Thursday, 18 December 2025
Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are increasingly moving to the centre of hotel investment strategies, as owners and operators respond to rising environmental requirements and growing investor focus on ESG performance. In both renovation and expansion projects, modern HVAC solutions are no longer viewed solely as a comfort feature, but as a core element of sustainable property management.
Hotel buildings typically consume a high proportion of energy for heating, cooling, ventilation and domestic hot water. Improving the efficiency of these systems therefore offers one of the most direct ways to reduce operating costs and emissions, while also improving the quality of the indoor environment for guests and staff.
“Replacing traditional gas boilers with heat pumps can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to half, while also lowering operating costs in the long term,” says Marcin Kosieniak, MEP specialist and co-owner of the PM Projekt design office. “The social dimension, on the other hand, can be achieved by ensuring optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality.”
Efficiency and renewable integration
Contemporary hotel modernisation projects increasingly combine high-performance HVAC systems with intelligent control solutions. Heat recovery from exhaust air, variable air flow systems and occupancy-based controls allow ventilation and air conditioning to respond to actual use rather than operate continuously, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
“Recuperation systems allow heat to be recovered from exhaust air, significantly reducing the energy required to heat fresh air, while variable ventilation air flow systems save energy by precisely supplying air when rooms are occupied by guests,” explains Kosieniak. “Intelligent management systems, on the other hand, allow air conditioning parameters to be adjusted to the actual occupancy of rooms, eliminating energy waste in unused spaces.”
The use of VRF technology further enhances efficiency by enabling different parts of a hotel to be heated and cooled simultaneously, using internal energy transfer between zones.
The integration of renewable energy sources is also becoming more common. “The combination of heat pumps with photovoltaic installations or solar collectors can provide – depending on the facility – up to 70 per cent of the energy demand of air conditioning systems, significantly improving the facility’s ESG indicators,” Kosieniak points out.
Health, comfort and governance
Beyond energy performance, modern HVAC systems contribute to the social pillar of ESG by supporting healthier indoor environments. Advanced filtration, humidity control and CO₂ monitoring help maintain air quality, an issue that has gained additional importance in the post-pandemic context.
From a governance perspective, building management systems play a growing role. “Transparent reporting of energy consumption and emissions, made possible by BMS systems, builds investor confidence and supports the hotel’s competitive position,” says Kosieniak.
Managing refurbishment in operational hotels
Upgrading HVAC systems in existing hotels requires careful planning to avoid disruption to day-to-day operations. Detailed energy audits are typically the starting point, allowing owners to identify where the greatest efficiency gains can be achieved.
“Staging the work allows for operational continuity – starting with technical areas and back-of-house facilities, through guest rooms during periods of lower occupancy, to common areas,” explains Kosieniak. Referring to a current project in Germany, he adds: “In one of the hotels being modernised and expanded in Hanover, our scope of work includes the development of detailed designs for the HVAC and PLB systems, as well as design support for the contractor implementing the project.”
A long-term value driver
As regulatory expectations rise and investors increasingly link financing to sustainability performance, HVAC upgrades are becoming a rational business decision as well as an environmental one. “Investments in energy-efficient HVAC systems are not only a response to regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations, but above all a rational business decision that brings measurable financial, environmental and image benefits,” Kosieniak concludes.
For hotel owners seeking to future-proof their assets, modern HVAC systems are proving to be one of the most effective and measurable ways to align operational performance with ESG objectives.
