SMART ENERGY LEADERS SPONSORED BY BC HYDRO
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP A FULFILLING ENDEAVOUR IN HOSPITALITY
BC Hydro works with some of B.C.’s largest organizations to strategically manage plans around energy efficiency. The important work being done by some of this province’s leaders in energy management is being featured in this space. This month, the discussion highlights how the hospitality industry can benefit from energy efficiency.
With the vast natural splendour of a world-class ski resort surrounding them, it’s no wonder employees of Whistler Blackcomb hold the environment in high regard. Channelling that passion to protect nature into specific projects is more effective when an organization has a strategic energy management plan (SEMP).
“It allows us to do what’s most impactful first, and helps us explain to people ‘here’s where your suggestion is on the list’, and why,” says Whistler Blackcomb Energy Manager and Environmental Coordinator Allana Williams. “We update it (the plan) annually for BC Hydro, and modify it during the year as things change.”
Projects must possess a strong business case, which is to say the amount of energy saved has to justify the cost involved. Projects can also be bumped up the list if they have the potential to solve issues for other departments, such as making buildings more comfortable for guests, or reducing the workload for maintenance crews.
For example, a lighting retrofit at Blackcomb’s Glacier Creek Restaurant was given higher priority when the teams realized the completed project would simplify the task of replacing light bulbs for maintenance workers.
“Having a master plan lets us keep everybody on track, and align budgets and priorities together with other departments. My office is literally beside electrical and mechanical which facilitates so much collaboration and accountability – working together really takes our projects to the next level,” says Williams.
Ron Brooks, energy manager for Gateway Casinos, likens it to team problem solving.
A major upgrade at Gateway’s Grand Villa property in Burnaby had major results – a reduction of 1.1 gigawatts of energy and 1.6 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Measures included using ‘waste’ heat from an air conditioning unit to preheat water for the building, upgrading to more efficient HVAC equipment, and changing to LED lighting.
It also highlighted some of the unique challenges faced by Gateway. Some of its buildings are open 24 hours a day, which can make scheduling contractors complicated. Portions of the buildings are under high levels of video surveillance, which requires a certain minimum level of illumination to be maintained.
“There’s always a workaround, right? For instance, in a parkade we can use bilevel controls and motion sensors. When a car drives along the aisle, full lighting will come on, and when the car leaves, it’ll dim down again. On the perimeter of a parking area, photo cells will control the level based on natural light. We can also use motion sensors in some rooms, corridors, and stairwells,” says Brooks.
Future projects involve modernizing the ventilation systems used at Gateway’s Starlight Casino in New Westminster, and using the SEMP to identify places where upgrades can maximize energy efficiency. Brooks says technical expertise accessed through BC Hydro can serve as a major catalyst in moving projects ahead.
Gwendal Castellan, a sustainable destination specialist with Tourism Vancouver, says there is high awareness – both regionally and globally – about the high desire for businesses within Vancouver’s hospitality sector to go green.
“Being a good steward of the environment is part of being a good host,” he explains. “Within the community, we have a lot of champions who can talk about the value of energy savings, and how to engage employees and guests.”
Castellan says that type of encouragement is key for small and medium businesses. They may find themselves so caught up in day-to-day tasks that it feels impossible to consider the merits of investing in energy efficiency. Connecting them to programs and peers who have already commenced the journey of going green can make the whole concept seem far less daunting.
He adds that businesses who have a long tradition of involvement with sustainability are often delighted to share the secrets of their successes.
“We find they are happy to share their stories and be resources because it also helps them take stock of what they’ve achieved. The more their peers follow in their wake, the greater the benefits are in terms of consumers being educated about green issues, and in valuing responsible businesses. There may have been some initial advantages in embracing sustainability early, but it’s not something they want to compete on – they want to collaborate. The market will transform as businesses create demand for higher quality products and green services,” says Castellan.
After the purchase of Whistler Blackcomb by Vail Resorts, Williams and her team are being given an unbelievable opportunity to help ‘green’ the parent organization from within – Whistler’s zero operating footprint model is being rolled out company-wide. A $25 million dollar investment in energy efficiency projects – with a targeted completion date of 2030 – is accelerating that commitment in a very concrete way.
Going from influencing the actions of approximately 4,000 to 32,000 employees is no small task, but Williams says they can back up all of their proposals with hard data.
“We’re going to be sharing the sophisticated training and structure that we’ve been able to access through BC Hydro. Most other resorts don’t get this level of networking and training and incentives from their local utilities,” Williams explains. “Having great measurement tools keep us accountable, and they also help us communicate about goals in the SEMP because we have the numbers.”
Transparency about measurables and deliverables helps others within the company realize that initiatives from the environmental team have to meet rigorous standards, just as they would have to in any other unit of the organization. Now, as Williams and the Vail Resorts team get ready to scale up energy efficiency measures to ski resorts across North America and Australasia, she’s looking forward to explaining how strategic energy management decreases potential obstacles and creates employee buy-in through cooperation.
It’s clearly already influencing the culture of the organization. Williams laughs fondly as she recounts the story of a housing maintenance manager who used an online tool – available through BC Hydro’s website – to do a cost benefit analysis of upgrading the incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs in Whistler staff housing to more energy efficient versions. The team examined the numbers he provided and promptly moved his project up the priority list.