The InterContinental Madrid hotel has been a favorite among travelers for 70 years. The hotel management was eager to improve the old building\u2019s sustainability, but they felt strongly that any changes shouldn\u2019t compromise convenience or comfort for guests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The management conducted an energy efficiency audit with Exel Industrial \u2013 an ABB Value Provider. It revealed that the most significant consumers of power within the hotel were the eight pumps that supply the HVAC system and provide hot water to guest rooms. Working with experts from ABB, hotel management decided to replace them with 16 higher-efficiency electric motors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new pump motors were paired with 13 ABB ACH550 variable speed drives (VSDs) designed for HVAC applications. They enable more precise operation and save power any time the motor is not running at full speed. The motor-drive packages are also quieter and more reliable than the old motors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These upgrades to the hotel heating and cooling systems, combined with an intelligent motion solution, reduced energy use by 445,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually \u2013 a 40 percent decrease. This huge saving has a significant impact on the hotel\u2019s operating costs, cutting its annual energy spending by approximately $37,000. As a result, the upgrades paid for themselves in under two years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more energy-efficient hotel exceeded InterContinental\u2019s objectives, eliminating the equivalent of 253 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Esteban Rodriguez, Chief Engineer of the InterContinental Hotel Madrid, explains: \u201cInterContinental is very interested in increasing the sustainability of the chain through the Green Engage program. In this program, all the hotels aim to achieve higher levels of sustainability.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enrique Bernard Lillo, Quality and Financial Manager of Exel Industrial, adds: \u201cDuring this fieldwork, we observed that decreasing the frequency of the motor by 10 percent would produce energy savings of 40 percent.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n