Devonia Hotel Group engaged Green Running to provide monitoring to its three hotels.  It then undertook to investigate energy use based on the advice provided by the Green Running team.

 

The initial focus of the investigation was the reduction of energy use during periods when the hotels were closed. Energy use during closed periods is typically 30-40% of the peak monthly energy use. The majority of this use is centred on items left on (intentionally and unintentionally) during this period. Items such as space heaters, TVs (on standby), lights, fans and refrigeration/freezer units.

Green Running provided the group with the eController and eAnalyser energy monitors. These allowed 24-hour monitoring of energy use.

Use of the Green Running energy monitors allowed the group to reduce its down-time energy use by c. 60%. By working with Green Running to produce close-down proceedures and ensuring that managers enforced them, energy wastage could be monitored and missed items quickly and easily identified, using the eViewer.

 

Additional savings were found in the central office. By monitoring this area individually, using the Green Running eAnalyser staff were able to attach a price to the energy being used and act accordingly.

 

eViewer’s easy to use display lets you monitor your energy use anywhere

 

Green Running’s five-step process also allowed the Group to identify phase imbalances and harmonics that also contribute to energy wastage. The Group plan to address these in coming budgets.

 

Energy monitors help avert fire risk

A common cause of energy waste is heating and cooling devices being left on when the room is unoccupied. The Devonia Group Hotels were no exception. Hotel managers were aware of the problem from previous experience and were especially eager to ensure that no devices were left on because of the additional fire risk. By monitoring the specific heating circuits at winter shutdown they could quickly see if space heaters were on and order repeat checks of the appropriate rooms.

Compare Financial Implications of different Energy Solutions

 

Lighting

With the help of Green Running’s eAnalyser energy monitor, Devonia Hotels were able to compare the costs of LED lighting against their current lighting installation. As a trial, one bedroom and a corridor were changed over to LED lighting. Maintenance staff then used the eAnalyser to measure in detail the energy being used. With the aid of Green Running, reports were produced showing the cost / benefit ratios and payback periods.

 

Refrigeration

At one of the group’s hotels, concerns were raised over the age of the food refrigeration/freezing units. The eAnalyser was used to measure the energy use of these units over a typical 24 hour period. As expected, the older units used more energy. This was then used to produce payback period for the replacement of the units.

 

Alwyn Davies, the Gardline project manager, explains:

 

“Looking closely at the energy we’re actually consuming makes savings so easy.  For example, after just a couple of days’ monitoring we were surprised to see something big happen every evening at 7pm.  Taking a closer look, we found that this was actually due to a faulty machine, meaning that large amounts of energy were being wasted without our knowledge.”

Gardline Head Office achieved a 25% saving in electricity within the first two months of adopting the eAnalyser energy monitor.

 

 

 

Evaluating energy usage of a new electrical product

Another Gardline company makes electrical equipment and was keen to test the energy footprint of a new heat pump.  Alwyn Davies, the Gardline project manager, explains:

“The heat pump was developed with an innovative design, but we weren’t sure if it would be efficient as a product.  Using the eAnalyser energy monitor allowed us to easily test the product in a large number of real-life situations”.

 

 

Identification of power factor issues resulted in significant savings

At Gardline’s diesel engine repair plant, the eAnalyser energy monitor identified significant power factor  issues. Despite having power factor correcting equipment installed, it was discovered that at times of peak consumption the equipment installed was not sufficiently sized, resulting in a power factor of 0.8.

This is a common occurrence when companies expand without changing equipment. Identification of the issue enabled Gardline to make a capital expenditure resulting in significant savings and a payback period of less than 1 year. It also avoided possible Network issues.

 

If you would like to discuss how Green Running could help you make energy savings, please contact us on 0800 907 0006 or email: info@greenrunning.com or complete the form given on your right side, so we can contact you at a convenient time.