Measures to enhance value and reduce costs in the hotel sector
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[Translate to English:]
Dekarbonisierung in der Hotellerie
- Das Problem: Heizung, Kühlung und Lüftung verursachen bis zu 50 % der Hotel-Betriebskosten. Steigende CO₂-Preise und hohe energetische Grundlasten bei geringer Auslastung bedrohen die Gewinnmargen.
- Lösung für Eigentümer (baulich): Der Umstieg auf regenerative Multiquellen-Systeme (Groß-Wärmepumpen, PV/PVT, Erdsonden) koppelt Immobilien von fossilen Märkten ab und sichert langfristig den Marktwert.
- Lösung für Betreiber (minimalinvestiv): Intelligente Gebäudeleittechnik, Smart-Room-Tech und Echtzeit-Monitoring senken die Verbrauchskosten schon im ersten Jahr um 15 % bis 25 % – ganz ohne bauliche Eingriffe.
- Der Spagat: Moderne Steuerung und Abwärmenutzung senken Kosten radikal, ohne den gewohnten Komfort für die Hotelgäste einzuschränken.
Challenges in the Hotel Industry
Heating and ventilation account for the largest share of energy consumption, followed by kitchens, cooling, and laundry—often representing 30–50% of total operating costs. Without countermeasures, volatile energy prices and rising CO₂ costs threaten not only to reduce margins but potentially to endanger business viability.
To achieve long-term economic stability, it is essential to become as independent as possible from gas and oil markets. Renewable multi-source systems—such as heat pumps combined with photovoltaic (PV) or photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems—reduce these dependencies and create long-term cost predictability.
The key challenges hotels must address in the face of rising energy costs include:
- Rapidly increasing operating costs: Electricity, gas, and heat are often the largest cost factors, with no clear sign of price stabilization.
- Rising CO₂ pricing in the EU: Regulatory increases (e.g. €55 per tonne from 2025) further increase the cost of fossil fuels such as gas and heating oil.
- High energy demand: Hotels require large amounts of energy for heating, cooling, and hot water—especially in facilities with pools.
- Constant base load despite low occupancy: Core energy demands (heating, ventilation, cooling) remain high even when rooms are unoccupied, increasing costs per guest.
- Investment backlog: Many hotels urgently need to modernize heating systems, insulation, and control technologies.
- Operator structure: Only about half of hotel operators also own the property, limiting influence over major structural investments.
- Balancing comfort and savings: Cost-saving measures (e.g. lower pool temperatures or reduced room cleaning) must not negatively impact guest satisfaction.
- Reduced margins and price competition: Rising costs can only partially be passed on to guests, putting profitability at risk.
Structural Solutions – Investments for Hotel Owners
As energy costs for electricity, heating, and hot water represent a significant share of total expenses, energy efficiency is becoming a critical competitive factor for the hospitality sector.
One key approach is the use of on-site renewable energy. Upgrading the building envelope and switching to renewable systems such as photovoltaic installations or heat pumps can significantly reduce long-term dependence on fossil fuels. Large-scale heat pump systems efficiently provide heating, hot water, and cooling using renewable sources such as PV/PVT, geothermal probes, or river water.
In kitchens and wellness areas, modern heat recovery systems can reuse waste heat from refrigeration systems or saunas to heat water, further improving overall efficiency.
Holistic Energy Solutions with goodmen energy
Whether for existing buildings, new developments, or integration into district energy networks: goodmen energy develops customized, holistic solutions. The process begins with a detailed analysis of requirements, followed by the design of an efficient and economically optimized system. This includes the integration of waste heat, passive cooling strategies, and water hygiene considerations.
In addition, intelligent storage and load management ensure stable operating costs, while targeted funding advisory services maximize access to subsidies from programs such as KfW and BAFA.
Energy Efficiency Measures – Also Relevant for Operators and Hotel Chains
Even without major structural investments, hotels can significantly reduce energy consumption.
Building automation systems and real-time monitoring enable intelligent control of heating, ventilation, and hot water—without requiring structural changes. Automation, optimized consumption control, water hygiene measures, and maintenance management deliver immediate results at relatively low cost.
Savings of 15–25% in energy consumption costs are often achievable within the first year, with many measures implemented in just a few weeks.
Hotels can introduce detailed digital monitoring systems to identify hidden “energy drains,” such as outdated minibars or inefficient ventilation systems.
Smart room technologies, which automatically switch off heating and lighting when guests leave their rooms, also contribute significantly to energy savings.
Finally, both staff and guests can be actively engaged through transparency and incentive systems, encouraging a more conscious use of resources in everyday operations.
goodmen energy as a Partner for the Hospitality Industry
Daily hotel operations are fast-paced, and technical managers are often operating at the limits of their capacity. At the same time, the pressure to implement energy-saving and cost-reducing measures continues to grow.
With goodmen energy as a partner, hotel owners and operators receive comprehensive support—from tailored energy concepts to implementation and commissioning, including smart monitoring and contracting solutions. All measures are designed with economic viability in mind and adapted to ongoing operations.
Depending on financial feasibility, measures can also be implemented step by step—for example, through a structured ten-year plan.
As a member of the Hotel Competence Centre (HKZ), goodmen energy collaborates with a strong partner network to best address the specific needs of hotel clients. you can find us on the HKZ-website/partners (external link).
Our focus: economically viable, eligible for funding, and future-proof.
See also our flyer – there you can find lots of relevant information for you for a first overview.