The Canadian Fairmont Hotels & Resorts chain is saving more than $800,000 annually by implementing several climate change projects across four hotels, reports The Energy Collective.
By partnering with World Wildlife Fund Canada to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, four of Fairmont's hotels -- Fairmont Waterfront, Chateau Lake Louise, Château Laurier, and Château Montebello -- have plans for several projects that include solar, hydro, and wind energy, a lighting retrofit and heat recovery that will cost between $15,000 to $500,000, according to the article. The payback time is between two to five years.
Fairmont has a corporate commitment to reduce its GHG emissions 20 percent by 2013 from its 2006 levels. In 2006, an energy audit identified more than 300 potential energy-demand reduction projects, targeting improved energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy supply.
According to The Natural Strategy, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is one of the first hotel companies to incorporate sustainability into their organization.
Here's a quick run-down of several energy-efficient projects cited in the article.
Projects at Fairmont Waterfront hotel include a heat-recovery system to preheat incoming city water using heat captured from the hotel's water system. It saves an estimated 305,380 kilowatt-hours (1,100 GJ) per year and $12,000 per year. Estimated payback is in two years.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise purchases green power through an agreement with the Canadian Eco-Logo certified Canadian Hydro Developers. Other projects include lighting retrofits, installation of heat-recovery and recycling systems, and installation of a building automation system. Projects cost $460,000. The hotel expects to save $250,000 annually with a payback in two years.
Fairmont Château Laurier's energy retrofits include a high-efficiency boiler plant replacing the district steam heating system, high-efficiency incremental units in all guest rooms, an integrated building automation system, and a lighting retrofit in common areas and guest rooms. The projects cost more than $3 million but are expected to yield more than $575,000 in savings annually. Estimated payback is five years.
Fairmont Kenauk at Le Château Montebello has installed solar power systems at all 13 chalets, which supply about half of their power demand. Projects cost between $15,000 to $50,000 per chalet. Savings and estimate payback are not available.
Visit World Wildlife Fund Canada for more details.
Last year, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts adopted a green technology infrastructure and IT strategy.