they simply cannot work efficiently without them. Most centrally-operated systems have chilled water being produced at a central point, which is then circulated throughout the rooms with appropriate fan coil units.

Interestingly, different areas in the hotel have different cooling needs. In addition, it's not just the cooling and temperature that the air conditioning system keeps a check on. There is also the humidity level. Hence, it is crucial to keep individual controls handy. It is also important to keep in mind proper ventilation and minimum noise levels. Mike R Thompson, director (Environmental Affairs) at Trane, says, "Air conditioning also takes up a lot of energy. Nearly 45 to 50 per cent of energy consumption in a hotel is through air conditioning and the allied plant." This includes pumps cooling towers, air-handling units, etc.

The importance of saving energy can never be underestimated. Small things can save up a lot of energy, particularly in public spaces. In lobbies, use of revolving doors decreases the atmospheric air ingress. Similarly, air ventilations can be adjusted according to the occupancy of the space. Other public areas that can be a cause of hassle for the cooling systems include:

• The bar, with its floating occupation and strong cigarette and tobacco smoke
• F&B outlets, with the aromas and heat make it imperative for the hotel to maintain proper room temperature and ventilation.
• Meeting rooms, boardrooms and banquet rooms have a problem in balancing the humidity.
• Backhouse areas like the laundry and the kitchen have to deal with grease and lint.

Optimising resources

When discussing optimum utilisation of technology it is important to have a technical perspective, says Pramoda Karkal, vice president and managing director of Johnson Controls, India. The biggest fear that most people have is the amount of power consumption. He further adds that for deciding the correct requirement for the air conditioning system, one has to understand the high diversity factor and hence the load factor. A worthwhile investment will be a long-term solution, which provides long-term savings with an approximate payback period of two to four years.

Pankaj Gupta, team leader for India at Trane India, says, "Long term profits can be achieved when devotes some time and effort on the power grids. With regular work and maintenance, longevity can be guaranteed beyond the regular age capacity." Reliable products are those that have norms on the issues together with environment and energy aspects. "One can reduce up to 30 per cent of emissions in a phased manner," says Gupta.

From a guest's perspective, the best air conditioning would be that which is neither seen nor heard and which gives them individual control. "India is at a maturing stage and a good percentage of customers are aware of their needs. Moreover, the industry is moving at creating a balance between conventional and alternative ways of creating power and therefore looking at eco-friendly methods," says Karkal.

So how does one achieve optimum utilisation? The answer lies in audits. Thompson describes the process which begins with a lifecycle cost analysis. He says, "Costs may seem high initially but when compared to the lifecycle, the profits are equally high. The energy efficiency needs to be upfront in terms of cost and equipment." Fortunately, hoteliers fear initial costs no more. "They are accepting this new format for long term use, saving and profitability," says Gupta.

The best time to bring in a cooling solutions partner is at the designing stage itself. Even if the solutions provider is brought in later, a correct programme for the hotel can be achieved with the help of auditing. Even if the system is low maintenance, it has to depend on the best match. It will be a good operating payback with little investment. The key to this is high efficiency equipment that work well with other components and blend in to provide perfect cooling at an optimum level.