Geothermal Energy Brings Benefits To Hotels

30 April 2007

Harnessing Geothermal Energy
Brings Benefits To Hotels And Environment

While discussions on carbon footprints and environmental sustainability have recently gained traction world-wide, Novotel Lakeside Rotorua and Hotel Ibis Rotorua have been using a clean and environmentally sustainable source of energy since they opened 11 years and 3 years ago, respectively.

The hotels use natural geothermal resources that are, quite literally, beneath their feet. The Hotels do not use any boilers that rely on diesel, coal, petrol, gas or electricity to run the hot water and heating systems. Instead, natural resources are used which in no way harm our environment, are pollution free and more importantly, are sustainable.

Three bore holes on the property provide geothermal fluid from the ground which reaches temperatures of between 110 and 120 degrees Celsius. Of the three bores, only two are ever used at any one time, with the third providing back up.

Heat exchangers utilize the geothermal fluid to heat town supplied water for all 344 guest rooms, the ‘heating cycles’ of the air-conditioning systems, laundry and heating of the swimming and spa pools in the Royal Spa Centre. In addition geothermal water is used for the five geo-thermal plunge pools on site.

“This system of heating is a unique feature of our properties compared to other hotels in New Zealand and around the World” says General Manager, Klaus Gottschalk. “This means we are able to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of other energy sources.”

The use of Geothermal Energy requires specialist skills, skills which Maintenance Manager Norman Deane Turner has developed over the years. According to Norman “A key aspect of using the geothermal energy is to re-inject the used geothermal water back into the bore to maintain the underground water table and environmental balance”.

Novotel Lakeside Rotorua and Hotel Ibis are committed to the ACCOR Worldwide Environmental Charter which is designed to promote environmental sustainability for all hotels and resorts within the company. In addition, both are members of the Rotorua Sustainable Tourism Charter.

The hotels have undertaken a five step process, demonstrating sustainable business practises that contribute to conserving the physical and the socio-cultural environment. The process involved completion of a ‘Preliminary Sustainability Assessment’, an on-site visit by an assessor and commitment to a Statement of Intent to undertake certain actions over the next year.

ENDS

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