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Breathe Easy

By Deborah Fisher

Deborah Fisher talks about how improving air quality provides a return on investment.

Estimates predict nearly one in four travelers suffer from allergies, asthma, other environmental illness or chemical sensitivity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air in a typical indoor environment can be 70 per cent to 100 per cent more contaminated than outside air. Potential allergens include pollen, dust, dust mites, mould or fungi, bacteria, and even chemicals such as chlorine.

"Most air quality issues can be solved by reducing heat and moisture," notes John Miller, spokesman for V-Kool Inc, a sales and marketing distribution company of heat reflective applied films for residential and commercial architecture.

Heat often enters a guestroom through its windows, especially those with southern or western exposures. Solar heat through windows can account for nearly 30 per cent of a hotel's cooling needs, according to a California Energy Commission. "And most people think that HVAC is the solution," he adds. "However, increasing HVAC usage directly increases a property's operating costs, and not everyone likes conditioned air."

Allergens are often amplified with increased heat, notes Miller. For example, if a carpet is emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC), the output will be greater at higher temperatures. In addition, greater heat combined with moisture will provide prime conditions for mould or other bacterial growth.

To improve their air quality, hotels are striving to reduce the amount of those allergens and enhance room conditions as much as possible. One such company to which hotels are turning for assistance is PURE Allergy Friendly Rooms, which uses a system that reduces or eliminates biohazards and other irritants from all room surfaces and filters them from the air. "These days, indoor air quality and guest satisfaction are coming closer together," says Tom Pickles, director of operations for PURE.

In the air with its multi-step system, bedding, carpeting, walls, furniture, air conditioning systems, water, and more is specially treated to remove contaminants and prevent return, resulting in an allergy-friendly room.

The process starts by cleaning and disinfecting the air-handling unit. "This unit is usually the dirtiest, because it often harbours mould, yeast and bacteria," says Pickles. A two-ply antimicrobial treated filter is installed so the air is both clean and comfortable. A clean unit also runs more efficiently, reducing energy costs.

Next, a cleaning solution is used to maximise the removal of dirt, bacteria, and mould, and a bacteriostatic barrier is applied to surfaces to repel micro-organisms that can cause illness and distress to your guests, as well as preventing spoilage and odours in the room.

After that, the room is treated with an ozone shock treatment that kills nearly all of the mould and bacteria in every nook and corner. As the mould and bacteria are eliminated, so are their odours-to your guests, the room is only as clean as it smells, notes Pickles.

Next, a compact and quiet air purifier is installed; this arms guests with a defence against potentially dangerous airborne particles, such as VOCs, bacteria, allergens, mould spores, pollen, fine dust, and dust mites. And several different models are available, says Pickles. For example, a recent conversion of 10 rooms at the Conrad in Miami used several different models.

Then, mattresses and pillows are covered with allergy-friendly and tightly woven bed encasings that provide dust and dust mite protection. The ones used by PURE are mould-proof, spore-proof, and waterproof, as well as machine washable.

Finally, showerhead chlorine filters are added because clean water is important for showering and bathing as well as drinking. In the shower, chlorine vaporizes and, when inhaled, goes directly into the bloodstream. Having a filter on the showerhead helps prevent this potential irritant.

The cost to convert a guestroom to allergy-friendly depends on what is in the room. A standard room with two queen-sized beds and four pillows would cost about US$ 1,500. In addition, quarterly maintenance, which includes cleaning filters, costs a minimal US$ 75 fee. "Hotels could lose integrity if they promote a room as being allergy friendly, but a lack of maintenance allows allergens to exist," says Pickles.

V-Kool addresses the issue of air quality in a different perspective; it installs window film to prevent room conditions from being ideal for bacterial growth. There are two types of window film available: conventional and spectrally selective.

The conventional window film is available with either tinted or reflective finishes. The upside is it blocks heat from entering a room; the downside is it also blocks light. "You would have to run additional lighting, which increases heat and negates the purpose of the film," says Miller. Only 47 per cent of the sun's energy is seen by the eye as visible light. The other 53 per cent of the sun's energy adds unwanted heat. Spectrally selective window film allows for the transmission of certain wavelengths but not others; it lets in 73 percent of visible light, while blocking 90 percent of infrared. This translates into greater energy efficiency and lower operations costs; it also helps prevent fading.

Conventional film costs USD 2-6 per square foot installed, while spectrally selective costs USD 9-12 per square foot installed. "The spectrally selective costs more, but does a better job," says Miller. In fact, the Los Angles Department of Power & Water has a rebate programme for properties with window film, but only rewards spectrally selective not conventional because of the increased energy conservation.

Worth Your While

Making rooms allergy-free or at least allergy-friendly, and maintaining them that way can provide a great potential return. "Hotels can differentiate these rooms and charge a premium for them," notes Pickles.

And once customers know a healthier alternative is available, they'll be looking for that alternative every time they travel. "The person seeking out these rooms is educated," he says. "They have probably done the same things in their homes."

"People will drive to lodging facilities where they feel comfortable," agrees Karl Kalani, vice president and general manager of Rx Solutions International Inc., which provides environmental assessment and awareness services. "They will drive 50 miles out of the way to avoid a hotel where they've had a bad experience."

Miller stresses that providing a facility with good air quality is not a one-solution-solves-all situation. "There is not one magic bullet," he says. "You need a comprehensive building management plan that takes a look at all the systems in a co-ordinated way to assess and fix air quality."

This article has been syndicated from: http://www.expresshotelierandcaterer.com/
Author: Deborah Fisher

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