SETTING UP SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS

With budgets coming under significant strain, chief engineers from some of the most prominent brands and properties explain how they manage to continue sustainable and efficient on-ground operations without impacting guest or employee experience

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What were the initial steps taken to streamline the efficiency of all the systems and equipment deployed in the hotel?

Ashok Kumar (AK): During the project stage, at Sheraton Grand Chennai Resorts & Spa, Mahabalipuram, the consultant designed the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems like chiller, AHUs, ceiling suspended AHUs, treated fresh air, exhaust, Pumps, Motors and more. The plan was chosen post concentrated research to reach its highest efficiency. Our chiller has a COP (Coefficient of Performance) rate of 0.6 value.

Chittaranjan Jena (CJ): An efficient PPM (Planned Preventive Maintenance) Program was implemented at the property to reduce the risk of machinery breakdown, boost its working efficiency and promote health safety. The program further aided in increasing guest satisfaction at the hotel.

Kundan Attarde (KA): We have some SOP to handle the systems and equipment deployed in the hotel as per operational and system/equipment manufacturing instructions guidelines to consider. The first basic is to keep the area and equipment always clean and neat. Operating procedures/instructions displayed at source, along with apt training to know how to handle the system and equipment. We maintain records of equipment job cards for entering the preventive maintenance data, breakdown, and other analytics things to note. Every system and equipment has a set periodic preventive maintenance as per a checklist from the manufacturer or standard guidelines. We provide energy meters and running meters for major systems and equipment for analysis to calculate specific parameters for assumption and efficiency. We prioritise action plans to get a replacement of any spare for the equipment in order to get optimum results. These initial steps are taken to streamline the system and equipment.