Absence of the Absent-Minded
Absence of the Absent-Minded
Guests at the Greek Cretian Hotel Mirasol often leave both lights and air conditioning switched on when they leave their room. Now automatic controls have been installed which consist of an energy control unit at the entrance to each apartment wired to the apartment's electricity distribution panel.
As the guest enters the room, he or she must insert a keycard into a slot in the unit, so that lights and air conditioning can be swithced on. Because the card is attached to keychain, the keycard must be removed from the unit when the guest leaves the room. The electricity is switched off after a one-minute delay.
The hotel's 200 apartments are lit with incandescent lamps. The hotel is open 180 days a year and the annual electricity savings amount to 7 500 kWh. The payback time of the control system is 1,5 years. Similar systems have been installed at other Greek hotels.
Source: Maxibrochure, Energy Efficient Lighting in Buildings