Atlanta � Sept. 24, 2003 � The U.S. hotel industry continues to reel from an economy that�s promising recovery, but isn�t doing so. At the same time, global events continue to put a damper on travel and tourism and, more recently, are manifesting themselves in higher energy prices. With revenues down and energy costs up, this double whammy begs the question: Could there be a more appropriate time for hotel operators to be looking at effective energy management systems for their properties? Not to Sharad J. Kadakia, a Southern California-based hotel operator who�s recently installed the Onity / Senercomm® energy management system in one of his hotels, and will be doing the same at his other properties in the near future. Kadakia, President and C.E.O. of Green Investments, owns eight hotels
in California, Arizona and Utah, representing three brands�Super 8 (one
hotel), Best Western (three) and Motel 6 (two). Two of his hotels are independents.
Kadakia began with his Super 8 Motel, installing the Onity / Senercomm®
system there less than a year ago. He said he is more than pleased
with his decision.
Even rented rooms are actually occupied less than 10 hours a day, and without an effective energy management system, energy costs can skyrocket when those rooms� HVAC levels are set to the guest�s desired settings even when the guest is gone. With the Onity / Senercomm® system, sensors detect the guest�s absence and automatically return the room�s HVAC unit to their preset economical temperature setbacks. When the guest returns, the units kick in to quickly return the room to the guest�s desired comfort zone. Given that industry statistics show that HVAC systems account for 85 percent of a guestroom�s energy consumption, it�s obvious that saving on guestroom energy costs has to start with HVAC�and, thus, with an effective guestroom energy management system. In addition to having an immediate positive impact on energy costs, an effective energy management system can pay for itself in a relatively short period of time. Greg Plank, president of Worldwide Travel Marketing, an Atlanta-based technology and operations consulting firm, says that what energy management systems can save owners in energy costs can pay for the systems themselves in as little as 18 to 24 months. �My take on the energy picture for hotels is that it�s almost essential
to have an effective guestroom energy-management system installed,� Plank
said. �Not only do energy prices continue to rise, but environmental regulations
are becoming more stringent�and I don�t see these trends being reversed
any time soon.�
�We feel that especially with our hotels in California, where energy
is such a major issue, the high cost of energy is going to be with us for
a long time,� he says. �For that reason, and because we�re so pleased with
our experiences with Onity�s Senercomm® system installed in our Super
8, we�ve decided to go ahead and install Senercomm in our three Best Westerns
as the next step in our company�s energy/cost savings campaign. We are
extremely happy with the performance of Onity�s products and with the quality
of their service.�
For more information on Senercomm products and services, contact Larry
Gomez, at (561) 775-9889, Ext. 217, [email protected],
or visit www.onity.biz, or contact Laura
R. Acuña, Onity Global Product Manager, at
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Onity
(formerly TESA Entry Systems, Inc.), the leading global provider of electronic
locking systems, offers innovative technological solutions and services
for the Hospitality, Corporate, Education, Government and Marine markets.
The company�s ever-expanding family of electronic solutions today includes
electronic locks, related smartcard solutions, in-room safes, closed circuit
television surveillance systems, and Senercomm energy management solutions.
Onity has R&D and manufacturing operations in Spain, Mexico and the
U.S., as well as an extensive sales and service network that spans more
than 115 countries around the globe. With innovative solutions specially
designed to meet clients� changing needs, Onity continues to provide real
progress � technological advancements in facility management and maintenance
for unparalleled convenience and time and cost savings.