AI systems have the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 30 per cent, which could help hotels improve both sustainability and operational efficiency, claimed World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
According to the latest insights by EHL Hospitality Business School, up to 60 per cent of a hotel’s carbon emissions are driven by systems such as HVAC and lighting.
The latest AI-based platforms can automatically adjust energy usage in real-time based on factors like occupancy levels, guest check-ins and check-outs, and even weather conditions, catering to the 24/7 energy needs of the sector.
While Exergio’s core expertise is in commercial buildings such as offices and shopping centres, the lessons from these projects apply well to the hospitality sector. A JLL report recently compared buildings that have the highest energy savings potential, with hotels taking the sixth spot, surpassing offices and retail properties.
Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio – a company that creates AI tools for energy performance in buildings – shared that in one case in Poznan, Poland, Exergio’s AI-driven platform achieved a 20 per cent reduction in energy waste over nine months in an office building, showcasing how real-time energy optimisation can translate to almost €80,000 (US$87,431) savings.
Looking ahead, trends in the hospitality industry point towards an increasing reliance on AI-driven solutions for managing energy use. The EHL insights note that sustainability is no longer optional for hotels, with both regulators and consumers expecting higher standards of environmental responsibility.
Karčiauskas pointed out that hotels need to maintain consistent comfort for guests while managing fluctuating occupancy and constant energy demand – one of the unique challenges faced by the hospitality industry.
“AI tools could enable hotels to manage energy far more efficiently by tailoring systems to actual demand in real-time, rather than running at a constant, wasteful level. We’ve seen it happen to all kinds of commercial buildings, and the hospitality sector is no exception.”
Beyond basic energy management, AI platforms can predict maintenance needs, identifying when equipment like HVAC systems or lighting may require servicing before an issue disrupts operations,” said Karčiauskas.
He concluded: “As AI continues to advance, we expect that energy management systems will become increasingly sophisticated. We are already developing systems that allow human-AI interaction. It will be easily integrated with other hotel technologies to optimise every aspect of operations – from guest comfort to back-end systems. AI will become a core tool for hotels seeking to balance sustainability, cost-efficiency, and superior guest experience in the years to come.”
