Today’s hoteliers face a multitude of challenges for owning and operating their properties. While summer travel continues, so do expenses—especially energy and labor, typically the two largest line items in the operational budget. Let’s discover how smart thermostats for hotels can help hoteliers save.
Automation technology has shown clear potential for savings, but with staff already stretched thin, the idea of implementing something new can feel daunting. Who will manage it? How much time will it take? Will it actually be worth it in terms of time savings and ROI? Will it negatively impact the guest experience?
One automation solution that’s proving to deliver unquestionable value, ROI and guest satisfaction is a Wi-Fi-enabled Energy Management Systems (EMS). These network-connected EMS solutions aren’t your average thermostat. Designed specifically for commercial-grade hospitality use, EMS platforms not only help lower energy consumption and cost, but also reduce staff burden and ensure guest comfort and satisfaction— many now with a payback period of under 2 years.
The Advantages of Smart Thermostats for Hotels
The latest EMS solutions for guest room units can integrate with existing hotel Wi-Fi infrastructure, Property Management Systems (PMS), and are cloud-connected. This connectivity provides for better monitoring and control, along with a host of features and capabilities that streamline operations.
- Undeniable energy savings. By automating temperature control in each room, digital EMS reduces the power consumption of HVAC units by reducing runtime of units when a room is unoccupied, and even more during periods when a room is unrented. With a cloud native approach to monitoring and management, it is possible for owners and management groups to see exactly how much energy is being saved across an entire portfolio. Furthermore, today’s smart thermostats for hotels can be easily deployed as battery powered or wired to power, and can simplify retrofit projects to move the controls from the HVAC unit at the window to a more convenient location in the room.
- Operational efficiency. When an online EMS integrates with your PMS, it can automatically adjust room temperature at check-out and return to a target setpoint upon the next guest check-in. As soon as a room is assigned, the EMS can kick on the HVAC system to begin warming or cooling the room, so that by the time the guest opens the door, it’s at or near to the ideal temperature. The system can be programmed to monitor guest behavior and make incremental adjustments to optimize temperature based on occupancy.
- Staff productivity. By automating the system to integrate with PMS check-out and check-in, staff can focus on their primary role and not be required to remember to change temperatures. When a staff forgets to change the room temperature, the settings could be maintained for days, needlessly wasting energy and money. And when the temperature is manually adjusted to save energy, the next guest arrives at a room that may be too warm or too cold. A digital EMS can streamline the housekeeping protocol and eliminate this task (and the risk they’ll forget) from staff To Do lists. In addition, an EMS can be used to monitor HVAC units and alert staff to conduct preventative maintenance, such as notices when a particular room HVAC unit is having trouble achieving a target temperature, even after hours of running.
- Easy, low-cost installation.You can begin transitioning your property to an advanced EMS solution even with offline or stand-alone thermostats that aren’t network-connected. These systems offer a low-cost entry point, typically under $200 per in-room unit, and can be later upgraded to connect with existing Wi-Fi and PMS using on-premises and cloud connectors. This phased approach is ideal for new construction, as contractors are primarily focused on meeting basic code requirements for occupancy and installing thermostats. In many cases, these offline treatments, with future PMS capabilities, are more affordable than those specified in building plans and can be installed the same way. As the hotel nears opening and the Wi-Fi network is in place, the same hardware can be brought online to deliver added value through PMS integration at check-in and check-out. With potential energy savings of $14 per room per month or more, the systems can pay for themselves in a very short time.
- Rebates and Tax Credits. Many utility providers offer rebates or credits for hoteliers to install EMS thermostats, which also can reduce the capital investment and further accelerate ROI payback. There are also potential tax benefits that can be explored with these investments.
- Minimal hands-on management. Your staff already has enough on their plates—they don’t need thermostat troubles piled on. Because digital EMS are network connected, they can be remotely monitored, accessed and serviced by off-site tech support. This can reduce the requirements onsite to manage a separate network system and equipment, and staff can focus on guest service, creating lower burden for onsite IT support.
- Consistent guest experience. Ultimately, this matters most. A digital EMS ensures automatic room comfort without requiring guests to struggle to get the temperature just right throughout their stay. With connectivity to the PMS, guestrooms can be adjusted to provide a comfortable room upon the guest arrival.
Future-ready solution with fast ROI
Modern EMS solutions, like smart thermostats for hotels, can save independent hoteliers on energy usage and staff labor, but also provide future opportunities to leverage cloud computing and artificial intelligence to further optimize HVAC efficiency. As cloud-native EMS technologies grow and become more advanced, properties can even use these solutions to incorporate alternative energy and demand response that increase savings and ROI even more. Why not future-proof the next system you consider for your property with a platform ready to adapt to and implement the changing technologies available?
If you’re looking for compatibility with existing hardware, Wi-Fi networks, and built-in security, digital EMS solutions provide a low-cost, easy-to-install-and-upgrade way for any size hotel to save money, enhance operations and ensure guest satisfaction and loyalty. Got questions about the right upgrades for your property? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Jeff Johns is Global VP of EMS Business Development for Nomadix, an ASSA ABLOY company. Johns has over 20 years of experience in hospitality technology and providing consultative design for energy management systems for guest room automation for hospitality, casino, and other markets. He’s responsible for the Nomadix EMS Solution and works closely with Engineering and IT partners to specify product requirements and configurations for a select channel of strategic partners.