How hotels can smooth out energy peaks during winter & events

There’s no such thing as a quiet season for hotels anymore. Whether it’s winter heating demands or summer weddings and conferences, energy usage rarely stays steady.

For many venues, these fluctuations can push energy bills far higher than expected, especially when systems are working overtime behind the scenes.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right adjustments, hotels can take back control and avoid sudden spikes, all without compromising guest comfort.

Here’s how.

Plan for the peaks

It starts with understanding where the peaks come from.

In winter, heating alone can account for over half a hotel’s total energy use. Factor in the kitchen, lighting, and hot water, and the load adds up fast. On the other side of the year, big events can create short-term surges with lights, heating or cooling, AV equipment, and food preparation all running flat out.

Action:

Start by reviewing your past energy data to spot patterns. If you don’t already have access to this, speak to your supplier or energy partner about installing smart meters that can break down usage by time of day. Once you have the data, look for regular spikes, such as busy weekends in winter or event-heavy months, and plan around them. If you know your function room is only booked twice a week, you can schedule heating or cooling for those specific periods rather than leaving systems running all day.

Smart tech can do the heavy lifting

Hotels already work hard behind the scenes to provide a smooth guest experience. Energy management shouldn’t be another burden. Small changes can make a big impact, especially when technology takes care of the details.

• Occupancy-based controls. These systems reduce energy use automatically when guests leave the room. For example, SmartREM, already used by many UK hotels, cuts energy bills by up to 15% by switching off lights and adjusting temperature settings when no one’s there.
  
  Action:
  If you’re unsure where to start, try testing this in a small number of guest rooms first. Monitor the energy use over a few months and compare it to rooms without the system. If it’s successful, it’s easier to build the business case to expand it.
• Keycard power systems. These have become standard for a reason. Guests take their room key with them when they leave and energy use drops immediately.
  
  Action:
  If your hotel already uses these, check whether systems are working as expected. Many sites find that faulty card readers or bypassed systems quietly rack up costs without anyone realising.
• Zoned heating and lighting. Larger venues often end up heating rooms that won’t be used for days. Zoned control means you only use energy where you need it.
  
  Action:
  Speak to your maintenance or facilities team about creating heating ‘zones’, for example, separating guest rooms, conference areas and unused floors. This lets you heat or cool each area independently, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all setting.

Look after your equipment

When heating systems are under strain, even small inefficiencies can drive up costs. Limescale, for example, is a common issue in hotel water systems, especially in hard water areas, and it can increase energy use by as much as 14%.

Action:
Make sure boilers, water heaters and pipework are serviced regularly, ideally every six months. If you’re in a hard water area, include descaling as part of your maintenance schedule. You can also install a limescale protection unit on the main water feed to help reduce build-up between services.

It’s also worth asking your maintenance provider to check whether your water temperature is set unnecessarily high. Keeping hot water at the correct level (usually 60°C to prevent Legionella) without overheating can reduce wasted energy without affecting safety.

Don't forget your building fabric

A lot of winter energy loss comes down to one thing: the building itself.

Simple changes like draught-proofing, window film, or loft insulation can reduce heat loss considerably. For older properties or listed buildings, even small adjustments can make a real difference. If insulation isn’t an option, smarter control over heating (such as setting a consistent 19–21°C in guest rooms) can help balance comfort with efficiency.

Action:

If you don’t know where to begin, try using a handheld thermal camera or draught detector, both are low cost and easy to use. Walk around guest rooms, hallways, and common areas and mark any obvious cold spots, draughts or window leaks. From there, you can seal gaps around doors and windows, fit door brushes, or add blinds to help retain heat.

Even changing the location of a thermostat, for example, moving it away from direct sunlight or radiators, can stop your heating system from switching on unnecessarily.

Prepare for high-usage events

Weddings, conferences, and big functions all create energy spikes but they’re also a chance to plan ahead and limit waste.

Start with a quick checklist for your team:

• Are lights and heating scheduled to suit the event timings?
• Is unused space switched off or set back?
• Have temporary kitchen setups or AV systems been factored into your energy planning?

Action:

If you use a building management system (BMS), create pre-set modes for events, for example, a setting that switches on heating in the function room and kitchen but reduces usage elsewhere. If you don’t have a BMS, make sure there’s a manual checklist that gets used the day before and after each event. Don’t rely on people remembering, especially during busy periods.

After the event, reset your controls and check your energy readings. Tracking how much energy was used during the event compared to a regular day helps you fine-tune settings for the next one.

Support that works around your team

It’s easy to say ‘plan ahead’ but hotel teams are busy. That’s where having an energy partner helps. Someone who can monitor your usage trends, suggest practical changes, and take action on your behalf if needed.

At Troo, we work with hospitality businesses to make energy management easier, not more complicated. That includes help with budgeting and procurement, but also day-to-day advice on how to avoid peaks, keep your systems running efficiently, and ease the pressure on your team.

Because when energy’s running smoothly in the background, your team can focus on what really matters: the guest experience.

If your energy use is unpredictable or creeping up during peak periods, we’d be happy to take a look.

Book a quick call with our team. We’ll talk through your current setup and highlight where savings or efficiencies might be possible.