Before the pandemic, guests really only cared that their guestroom air conditioner unit worked and wasn’t too loud. Today, things like indoor air quality and sustainability are important to them when it comes to their stay. Hotel Business connected with Dennis Stinson, VP, sales, Fujitsu General America, to discuss how HVACs can improve a hotel’s bottom line, indoor air quality and other topics of interest to those hoteliers looking to upgrade their air conditioning systems.
How can an HVAC boost a hotel’s bottom line? Proper functioning and efficiency of the HVAC is vital to a hotel’s bottom line. Comfort and quietness are the stalwart of hospitality and promote repeat visits and strong recommendations. Efficiency allows the operator to provide first-class repeatable comfort at discounted cost.
What are the sustainable qualities of an eco-friendly HVAC? Eco-friendly HVAC systems provide five-star comfort while using the minimum energy to operate. Additionally, a locally supported system promotes long system life and fewer resources to operate.
What’s new in the world of hotel HVACs? What are the best systems for hoteliers who have an eye on both their wallets and the environment? Systems dedicated to individual spaces provide maximum comfort to occupants, promote efficiency with effective zoning and provide isolation in the event of a malfunction. Heat pumps provide highly efficient solutions with excellent heating and cooling output ranges with low-cost installation and operational costs.
Indoor air quality has become a hot topic coming out of the pandemic. How are HVAC manufacturers addressing this in their systems? Indoor air quality is addressed through filtration, dilution and sterilization. All Fujitsu Airstage systems come with a serviceable filter to remove airborne particulates. The addition of UV lights, ionization or photocatalytic oxidation provides sterilization, while the introduction of air exchanges utilizing the HVAC system or bath fans provides functional solutions to dilution.
What will the future of hotel HVACs look like? What are the technologies HVAC manufacturers are working on that will be beneficial to hoteliers in the years to come? Product development will continue to promote efficiency, comfort and control. Growth products include the Split Terminal Heat Pump by Fujitsu, which provides an option to traditional packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) units. Variable refrigerant flow heat recovery units allow an operator to provide both simultaneous heating and cooling with maximum efficiency and comfort.
What are some tips that will help hoteliers ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency with their HVACs? The best systems are properly sized, installed and maintained. Quality HVAC manufacturers will provide local distributor-hosted training events to allow the operator’s in-house staff the knowledge and resources to service and maintain the equipment.
