A Market-Based Approach to Energy Efficiency in Hospitality

Panel: Commercial Buildings: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Authors:
Mindy Guilfoyle, Focus on Energy / Franklin Energy
Matthew Matenaer, Focus on Energy / Franklin Energy

Abstract

The hospitality industry is a complex market with an intricate structure of owner/management companies, brand and franchisees and range in customer size. A team-based initiative targeting the hospitality industry began in Wisconsin in late 2004.

Considering market-based characteristics the team created tools and promoted technologies specifically targeted for hospitality in order to meet savings goals while providing opportunities for the industry to internalize practices for sustainable savings. Several of the key technology and educational elements of Focus on Energy's hospitality initiative will be highlighted and their effectiveness discussed. Also included is a discussion of the benefits of local and national partnerships.

In the four years since the market-based initiative began, the hospitality team achieved energy savings of 6080 kW, 30.3 million kWh and 1.5 million therms. The success of the hospitality efficiency program is not only due to the program's offerings, but also to partnerships with customers that engaged in the program. Examples of a few successful partnerships and how the customers have capitalized on their participation with the hospitality initiative are highlighted in case studies.