Newly implemented Aircosaver
technology reduces total energy consumption by 20% per unit; six participating
properties realise cumulative saving of approximately AED 222,000 on electricity
UAE-headquartered hospitality company, TIME Hotels
Management has partnered with energy services company Smart4Power to roll out a
new corporate initiative aimed at reducing
energy use at a number of its UAE properties.
Spearheaded
by Gaetan Lavoie, TIME Hotels’ Corporate
Director of Technical Services, Smart4Power was commissioned to conduct an
initial energy audit, which revealed that window and split
air-conditioners were responsible for roughly 60% of total energy consumption
and associated electricity bills at the company’s six Dubai and Sharjah-based
properties.
In
order to address this high level of consumption and determine a more
sustainable and cost-effective alternative, TIME charged Smart4Power with
responsibility for testing the latest
generation Aircosaver technology, which improves the energy efficiency of
existing A/C units.
“The
results of the testing showed that implementation of the Aircosaver technology
could reduce the energy consumption of each unit by 20%; and that translated into
an extremely feasible payback period of just 16 months. To date, we have
installed Aircosaver at the TIME Grand Plaza, TIME Oak Hotel and Suites, TIME
Opal, TIME Crystal, TIME Topaz and Oak Villas & Residence sites,” said
Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels.
Aircosaver
employs a smart control device that optimises the operation of the compressors
in direct expansion air conditioners, which include window, ductless and ducted
split, and package unit types.
We constantly try to achieve further energy savings, and are
identifying ways to improve the energy efficiency of the chiller system, which
is the main cooling source for the hotel properties. Lavoie stated “Specific
solutions under evaluation include implementation of a chiller plant management
system, and an evaporative cooling wet wall system. Combined, these
improvements could save as much as 30% of the properties energy consumption”.
“TIME
Hotels has a top-down commitment to supporting sustainable initiatives both
from an operational perspective as well as within local communities. Our
growing reputation as a ‘green’ market leader is something we work extremely
hard to maintain – and develop – and we also want to ensure the buy-in of our
employees and guests across the group,” added Awadalla.
TIME
Hotels’ official company policy includes a dedicated environmental section with
listed and time-linked priorities such as the reduction or elimination of
pollution through enhanced preventive maintenance, the effective use of
environmentally friendly materials, and the reduction of utilities usage
through the effective implementation of best practices.
In
addition, two of its busiest properties, the flagship TIME Oak Hotel &
Suites and TIME Grand Plaza Hotel are both international Green Globe certified.
Photo caption: (From L-R) Frederic Cantin, Energy Conservation
Executive, Smart4Power; Gaetan Lavoie, Corporate Director of Technical Services,
TIME Hotels; Andreas
Kolb, Co-Managing Director, Smart4Power.
