New Publication Provides Energy-Efficiency Guidance for Hotels

June 16, 2009
Recommendations for achieving 30-percent energy savings over minimum code requirements are contained in the new "Advanced Energy Design Guide for Highway Lodging," published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The energy-savings guidance for design of new hotels provides a first step toward achieving a net-zero-energy building.

Recommendations for achieving 30-percent energy savings over minimum code requirements are contained in the new "Advanced Energy Design Guide for Highway Lodging," published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

The energy-savings guidance for design of new hotels provides a first step toward achieving a net-zero-energy building.

“The recommendations allow the building industry to create more energy-efficient hotels while maintaining the quality and functionality of the space to provide a pleasant guest experience,” Ron Jarnagin, chair of the committee that wrote the book, said.

The book gives guidance to architects, engineers, contractors, and other building-team members on how to achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analyses.

Written in partnership with The American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, the U.S. Green Building Council, and the U.S. Department of Energy, the book is available for free in electronic form at http://www.ashrae.org/freeaedg. Hard copies are available for purchase ($53 for ASHRAE members, $62 for non-members) in the ASHRAE Bookstore.

The book focuses on typical hotels found along highways that have up to 80 rooms, generally no more than four stories, and use unitary heating and air-conditioning equipment. Although the guidance targets new hotels, some of the design tips included in the book are appropriate for existing hotels.

To order a print copy of the book, contact ASHRAE Customer Service by phone at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), by fax at 404-321-5478, or online at http://www.ashrae.org/bookstore.