Skeptical hoteliers may be surprised to learn that systems can be configured to automatically prepare a room for arrival at check-in, set back at checkout, and to cycle during extreme weather, including delicate local power demand periods. Typically, no additional wiring is needed for today's modern systems. As technology advances, the average half-life of an energy management system is decreasing, which can be discouraging to a hotel operator considering such an investment. The St. Regis in New York City installed perhaps the prototype of hotel energy management systems almost 10 years ago. Although there are some aspects of modernization that it seeks at this time, the landmark hotel clearly is demonstrating the savings power of energy management systems when coupled with strong engineering management.
Annual costs are reportedly at the low end of the standard, full-service expense ratio.
Although it makes privacy advocates slightly squeamish, the reporting and monitoring arm of this evolved information technology is the emerging energy service company. This may be scary to some, yet exhilarating to others. Be sure to ask what side of the fence you and your organization are on when you consider any new technology. Lastly, employees are a vital resource to any energy management program. Implementation of a tangible system should coincide with a property's efforts to raise awareness of waste and over-consumption.