Energy machine for greater sustainability in the hospitality industry
In hotels, energy demand is high year-round, and sustainable building management thus has a significant impact on both the environment and economic efficiency. Efficiency technology like an eXergiemachine (eXm) can achieve a lot in this regard. It can reduce both energy costs and CO₂ emissions, and is particularly suitable for areas where renewable energy (e.g., solar thermal or PVT systems) and/or waste heat are to be utilized in the best possible way. This allows for a reduction in the consumption of oil and gas, or even a complete replacement of fossil fuels.
The eXergy machine (eXm) was developed by varmeco in cooperation with BMS-Energietechnik. It can be used not only in new installations but can also be retrofitted. It makes low-temperature heat – whether solar energy or waste heat from refrigeration and deep-freeze systems – more usable for heating purposes and hot water preparation in hotels. The eXergiemaschine is a special type of water-to-water heat pump that efficiently raises low-temperature heat to a usable level (e.g., for hot water or heating circuits) while simultaneously lowering the return to the heat source. This often increases the overall efficiency of a heating system, for example in heat pump systems.https://www.exergiemaschine.com).
- Reduced power consumption through support for heat pump systems
Hotels need a lot of hot water, whether for guest rooms, spas and pools, or for commercial dishwashers and washing machines, at temperatures above 60 °C. Traditional heat pumps only provide corresponding flow temperatures inefficiently. The eXm can relieve the heat pump by increasing the lift from 35 or 40 °C to over 60 °C. This allows the heat pump to operate in an efficient mode, and the efficiency of the overall system increases. - Waste heat utilization: Making low-temperature heat usable
Waste heat from cooling systems, commercial refrigeration, or PVT modules is often only available at 25 to 45 °C – too low for direct use in hot water preparation. In conventional heating systems, this potential remains largely untapped. However, by increasing the temperature to over 60 °C with the eXm, the thermal energy can be well utilized in hotels.
Higher PV electricity yields through improved module cooling
PVT (Photovoltaic Thermal) systems lose efficiency when return temperatures are too high. The eXergiemaschine extracts heat from the PVT modules and makes it usable for hotel operations. This increases the heat yield from the PVT modules and lowers the hotel's energy consumption. The resulting additional cooling of the PV elements increases their efficiency and thus their electricity yield.
Strategic advantage for hotels
Through energy savings and the potential substitution of fossil fuels, the advantages are:
- Capturing image with environmentally conscious guests
- Reduced operating costs with rising energy prices
- Future-proofing through the efficient integration of renewable sources
Practical examples of the eXergiemaschine in hotels
Hotel Drei Quellen Therme (Bad Griesbach, Germany)
An up-to-date example of the intelligent use of solar energy combined with an eXergi machine can be found at the „Hotel Drei Quellen Therme.“ There, 170 PVT modules supply electricity and heat. The eXm raises the low-temperature heat obtained from these modules to around 65 °C, using it to supply heating circuits and hot water storage tanks. Additionally, it cools the return flow to the PVT modules, which increases solar thermal yield and PV electricity production. This solution has reduced the use of fossil fuels, and the hotel management anticipates a significant decrease in electricity and gas costs.varmeco | warm.use)
Hotel Landgasthof Kemmeriboden Bad (Schangnau, Switzerland)
The Hotel Landgasthof Kemmeriboden Bad uses the eXergiemaschine to utilize waste heat from its refrigeration systems. The low-temperature heat from the systems is raised to approximately 65 °C by the eXm and is used for hot water preparation. As a result, the hotel saves several thousand liters of heating oil annually, reduces its energy costs, and achieves a significant decrease in CO₂ emissions.varmeco | warm.use)
Conclusion: Increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, improve sustainability
The eXergiemachine has established itself as a versatile tool in the hotel sector, making better use of existing heat sources – be it solar energy or waste heat from technical systems. The increased flow temperatures to consumers and the lower return temperatures to heat sources not only reduce the use of fossil fuels but also significantly improve the overall efficiency of energy systems in hotel operations. The combination of sustainable technology and economic efficiency makes the eXm an attractive solution for hoteliers looking to reduce energy and operating costs in the long term while simultaneously decreasing their property's carbon footprint.
