52 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • Industry News Club Med Magna Marbella in Andalusia and Golden Bahía de Tossa & Spa in Catalonia were looking to update their four-star hotels with the latest modern building technology. Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world with around 70 million tourists visiting the country every year thanks to its beautiful beaches, stunning scenery and fabulous food. The travel industry contributes to more than 60 per cent of Spain’s GDP, however, the sector’s energy consumption worldwide is high. Research has shown that eight per cent of global CO2 emissions are attributable to transport, accommodation, catering and leisure activities during holidays. With plans to decarbonise the entire European Union, the challenges in Spain's tourism centres are also increasing. Life’s a beach as Spanish hotels 'go green' with 'automated' building system' Greater energy ef ciency for cities, holiday resorts and even zero emissions for new construction projects are crucial to success. Air conditioning, lighting, and hot water account for around 80 per cent of the energy consumption of tourist accommodation. On average, a hotel consumes between 100 and 200 kWh of electricity per square metre per year. Sacri cing comfort to save energy is not an option for hotels so many now are now turning to technology to help make their buildings more energy ef cient so their carbon footprint can be reduced. Club Med Magna Marbella and Golden Bahía de Tossa & Spa commissioned building automation and lighting controls specialist B.E.G. to work with the hotels on integrating occupancy sensors and KNX technology in their buildings. Paul Jones, Sales Director of UK & Ireland at B.E.G. UK Ltd, said: “By networking components such as photovoltaics, heating, air conditioning, ventilation, lighting, emergency and access systems, all building functions are interlinked and form an automated, coordinated unit. “Building automation helps to lower energy consumption, reduce operating costs, and manage buildings sustainably. Automation is, therefore, the basis for every ‘green’ building. It TWO luxury holiday resorts in Spain have made a massive step forward by decarbonising thanks to installing a new 'automated' building management system solution across their buildings to make them 'green'.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzk5MjA=