Impatient Hotel Chief Takes Energy Action – Believes Energy Use Can Be Halved

– We run historic hotels, but we do not need to use historic solutions. I love technology, and we are now using the possibilities technology offers, in collaboration with our good partners and suppliers, to address energy consumption in our buildings, says Group Director at Kronen Hotels, Chris Andre Pedersen.
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Changed course
The hotel chain, Kronen Hotels, brings together five hotels in Rogaland, as well as a restaurant, catering and cleaning services. They are part of the hotel chain De Historiske. Energy is on the agenda, and Pedersen explains that he wanted to get started quickly.

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– I therefore contacted the technology company, Energy Control. They reacted quickly and within 48 hours the first IoT sensors were in place, says Pedersen.
The sensors are wireless and are placed throughout the building stock to collect information on everything from energy use to indoor climate. First out was GamleVærket in Sandnes, an urban guesthouse established in an old brick factory from 1783.

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– The plan was that we would run Energy Control’s solution at GamleVærket and then a more traditional approach at Kronen Gaard Hotel, and then compare the results. When we saw the results from GamleVærket, we changed course and went for wireless technology at Kronen Gaard Hotel as well, says Pedersen.

Can halve energy use
He explains that they are now in an insight phase, where they are getting to know the buildings in order to identify possible measures.

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– But already now, without having implemented any measures, we have reduced energy use by between 10 and 15 percent. This comes from the fact that the data we continuously collect gives us increased insight and with it also an increased focus on energy, says Pedersen.
Which measures are to be implemented has not yet been decided, but Tommy Hagenes at Energy Control explains that it is not unrealistic to envisage savings of between 40 and 50 percent.

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– When we go into buildings, we find faults in the vast majority of cases. Very often we find faults with ventilation systems, which often run far more than they need to and at too high an intensity. It goes without saying that this leads to unnecessarily high energy use. Just by taking simple measures, such as gaining control of the ventilation, we very often see significant energy savings. A reduction of between 40 and 50 percent is not unusual, says Hagenes.

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A better product and more satisfied guests
For Pedersen at Kronen Hotels, the energy measures are about much more than just saving electricity.

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– We also have a responsibility to deliver as sustainable and energy-efficient an offering as possible. At the same time, this is part of our measures to deliver a qualitatively better product, where the goal is more satisfied guests, while also focusing on maintenance and the stewardship of the cultural heritage these historic buildings represent, says Pedersen.
Within a short time, Kronen Hotels is set to have agreed on measures, with the goal that these will be implemented during 2024.

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– If we achieve the results we envisage, this is something we will in all likelihood roll out across the rest of our hotels and restaurants, says Pedersen.
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Part of a broader initiative
The initiative by Kronen Hotels is part of a larger effort now being made by the hotel chain De Historiske. De Historiske is the country’s largest collection of family-owned hotels and restaurants. In total, 66 hotels, 20 restaurants and one boat are part of the grouping. The hotels, spread across the whole country, are unique — many of them are very old and several are listed. Common to many of them is that they can perhaps best be described as living national treasures.

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– The energy crisis has hit us especially hard. Hotel buildings are one of the types of building that use the most energy, but we are also taking care of historic buildings that were not built to today’s technical standards. Our hotels and restaurants therefore use particularly large amounts of energy. We are now taking action and finding completely new ways to reduce electricity consumption, says CEO of De Historiske, Nils Henrik Geitle.
Sensor technology similar to that which Kronen Hotels has now adopted is therefore in the process of being rolled out at several of the chain’s hotels. Sensors collect data that is then actively used to regulate light, indoor climate and the temperature in the rooms. 

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– The measures mean the hotels can reduce their energy costs and contribute to a more sustainable future. While preserving our unique identity, this shows that it is possible to combine historic charm with modern technology, says Nils Henrik Geitle.