Even five star hotels need help

The Middle East business intelligence website, Zawya, provides information on upgrading one of Paris’ hotel gems, the Four Seasons George V.

Four Seasons George V looks to Energy Efficiency Group for Energy Efficiency advice

EEG (Energy Efficiency Group), an energy services provider (an ESCO) in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, continues to expand its already impressive portfolio in energy auditing prestigious properties in the global hospitality sector with the completion of its latest audit, for the Four Seasons George V in Paris. This was EEG’s first audit in France, and was a result of EEG’s successful audits for the Four Seasons Hotels in Beirut and Marrakech. If all of EEG’s recommendations are implemented, the energy savings could top €420,000 annually.

Built in 1928 in the typical art deco style of the period, the George V is one of Paris’ landmark buildings, offering over 240 guest rooms within a built up area of 36,000m² . The hotel uses both Paris District Cooling and Heating networks in order to maximise commercial usage of its own building space, which is a crucial factor in such a historical property.

The Four Seasons George V has consistently been voted one of the best hotels in the world and prides itself on both the outstanding building and the unparalleled F&B services. EEG therefore faced many challenges in undertaking the energy audit of such a historic building – not least in managing the thin line between maximising energy efficiency whilst allowing the hotel to maintain the luxury service that guests expect, in addition to the very restricted technical spaces available.

The three-month energy audit was carried out at the end of 2012 with the assistance of the in-house engineering department, and included a 360 degree review of all utilities used in the property (i.e. electricity, chilled water, hot water, water and gas). The final report, which has just been delivered, included a long list of Energy Efficiency Measures ranging from renegotiating some utility contracts to low cost measures and high CAPEX based ones. If all energy efficiency measures were implemented, they would deliver some impressive results: a 21 percent reduction in the electrical energy consumption with a total cost saving in excess of €120,000; and a more than 40 percent reduction in its thermal energy (cooling and heating), with ROIs between 0.5 and 3.5 years and a total cost saving in excess of €300,000. Even the zero CAPEX/no cost measures alone would provide annual savings in excess of €40,000.

Following the audit, EEG is continuing to work with The Four Seasons George V management to ensure the appropriate implementation of the chosen energy efficiency measures.

Speaking about the energy audit, Ronald Diab, Managing Director of EEG, said “It was a great privilege to work in such a historical and prestigious hotel. EEG is establishing itself on the global hospitality map as an expert in the energy audit field and I am delighted that our first audit in France was for The Four Seasons George V. The results have shown that even with a hotel that has to maintain the highest level of services, 24 hours a day, there are still huge savings to be made – which is good news for both the hotel’s bottom line and the environment. We look forward to working with the hotel’s management over the next few months to put our recommendations into practice.”

EEG is currently working on Energy Audits for further Four Seasons’ properties globally, and the results will be reported in the coming months.