Prevention of draughts and unwanted intake of outside air
Principle
Are you aware that nearly half of all energy consumed in a hotel is used for heating and cooling, and that a good deal of this energy is simply wasted? One way to avoid this waste is to make sure that air does not come in around doors and windows, and that entrance doors are not responsible for large energy losses.
Draught proofing of windows and doors (airtightness)
• Poorly installed doors and windows greatly increase heating and cooling bills, and can represent up to 20% of your heating and cooling costs!
• Solutions are relatively simple and not expensive. Foam, rubber, plastic weather stripping products are economical ways to address this problem.
Reducing energy losses via entrance doors
• Entrance doors are generally a source of significant energy losses in hotels because people come and go all day long. If you have observed that your entrance door stays open when heating or air conditioning is in operation, you can consider installing a door that closes automatically.
Explanations
Automatic doors can be a good solution for reducing energy losses at entrance doors.
An automatic door-closer can be a practical option.
• An air curtain can also be an worthwhile installation if you want to leave your door open.
An air curtain is not a physical barrier, but treats incoming air, and reduces the amount of hot air that escapes the building, improving comfort and saving energy.
With air curtains, hot or cold air stays inside.
Are you aware that nearly half of all energy consumed in a hotel is used for heating and cooling, and that a good deal of this energy is simply wasted? One way to avoid this waste is to make sure that air does not come in around doors and windows, and that entrance doors are not responsible for large energy losses.
Draught proofing of windows and doors (airtightness)
• Poorly installed doors and windows greatly increase heating and cooling bills, and can represent up to 20% of your heating and cooling costs!
• Solutions are relatively simple and not expensive. Foam, rubber, plastic weather stripping products are economical ways to address this problem.
Reducing energy losses via entrance doors
• Entrance doors are generally a source of significant energy losses in hotels because people come and go all day long. If you have observed that your entrance door stays open when heating or air conditioning is in operation, you can consider installing a door that closes automatically.
Automatic doors can be a good solution for reducing energy losses at entrance doors.
An automatic door-closer can be a practical option.
• An air curtain can also be an worthwhile installation if you want to leave your door open.
An air curtain is not a physical barrier, but treats incoming air, and reduces the amount of hot air that escapes the building, improving comfort and saving energy.
With air curtains, hot or cold air stays inside.
Recommendations regarding airtightness
• To be sure that your airtightness solutions are properly installed, it is best to hire a professional. Groups specialised in draught proofing work can help you find a qualified professional.
• You can also do the work yourself, with proper advice.
• Choose products that comply with quality standards (e.g. BS 7386 in the UK); they work better and last longer.
• Be sure not to block air vents designed to ensure building ventilation!
Recommendations for air curtains
• To guarantee optimum energy efficiency for your air curtain, make sure that the air current reaches the floor and spans the entire width of the doorway.
Implementation
0
Costs
Approx. costs (prices in the UK in 2009):
• Draught proofing ≈ €200 installed, and €100 if you do the work yourself
• Sliding glass door with insulated glazing ≈ €4,000 installed
• Automatic door closer ≈ €20
Approximate payback time:
• Draught proofing: <1-8 years
It should be noted that costs and payback times are highly dependent on the local setting and the initial situation of the hotel.
Examples
0
Benefits
Cost savings
Energy savings:
• Preventing draughts and unwanted intake of outside air helps retain heat in winter and coolness in summer, reducing heating and cooling needs.
Potential savings in heating and cooling costs depend on the circumstances of each hotel, but can reach 30% in some cases.
Improved comfort
Greater comfort in winter:
• Eliminating draughts is an easy way to make customers more comfortable. Draught proofing will help regulate indoor temperature and humidity throughout the year.
Reduced CO2 emissions
• For a hotel of 1,000 m² that uses 77.5 kWh/m² of natural gas heating annually, and applying emission factors for France, a 30% savings in energy consumption represents:
3.58 t CO2 eq of avoided emissions each year
Emission factors for electricity in France: 84.3 g CO2 / kWh.
Emission factors for natural gas in France: 331 g CO2 / kWh (Source: ADEME).
Constraints
Implementation:
• Ease of implementation: Easy (*) to moderate (**).
• Best time for implementation: at the time of facade renovation work.
• Relevant initial situation: the hotel has high heating or cooling needs, and draughts are observed around doors and windows, or the entrance door lets in a great deal of outside air.