ALL SEASONS KALGOORLIE HOTEL

Kalgoorlie hotel saves water and gas.

The All Seasons Plaza Hotel Kalgoorlie is part of the Accor Asia Pacific group of hotels and resorts and one of the company's 13 properties that participated in a water saving and energy efficiency retrofit program in 2003. The retrofit involved the installation of water flow control devices to sections of the hotel's hydraulic systems and proved to be a cost effective energy saving exercise.

The main parameter driving the initiative was the aim of improving the hotel's water efficiency while improving an already relatively energy efficient hotel. But, regardless of what changes were made, it was important that the hotel's guests didn't notice any reduction in comfort levels related to showering or other bathroom facilities.

Significant water savings were achieved by the installation of a product called "Aqualoc" which was installed into all tapware - hot and cold - within the hotel.

"The Aqualoc is very effective in reducing water use", said Ian Knox, Director of Hotel fm, the energy management company hired to identify and initiate water saving initiatives for the Kalgoorlie hotel.

"A normal showerhead, for example, can use 18 litres per minute. The Aqualoc can be fitted to reduce water flow rates to 6, 9, or 12 litres per minute with minimal loss of showering comfort. The product also provides maintenance benefits as it's made from brass so leaks are greatly reduced."

THE RESULTS

Water

Water consumption was reduced by 26% or 3243 KL per annum.


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Gas Energy

Gas related energy consumption reduced by approximately 14% or 129 gigajoules per annum.


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The Benefits

- The initiative was very economic, costing only $5500 and delivering a payback within 8 months.
- Significant maintenance benefits have also resulted with plumbing tapware-related maintenance costs having been reduced by 90% throughout the 13 hotels involved in the retrofit program.
- Water consumption in 2005 was reduced by a further 19% as a result of greater awareness by hotel management and staff.
- The benefit of such technology systems yield both water and energy reductions while maintaining customer comfort levels.

The Future

Ian Knox says the next step will be to constantly track and maintain the system to maximize the water and energy benefits achieved as a result of the retrofit.

"This project shows that you can be green and be profitable at the same time," he added.