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How much does an empty room cost in electricity?
An empty room costs the energy used by the loads left running in it, such as air conditioning and lighting, multiplied by the electricity tariff. Energy is each load’s power in kilowatts times the hours it runs while the room is vacant. The accurate way is to meter the room itself, which is what hotel energy management with iHotel does.
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The formula
- For each load left running in the vacant room: power (kW) × hours running = energy (kWh).
- Add up the energy of all the loads.
- Multiply the total by the hotel’s tariff (SAR per kWh).
- Multiply that by the number of vacant nights in the month.
A table to fill in for your room
| Load | Power (kW) | Hours running while vacant | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning | From the unit’s label | From the room’s log | Power × hours |
| Lighting | Sum of the fittings | From the room’s log | Power × hours |
| Sockets and devices | From each device’s label | From the room’s log | Power × hours |
Why metering beats estimating
The power on a device’s label is not what it actually draws, and air conditioning cycles with the temperature. So iHotel meters each room between two readings, costs it at the hotel’s tariff, and flags an untrustworthy reading instead of costing it.
Questions
Common questions on this topic
What is the biggest load in an empty room?
In a hot climate, usually the air conditioning. But measuring your own room is more accurate, because it differs from hotel to hotel.
How much does switching off loads when vacant save?
There is no correct general figure. The saving is known by comparing the room’s metering against a baseline before and after installation.
Next step
We show it on your own rooms
Tell us your room count and what you use today, and we will show you the system on your room types, rates and balances.
Request a quote for your hotel Request a trial of the system
Or write to us directly at info@ihotel-app.com