SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS ZERO IN ON NET ZERO


The Antarctic has recorded a new record temperature of 18.3˚C, highlighting the intensifying climate crisis. With the effects of global warming becoming more evident, it is incumbent on governments, global business and industry to drive urgent action and deliver solutions. Without this, Net Zero carbon targets set for 2050 will not be met and the damage to our planet will be irreversible. The architecture, engineering and construction industry therefore has a huge task on its hands – reaching


client and local community needs while simultaneously meeting ambitious sustainability requirements before it’s too late. Simon Gill, hotels and leisure business leader, Arup, comments


T


he hospitality sector is a particularly energy-intensive arena, accounting for


roughly 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and this is putting great pressure on the sector to lead the way in sustainable practices. The good news is that the space is ripe for engineering innovation to help optimise operations in ways that can really make a difference in the global fight against climate change. To investigate how the sector can bring about


improved sustainability, Arup has co-authored the ‘Transforming Existing Hotels to Net Zero’ report. This has been produced in partnership with international property consultancy Gleeds, global hospitality company IHG, and energy management and automation specialist Schneider Electric. As part of this research, we drew on a real-life


test premises case study to examine ways to decarbonise existing hotels and drive operational energy to net zero carbon.


WORKING WITH HERITAGE BUILDINGS A key finding of the report was the need to focus on refurbishment, as opposed to demolition, when looking to reduce carbon emissions. With approximately 80% of the buildings expected to be in use in 2050 already in existence today, adapting them will play an essential part in addressing the climate emergency. Indeed, this creates another point for consideration, as many will be historic buildings. Therefore, their integrity and historic fabric must be sensitively conserved and then effectively improved for modern use. But the industry cannot sit back and do nothing.


It is our collective responsibility to tackle these challenges head on, unpicking and identifying the nuances and differences of each building. Only then


During the research, Arup used a real-life test premises to examine ways to decarbonise hotels and drive operation energy to net zero carbon


can they find an adequate solution to mitigate the challenges of installing sustainable products.


MAKE DO AND MEND Hotel energy consumption currently accounts for between 3% and 6% of their operating costs, and up to 60% of carbon emissions. Regulating and optimising operations therefore plays a major part in reducing the industry’s climate impact. Targeting the largest contributor to energy


emissions – space heating and cooling – is key to improving operational performance, followed by domestic hot water, fans and lighting. That said, a holistic approach to design is the only


way to avoid weak links in the chain – for example, by factoring in passive design measures. Identifying and improving thermal performance and air tightness of walls and windows insulation, and installing daylight control to boost lighting efficiency, can have a demonstrable impact on the amount of energy consumed.


UPGRADE AND REPLACE With the passive measures optimised, there is also broader impact available by upgrading or replacing key items of building services plant and equipment in hotels, such as HVAC and lighting, along with catering equipment. Applicable across different industries, this could include replacing boilers with air source or ground source heat pumps. In turn, these can help to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Teamed with upgrading the air conditioning


(variable refrigerant flow, for example) system, fitting energy efficient lighting and upgrading kitchen equipment, these factors could collectively reduce energy use in our case study hotel by 40%, saving £124,000 annually and cutting carbon by 290 tonnes.


FOCUS ON THE DETAILS Improving the building fabric presents significant opportunities. This could include changes to the façade, which can go a long way in reducing energy loss and thus carbon emissions. When considering


retrospective façade treatments and in particular the ratio of window to wall, an optimum balance needs


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to be struck between heat loss, solar gain and artificial lighting requirements. In the case study hotel, Passivhaus type detailing


was incorporated into the design to avoid thermal bridging. Meanwhile, partial pre-fabrication of the façade helped to boost installation quality and reduce waste, which could lead to substantial carbon reductions over the hotel’s lifecycle. Often, improvements in air tightness and


insulation levels without a strategy for improving ventilation can result in overheating. But by integrating mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) we were able to increase insulation significantly – without the need to increase cooling capacity to cope with potential overheating.


DECARBONISE THE GRID The industry must remain vigilant in recognising that treating operational energy as synonymous with operational carbon is an oversimplification. Where and when energy from the National Grid is used impacts its carbon intensity, that’s why shifting demand to low usage periods can help decarbonise the grid by eliminating the need to run gas fired peaking power plants. The integration of demand response and energy storage gives more flexibility in when and how much energy is needed. Pivoting on demand can reduce the overall cost


of electricity, as plants are expensive to run at peak level. It could even save money on hotel bills, as many hotels pay a charge for their peak demand in addition to their total energy use.


MAKE IMPROVEMENTS Ignoring the threat of climate change, or responding inadequately, presents both an environmental and financial risk across the hotel sector and its supply chain. Fortunately, our research demonstrates there are improvements that could help owners and operators bring tangible change to reduce their carbon impact via zero carbon strategies – namely through focusing attention on upgrading existing building’s performance while respecting its individual character and needs. Making both simple and significant changes


give the opportunity to boost profit margins through energy savings, protecting asset value and increasing revenue by fulfilling customer preferences. Simply put, it makes both commercial and environmental sense to actively and urgently implement sustainable measures.


Arup www.arup.com


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 22/23 19


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