Energy efficiency benefits both small hotels and tourists

The Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Project (CHENACT)

The US$2.15 million CHENACT project, is designed to improve the competitiveness of small and medium sized hotels (< than 400 rooms), in the Caribbean Region, through improved use of energy with the emphasis on renewable energy and micro-generation, while assisting Caribbean governments in meeting their international obligations in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the phase-out of ozone depleting substances (ODS). 

To date detailed audits have been carried out in over 50 hotels, in Barbados, the OECS, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Walk-throughs have been carried out in 30 hotels in Barbados. 

Many of the energy saving measures proposed in the CHENACT audits are common to almost all properties.   Among the most common of these energy savings measures are lighting retrofits.  These retrofits include the replacement of incandescent lamps with LED or CFL lamps, as well as the retrofit of T12, T8,  fluorescent tubes with CFL’s and /or LED lamps.  Air conditioners are also frequently targeted for retrofit, replacing current units with highly efficient variable flow mini-split units or VRV systems. 

Other common energy saving measures include: high efficiency pool pumps, the use of occupancy sensors, timers and controls to reduce running hours for equipment in guest rooms, kitchens and lobbies, solar hot water systems and solar PV systems for outdoor lighting.  Some measures require little up-front cost, such as a corporate utility management program CUMP), which is designed to foster good energy conservation practices among hotel Management and Staff.  Some of the recommendations are actually no cost e.g., turning off pool pumps, fans etc when not in use.

The CHENACT Programme found that air conditioning is the single largest end-use of electricity in hotels in the Caribbean – from 50 to 54 per cent for medium-large hotels. Initial reports indicate there are significant opportunities for energy efficient savings in the hotel sector with average potential electricity savings between 35-50% per cent of total hotel power consumption. Depending on property size individual hotels would be required to invest between $400,000 and $1.1 million to gain the improvements with payback periods in most cases of less than 3 years.

The audits also conclude that tremendous savings could be made in water bills since there was evidence of leaks in almost all hotels and the potential for savings in that area is approximately 50%.  Considering that water rates have increased by 60% in Barbados recently the potential for savings in this area is substantial.

The CHENACT project is an initiative of CTO and CHA with the main source of funding the Inter American Development Bank.

For further information please contact: Loreto Duffy-Mayers CHENACT Project Manager [email protected]