A safe bet – Powerstar case study
Date
Sector
Any
Application
Technologies
Powerstar’s latest voltage optimisation & Management case study is for South Africa’s Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, which offers 5-star hotel accommodation just minutes from Hobie Beach. Offering conferencing facilities for its business clients alongside 24-hour entertainment and exquisite dining experiences, the Boardwalk proudly boasts of being the only licensed casino in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
With environmental consciousness at the heart of its operations, the Boardwalk Hotel is committed not only to programmes of continuous improvement but is also pursuing strategies to be a zero waste to landfill site by 2020.
As with many hotels, the 24/7 operating model of the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino results in high levels of electricity consumption, and with that, high electricity costs and excessive CO₂ emissions. Due to this, the hotel was eager to further its sustainable processes in all areas of the business and Powerstar was chosen to help the luxury resort reduce their electrical consumption and carbon emissions.
Powerstar was chosen for this project due to its extensive installation experience in hotels across the world. The team were able to conduct a thorough site evaluation before scheduling installation in a manner designed to ensure minimum disruption to the hotel and its occupants, helping the hotel to maintain its luxury, heightened customer experience.
Following a full site evaluation, Powerstar South Africa discovered that the incoming voltage of the hotel was higher than necessary for the electrical equipment on-site, but remained at a stable level. Therefore, Powerstar recommended the installation of Powerstar LITE, a fixed voltage regulation system that provides a set level reduction to the incoming voltage across a pre-defined tap range.
Post-installation analysis of the site demonstrated an impressive electricity consumption saving of 24%. This equates to an annual reduction in electricity consumption of 643,103 kWh and 619.76 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, thereby reducing the hotel’s impact on the environment whilst providing cost savings that can be reinvested into core operations to improve the customer experience even further.
Following the successful installation, the hotel commissioned an independent party to verify the results in addition to the routine measurement and verification process that Powerstar undertakes. The conclusion revealed a 24% consumption saving and determined that the solution was indeed delivering a significant positive impact for the business. As a direct result, the hotel is now exploring the possible installation of further smart energy technologies.
Integrating multiple smart energy technologies as part of a single comprehensive energy strategy can provide businesses with enhanced efficiency, resilience, and flexibility with regard to their energy use, whilst providing insight into further upgrades to be implemented as part of ongoing efficiency and sustainability goals.