Window Film Cuts High-Rise Hotel’s HVAC Costs by Nearly One-Quarter

The high utility bills were diverting resources the hotel uses to offer best-in-class service and amenities to guests.

“Most solar films are great at blocking solar energy from entering a building in the summer, but they do very little to keep the cold out in the winter,” says Ric SanDoval, senior vice president at Green Generation Solutions. “Because EnerLogic® improves the insulation of the window, it also keeps the heat in during the winter months. This creates year-round savings and improves occupant comfort.”

During window film installation, GGS engineers also installed an extensive sub-metering system to monitor energy use in 96 rooms (48 rooms with window film, and 48 rooms without window film).

“Real-time energy meters have never been used to monitor this kind of energy use and savings on such a large scale,” says Steve DeBusk, global energy solutions manager for window films at Eastman. “The study was the first of its kind to directly measure the energy saved through window film installation alone.”

The rooms with window film showed a reduction of 23% in cooling energy use and 25% in heating energy, according to the comparative sub-meter data. Using national average installation costs, and taking into account for an energy efficiency rebate provided by the local utility, these energy savings provided a payback on the hotel’s investment in 3.6 years, or an ROI of 28% per year.

“The Hyatt staff and the ownership group are extremely pleased with this solution,” says SanDoval. “They believe the exterior aesthetics of the hotel are greatly improved because it’s a more uniform look from window to window; guest comfort complaints are also down, and the energy savings are making the asset manager really happy.”

 

Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With a portfolio of specialty businesses, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. Its market-driven approaches take advantage of world-class technology platforms and leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. Eastman focuses on creating consistent, superior value for all stakeholders. As a globally diverse company, Eastman serves customers in approximately 100 countries and had 2012 pro forma combined revenues, giving effect to the Solutia acquisition, of approximately $9.1 billion. The company is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA and employs approximately 14,000 people around the world. For more info, visit www.eastman.com.