Waikiki hotels focus on green initiatives
October 31, 2008
More hotels in Waikiki are seeing reasons to go green as a way to cut back on energy costs, plus get some good publicity.
Savvy travelers are also beginning to inquire about it, including events planners who ask about whether a hotel has the U.S. Energy Star rating.
At the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, energy-efficient LED lights are used in public areas, candelabras, swimming pool, and elevators, reducing the hotel’s overall electricity costs.
At a green hotel forum hosted by the state yesterday morning at the Hyatt, hotel employees got a rundown on recycling providers, how to apply for the U.S. Energy Star label and solar technology.
Hawai’i Green Business Program Expands to Include Office and Retail Recognition
August 13, 2008
HONOLULU–The Hawai‘i Green Business Program, co-sponsored by the State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), the State Department of Health (DOH), Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i and local government entities such as the City and County of Honolulu’s Board of Water Supply and Recycling Offices is expanding its program to include Green Offices and Retail businesses.
mbbEMS Launches Industry First – Hotel Wireless Energy Management System
July 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2008
Honolulu, Hawaii – Today mbbEMS founder, Daniel Cowart announced “mbbEMS provides an affordable solution to help both old and new high-rise hotels and condominiums survive the growing energy crisis. Our new mbbEMS wireless solution installs quickly, with little or no interruption to the property or guests daily activities, and virtually no down time for rooms during installation. When completed mbbEMS provides a web-based management system which allows control of the hotel EMS system from any authorized browser.”
A typical hotel room installation takes about an hour and includes a door contact on the entrance door and the lanai (balcony) door, an occupancy sensor and a thermostat. The thermostat is hard-wired to the fan coil unit (FCU) in each room. These are battery operated wireless devices. This creates the Control Mesh segment of the network.
Air conditioners can automatically cut back when lanai doors are open, and return to the original setting when these doors are closed. Lights and air conditioners can cut back and even the drapes can be closed, when the room is vacant. These are basic electricity saving programs for rooms. Common area spaces can also have their electrical use optimized.
Each hotel room is then connected to a floor controller that manages each device. Please note that rooms can continue to function if the floor controller goes offline. Each controller is then connected to the Hotel Site Server via the Management Mesh segment of the network. Among other benefits, you can easily tell if the systems are working.
The mbbEMS wireless system is able to cut installation costs by avoiding cumbersome cabling and coring. Prior systems were not only costly but very intrusive to the property and its guests. Hence, mbbEMS is The way to Eco.
There is a new paradigm: the cost and inconvenience of installing an EMS system have been substantially reduced at the same time that the cost of energy is soaring. The net result is that there is now more than ever an undeniable need to implement an EMS system. For the hotel that has a stand-alone or outdated EMS system with no central management, mbbEMS is a solid alternative to augment EMS efforts. Industry reports state that a centrally managed EMS system could result in savings topping 40%. If you have over 1,000 rooms, that is a lot of savings!
The mbbEMS approach is simple and straightforward. The first step is to quick profile the hotel, then perform a site survey. An information analysis is done to calculate projected savings, and the scope of work to be performed. The mbbEMS system design is tailored for the property based on building and environment attributes such as type of construction and existing wireless interference. Then a final contract is signed which includes an installation schedule.
In some cases mbbEMS can finance the installation making the system initially FREE with payback occurring through shared cost savings. There are also leasing programs available.
Visit mbbEMS.com.previewsdns.com (Soon to be mbbEMS.com) to learn more, or contact us at TheWayToEco@mbbinc.net 808.922.5200.
Major Hawaii Hotels Strike Up New Smoking Ban Policy
June 20, 2008
WAIKIKI - Hawaii hotels are hitting smokers hard in their wallets when it comes to lighting up where they shouldn’t and many couldn’t be happier about this tougher stance on smokers.
Exploring Hawaii’s Big Island by Volkswagen
June 20, 2008
Next time you visit the Big Island, why not skip the fancy resort and hop in a VW camper van?
This 1987 Volkswagen Westfalia named Sedona rents for $105 per day.
Green strategies take root at Hawaii’s big hotel chains
June 19, 2008
Hawaii hotels and resorts have worked for years to cut down their consumption of power and water and reduce their production of waste, to save money but also to save the planet.
Now those efforts are drawing new attention from vacationers self-conscious about their impact on Earth’s fragile biosphere.
"It’s a real sexy and chic trend right now, almost front and center," said Brad Garner, vice president of operations and client services for Smith Travel Research, a Tennessee firm that provides industry data to Hawaii hotels. "Everyone is concerned with the environment and having a lower carbon footprint."
But as "green" programs proliferate in the hotel industry, Garner and others say consumers are smart enough to figure out what’s truly helping the environment and what’s merely a marketing campaign.
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