The purpose of this study was to determine if the hotel industry could reduce a portion of
its operating costs used for unnecessary lighting expenses. The study was conducted at the
Donaldson Brown Center in Blacksburg, Virginia with 32 hotel guests participating. Data was
collected to determine light fixture usage during periods of guestroom inactivity (inactive is defined
as periods after the guest had checked-in but was out of the guestroom). Two treatment rooms and
two control rooms were monitored to determine inactivity of the room, usage of light fixtures, and
usage of daylight. Light levels and wattage readings were taken to determine consistency in light
levels of the lamps and energy used by the different fixture/lamp combinations in each of the four
rooms. One treatment room and one control room were on the east side of the building and the
other treatment and control room were on the west side. The test rooms were evaluated to insure
that all interior variables (i.e., structural configuration, size, materials and finishes, furnishings,
light fixtures, and HV AC system) were controlled. The only features changed in the guest rooms
were lamps housed in the fixtures of the two treatment rooms where the ceiling fixtures were
relamped with two 16 watt compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and portable fixtures were relamped
with one 18 watt CFL. Standard incandescent lamps were used in the control rooms. It was found
that the time lights arc left on in inactive rooms can amount to a considerable portion of a hotels
operating costs for energy usage. Results show a 64-71 % reduction in energy consumed by CFLs
compared to incandescent lamps. Fixtures housed with incandescent lamps cost an average of
$.008 per hour to run compared to those lamped with CFLs which cost $.003 per hour to run.
Through total or strategic relamping of fixtures, operating costs for electric lighting can be cut by
more than 50% and energy resources would be saved. Implemented environmental strategies could
then be used as a marketing tool to attract environmentally conscious consumers.
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