Heating and air conditioning with absorption heat pumps that function thanks to gas and renewable energy
Holiday Inn
Hub (Bergamo), Italy
Saving energy in hotels
The attention on energy conservation has become a key factor for the hospitality industry, given the continued rise in energy costs and the fact that energy is there four times superior to the daily consumption per inhabitant in the civil sector (studies of ANPA, former National Agency for Environmental Protection, moved into APAT).
The environmental and resource protection are now recognized by the hospitality industry as a strategic element: they are not just a constraint but also an opportunity of attraction of the new tourism’s forms.
In this scenario models of certification are developing, stating the careful environmental management of a tourist structure, they are able to call customers that reward structures that preserve the environment, reduce pollution and conserve resources, including energy industries.
Since some years, the European Community has also expanded to include the Ecolabel brand in the tourism sector, which certifyies the reduced environmental impact of the structure. The eco-label is thus a form of advertising, which tells the customer that the price paid does not take into account only the standard services, but it also includes attention for the environment and consequently for the human health. For this reason, research is significantly growing to find solutions aimed at a more rational and economically sustainable energy, in particular for heating and air-conditioned building.
In this context Robur offers a comprehensive range of solutions for heating and cooling, high-efficiency use of renewable energy, already successfully applied in prestigious accommodation throughout Italy. The system of absorption heat pumps powered by gas produced at the Holiday Inn in Mozzo (BG) shows real economic and environmental benefits and the comfort of this technology.
Hospitality, comfort, ecology and technology
The new Holiday Inn in Mozzo is the first hotel in Italy in energy class A.
Unique feature for a hotel that was created just in 7 months and that wanted to direct its attention to the environmental impact of the building.
The great attention to the materials used and the type of system have earned a nomination for the European Design Award 2008. The property comprises 98 air-conditioned rooms and a meeting room of 130 square meters.
Customer needs
Stefano Civettini, owner of Crs Impianti, who oversaw the design and realization of the plants, aimed at minimizing energy consumption, the main source of expense and environmental impact of a hotel. Objective to be achieved at the cost of slightly increasing the initial investment for facilities and structures.
"Our commitment was to reduce consumption as much as possible out of a traditional system and structure," says Civettini. "Target achieved thanks to the installation of heat pumps that function with gas absorption, and this solution can save up to 40% on annual heating costs, substantially reduced the payback period of sustained higher investment cost for installations with a payback inferior to 4 years. "
The heating and air conditioning system
The system consists of four air handling units, with cross-flow heat exchanger in the primary air service, and a series of ceiling and wall fan. The production of hot water is guaranteed by the storage of 10,000 gallons of water in 5 boilers. The power requirements are equal to 400 kW for heating, 150 kW to 400 kW and hot water for air conditioning. The ratings were met with five groups consisting of Robur absorption packaged air reversible heat pumps, refrigerators for cooling and heat recovery.
The groups were placed on the roof, thus avoiding the use of internal clearances. Robur units are capable of producing hot water at 60 ° C for heating (by ensuring operation even at -20 ° C ambient temperature) and water cooled to 3 ° C for air conditioning.
The optimization of plant operation has led to an adjustment of the temperature of the water supply to plants at 50 ° C in winter and 7 ° C in summer. During summer operation will also produce about 80 kW of thermal recovery, totally free, which contributes significantly to the domestic hot water. The integration of that is attributable to a group condensing heat pre-assembled, always supply Robur, located on the roof of the hotel, as well as a series of vacuum solar collectors.
Benefits
The adoption of technology absorption has led to significant savings in operating costs. During the winter the average efficiency of the system (GUE - Gas Utilization Efficiency) is approximately 1.4, ie on average 40% higher than a condensing boiler. The conditioning operation is ensured by the involvement of only 20 kW power, about 1 / 10 of that required for a power solution. The solution thus provides cost savings, estimated at approximately € 12,000 per year compared to a traditional solution with a condensing boiler and chiller cabinet.
Due to the high efficiency of the system in winter the heat pump, the substantial reductions in consumption benefits result in energy-type in 9 evaluable TEP / year (Tons of Oil Equivalent), in about 289 tons of combustion products and 26 tons of CO2 released into the environment.
conclusions
High energy efficiency, minimum electric effort, ecology, and integration with solar and ecology: these are the aspects that helped make the Holiday Inn in Mozzo the flagship hotel of the national structures.
Really a concrete example of synergy between technology, love for well done things, with a focus on the economic performance of management and preservation.
