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Greening Windsor hotels with new ORHMA pilot project
Hotel managers, L to R, Cristina Poljak, Sabrina Green, Barry Tunks and Shelley McIndoo, meet in one of the Windsor Holiday Inn Select’s new eco-friendly amphitheatres.
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WINDSOR, ON—Hospitality industry leaders in Windsor are going to be seeing some green despite the down-turn in the economy. EnWin Utilities is introducing Green Suites, a pilot energy conservation incentive program for hotels and motels this summer. With hoteliers seeking ways to reduce overhead costs as they are confronted with lower occupancy rates and higher fixed costs, green practices afford some relief from the negative impact of the current recession.
Green Suites will be officially launched at the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) special meeting to be held in Windsor on June 18th. Hoteliers will be invited to learn about the new technologies that are now being made available to their business sector; ones that will yield energy savings as well as overhead cost reductions.
ORHMA members will receive training on how to apply for incentives as well as how to submit program applications to meet Green Suites requirements.
Successful applicants who take part in the program by choosing to retrofit their properties and replacing old electrical equipment for newer, more efficient models will receive cash incentives of up to $250 for every kilowatt saved as a result. Incentives available are prescriptive electrical measures including lights, motors, fans, HVAC, and custom alternative measures such as solar thermal water heaters and energy star kitchen equipment.
EnWin has identified the need to respond to Windsor’s hospitality industry with an energy conservation program that is tailored to their specific business needs. Through funding from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and in partnership with the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, EnWin Utilities will set the standard for an innovative energy conservation program that is vertical specific, and will be replicated throughout the province of Ontario in the coming years.
“EnWin has offered the Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program (ERIP) for two years in the city of Windsor, and less than five per cent of all applications come from the hotel industry. It was evident to me that a specialized program would have to be developed in order to educate and meet the needs of our hotel customers. EnWin was approved by the OPA custom program application process to offer the Green Suites Pilot Program in Windsor, and we are looking forward to success.” says Lawrence Musyj, EnWin’s director of conservation and energy management.
Green Suites differs from other conservation program models by offering educational opportunities to the hotel and motel operators. An Energy Efficiency Expo slated for September will provide key hotel staff with an opportunity to observe new technologies and interact with manufacturers to gain greater insight on equipment functionality and how it applies specifically to the lodging industry. The project team will also work closely with the ORHMA members to help avoid or overcome barriers along the way.
“We expect industry leaders will be eager to participate in the Green Suites incentive program and we are pleased to be able to support a program that will help keep our tourism industry competitive during the economic downturn,” said Victoria Zuber, chief financial officer of EnWin Utilities. “The long-term benefit of investing in energy efficient upgrades improves operating performance and property value.”
The tourism industry in Windsor employs over 20,000 local people and supports 41 hotel and motel properties, according to Tony Elenis, president and CEO of ORHMA. Developing policies that will mitigate job loss and save on overhead expenditure is essential for the hotel and motel industry and those employed by it. Adopting energy efficient policies and practices is a manageable way to resist the economic downturn while investing in existing infrastructure.
“Since 2006 we have been making changes to our practices,” states Lynnette Bain, general manager of Holiday Inn Select, the first Four Green Key Rated hotel in Windsor. “We have watched the trends in the buying decisions of our customers and it is clear that the environment has become a priority for them. We have a number of retrofit items in place including collecting rainwater, installing compact fluorescent bulbs in all our rooms, converting the pool to salt water, and we are investigating installing solar panels. We are really looking forward to working with Green Suites to help us make these changes happen a little bit more quickly.”
She adds, “The staff and management here are all enthusiastic about our goal to be the greenest hotel in Windsor. It is our responsibility to the community and the environment to reduce our carbon footprint, and make wise energy choices. We’re saving the environment while at the same time we’re reducing operating costs. This is good news — particularly during an economic downturn.”
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