Success Story: Hotels

I. CUSTOMER ENVIRONMENT / PROJECT CONTEXT

Customer profile:

Originally constructed in 1982 and previously known as the Regent Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney has continued to evolve and develop to remain one of the city's premium hotels. Centrally located at 140 George Street, the Four Seasons Hotel comprises 410 guest rooms and 121 suites across 34 floors of luxury accommodation. In 2008, the hotel underwent a $16 million refurbishment to update its look and at the same time improve its environmental practices.

AGL Energy is Australia's largest integrated renewable energy company. As part of AGL Energy's ongoing relationship with the Four Seasons Hotel and hotel owners Eureka Funds Management, AGL Energy undertook a detailed lighting energy efficiency audit in the hotel's back of house areas, comprising offices, kitchen and underground car park.

Customer objective and constraints:

An important consideration was that appropriate lighting levels and uniformity were not compromised during the upgrade. The scoping and works included lighting design considerations and the commissioning consisted of inspection of all areas, including light level testing and verification.

II. SOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION

Implementation methodology (main phases):

The energy audit indentified a number of lighting measures, which could significantly reduce energy consumption. Schneider Electric was selected by AGL Energy as its implementation partner to deliver the complete lighting solution for this project.

Solution overview (services, products, systems, architectures...):

The project measures generally fell into the following categories:

• Replacement of compact fluorescent light fittings with more efficient fittings (two tube fittings were replaced with more efficient single tube fittings).
• Re-lamping of fittings with more efficient lamps and/or lower light output as appropriate.
• Installation of voltage reduction devices on car park lighting circuits.
• Replacement of magnetic ballasts with more effi cient electronic ballasts.
• Removal of one tube, in double tube fittings, in areas with excessive light levels.
• Installation of new lighting fittings comprising single lamp, professional electronic ballast with constant lamp power output, KW/2 optically engineered specular reflector and low glare diffuser in certain locations, replacing twin lamp fixtures.

How did we estimate the energy savings (methodology, tools, ...)

• Energy audit implemented by our partner Schneider Electric, including proposal of lighting measures with quantification of savings.

III. RESULTS / ACHIEVEMENT

Customer benefits:

A single partner for energy efficency audit

The expertise of the market leader

Energy savings

Electricity usage would be reduced by 255,685 kWh per annum, while greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 271 tonnes.
At the same time energy cost savings were measured at $32,983 per annum and maintenance cost savings of $5,964 were estimated for the same period.
In addition to the energy savings and environmental benefits, the overall lighting quality and uniformity in these areas was much improved.

The facts
Annual energy savings : 255,685 kWh

Annual greenhouse gas savings : 271 tonnes

Annual energy cost savings : $32,983

Maintenance cost savings : $5,964

Overall project cost : $77,950

Simple payback : 2 years