A Hilton in Florida Goes with Proprietary HVAC Design
A new 72-room Hilton on St. Augustine, Fla.’s historic bayfront is the first mid-rise Hilton to be fitted with a proprietary environmental HVAC system using plastic heat exchangers.
The new system is expected to operate with utility costs 50% below the standard systems installed in other mid-rise hotels, with a return on investment in less than two years.
The full-service hotel is a “hollow-square” design consisting of 19 separate buildings set around an inner courtyard and connected by an interior corridor. The facility features wooden balconies, cedar shake and tile roofs and different elevations and color schemes. This unique design reflects the owners desire to recreate the look and feel of St. Augustine’s Spanish colonial period.
“The Hilton’s unique Spanish colonial design embodies the history of St. Augustine and its status as America’s oldest city,” comments owner Kanti Patel.The central HVAC system meets the city’s stringent design and construction requirements, and was specifically chosen because it eliminates the noisy, cumbersome through-the-wall units that detract from the look, charm and feel of the architectural design. The system is energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and it provides the highest level of comfort for our guests.”
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP) will conduct a site survey and energy audit of the hotel. The ECAP program will continually monitor the facility to record energy usage and determine cost savings. The system vendor is working with the Florida ECAP program to conduct energy audits for the hospitality industry and assist owners and developers seeking certification in Florida’s Green Lodging Program.
The Green Lodging Program, created to assist Florida’s hospitality industry with reducing energy costs and conserving natural resources, recognizes lodging facilities that meet environmental guidelines to conserve resources and prevent pollution. The Green Lodging Program will help owners recognize and implement energy efficient technologies, and provides one-on-one consulting, financing opportunities for retrofits, and advice on HVAC system and equipment maintenance.
For more information about HVAC systems from PowerCold go to www.powercold.com .
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