A look at how energy efficiency helps Vermont businesses run more profitably
Dan Mellinger is an engineer and Business Energy Services Senior Project Manager and Paul Lambert is a Business Development Territory Manager, both with Efficiency Vermont.
send in a question of your own
Q: My wife and I own a historic farmhouse that we've converted into a bed and breakfast. A big part of our overhead is utility bills. We would like to make energy-saving upgrades but we can't interfere with the traditional ambience that our guests expect. Can you recommend ways to save energy without bringing in 21st century aesthetics like twist-shaped light bulbs? - CP, Marshfield, VT
(Posted July 1, 2008)
A:
Dan:
Sure thing. Let's start with those light bulbs. Numerous historic Vermont lodgings use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) with great success both in aesthetic and energy-saving performance. They conceal twist-shaped CFLs behind lamp shades and wall sconces or they use CFLs that are enclosed in a globe, shaped more like a traditional incandescent light bulb. You can find these enclosed CFLs in many Vermont lighting showrooms, electric-supply stores and hardware stores.
Paul:
The savings associated with using CFLs are significant. They save you about $42 per bulb in electric costs over their lifetime because they use as much as 75% less energy. You'll also reduce replacement costs and maintenance time, because CFLs can last as much as 10 times longer than incandescents.
Dan:
CFLs also can enhance the ambience you've created in your B&B. You can control the look of your rooms by choosing a CFL that emits light that appears either warm (yellower) or cool (whiter). Also, because CFLs give off little heat, you'll avoid the risk of scorching antique lampshades. Traditional incandescents lose 90% of their energy as heat.
Paul:
It's clear that you're aware that your guests' experiences rely heavily on how they feel in your establishment. In addition to the look of a room, I'm sure that you also consider the pleasant scents and the degree of quiet that you provide for your visitors. These elements can be maintained or improved with energy-efficient methods that reduce your ongoing costs.
Dan:
True enough. Take fresh air, for example. Back when your building was first constructed, stale air could exit through gaps in the exterior walls. Today, those gaps can mean high heating bills, cold rooms in winter, and hot rooms in summer. To reduce heating and cooling costs and increase comfort while keeping rooms fresh, see that the building is mechanically ventilated after it's properly air-sealed and insulated. Ventilation helps preserve your historic building too. It removes moisture that can cause wood rot as well as mold and mildew that can stain paint/wallpaper. Mold and mildew can also create indoor air-quality problems, which are unhealthy and unpleasant for your guests - especially those with allergies.
Paul:
To achieve good ventilation, be sure to use kitchen range hoods and energy-saving ENERGY STAR® qualified bath fans, vented to the outdoors. You may qualify for financial incentives for ENERGY STAR qualified equipment, so check with Efficiency Vermont before you buy. I'll also mention that many building owners install heat-recovery or energy-recovery ventilation systems, to exhaust moisture and pollutants while bringing in fresh outdoor air. The cost-effectiveness of these systems comes from the fact that they capture some of the heat from exhaust air and use it to warm incoming outdoor air, saving heating energy in the process.
Dan:
I expect that people come to your B&B for peace and quiet. Loud bath fans could not only disturb your guests' peace, they also could be wasting energy. An ENERGY STAR qualified bath fan is very quiet and can use as few as 15 watts. Similarly, if you've got more than one refrigerator cycling on and off, you can reduce noise and save significant amounts of energy by upgrading to a single, larger fridge. A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses half the energy of a unit manufactured before 1993.
Paul:
While your guests may want a vacation from modern concerns like energy issues, other tourists prefer staying in lodgings where an effort has been made to reduce energy use. Businesses are attracting these green-focused travelers through ads, website information, and guest-room cards describing their energy-saving efforts ? whether these efforts are in plain sight or out of a guest's view. With energy-efficient technologies, you can appeal to both kinds of visitors while lowering your own operating costs. Best of luck as you bring your cost savings into the 21st century without disturbing your guests' nostalgic experience.
