Climaveneta Units to Reduce Running Costs While Improving the Internal Comfort of a Luxury Hotel

It is a seasonal hotel open from the beginning of May to the end of October. In the recent years the hotel decided to start a process of renovation and expansion especially for the mechanical systems. Energy efficiency was a primary aspect due to the need to optimise energy consumption and the expansion possibilities linked to specific energy savings target included in the regional law.

Renovation and expansion

In 2015 the hotel decided to add 10 rooms, 2 suites, 2 restaurants, a luxury Spa, and heating for the outdoor pool. The mechanical systems were a key element of the refurbishment: all the equipment was due to be replaced because it was not able guarantee adequate redundancy, and there was the need to optimise energy consumption. Insulating the building was not feasible, due to its’ shape and local architectural and landscaping regulations. Hence it was crucial to act on MEP services to achieve the required energy efficiency targets. Noise emission reduction was also crucial to deliver outstanding comfort for guests because some of the new rooms are located closer to the units than before. Moreover, the MV-LV sub-station and the plant room were completely renovated.

The new HVAC system

The new HVAC system is composed of Climaveneta units: 1 TECS XL CA 0452 oil free centrifugal chiller, 1 FOCS-NR XL CA 12022 heat recovery heat pump, 1 New LGP condensing boiler, and 1 ClimaPRO plant room optimization system. Cooling is needed for fan coils and AHUs and heating is needed for domestic hot water, heating the pool, Spa, post heating, and 4-pipe fan coils. The new Spa and the pool significantly modified the energy profile of the hotel. Since the pool has a high surface to volume ratio and is located next to the beach, it requires a lot of energy to maintain the desired temperature range (27.5-28.5°C), due to low night temperatures and wind action. This results in significant simultaneous heating and cooling, making the case for the innovative system design, based on the smart combination and management of diverse premium technologies including chiller, heat pump, and boiler, all managed by Climaveneta’s plant room optimizer. Finally, the new rooms and suites have been equipped with Climaveneta i-LIFE2 and i-LIFE2 HP inverter fan coil units with brushless motors that provide high performances and very low noise levels. The inverter driven technology translates into better temperature control and therefore better comfort and lower energy consumption.

Sergio Luche, C.E.T.I.S., Technical Manager says “This type of system allows you to keep everything under control as well as being able to detect any anomalies in the air conditioning units and to rapidly make any necessary intervention, especially considering the size of the hotel’s structure. “

Key results

Giuseppe Medeghini, Rethink Energy, HVAC plant designer says: “This solution offers many innovations, above all thanks to ClimaPRO which manages the HVAC system and provides maximum efficiency all the time. As a matter of fact, it is possible to read all the parameters of the building in real time; the consumption of hot water, air conditioning, and the heating of the swimming pool.” And he continues “Secondly: a total heat recovery reversible unit has been installed to collect the heat, which would otherwise be wasted, for the heating of the swimming pool and for the hot water. Finally, the chiller, featuring centrifugal compressors with magnetic levitation grant high efficiency even at partial loads.”

The Recorded measurements from 2017 show an annual savings of 25-30% (approximately 22,364-26,837 euros), TER 3.01-3.24-3.64 (July-Sept:FOCS heat pump) and EER 4.69-5.30-4.98 (July-Sept: TECS chiller). These results are in line with the expectations of the client and were achieved in the first year, during commissioning and initial operation, but there are many reasons to expect that in the second year these results will be even better.