Feb. 29, 2012: Study Says Misconceptions Deter Hoteliers From Investing in Energy Management
PALATINE, Ill. — Investments in energy efficiency initiatives in four- and five-star United States hotels are impacted by concerns from hoteliers about building automation systems around initial costs and the perception that energy management systems will result in a negative guest experience, according to a survey by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Harrah Hotel College and Cannon Survey Center. The study was commissioned by Schneider Electric.
The independent survey of approximately 100 C-level hotel executives, general managers, and lead facility engineers sought to understand the current level of awareness around energy management opportunities and solutions at four- and five-star hotel properties in the U.S. The findings revealed that while close to half of respondents (48 percent) cite environmental considerations, 62 percent state the initial cost and 59 percent cite payback period as factors in energy management investment, the most critical factor is guest comfort and satisfaction, with 92 percent of respondents citing it as “extremely important.”