It’s simple math: the less money a hotel spends, the more profit it makes. There’s no better cost-cutting measure for hotel owners than one that can double as a “green initiative”—a win-win that lowers energy usage while earning eco-friendly brownie points.
Take motion-sensor thermostats, for example. Companies market these as improving comfort, but the real pitch is the bottom line: “Occupancy sensing systems will increase profits by reducing room HVAC energy consumption by 35 to 45 percent.”
One of the earliest energy-saving tricks in hotels dates back decades: the key card slot by the door. Hotels insisted you needed to insert your room key to power the lights, outlets, TV, and HVAC. The reality? Any card would do the trick. It quickly became one of the most popular travel hacks:
“Carry a spare card (old bank card, library card, etc.) for the electric switch slot in your hotel room. You can keep the AC running while you’re out and still have your room key in your pocket.” – tommyredbeard
Experienced travelers got wise, using expired membership cards or old credit cards to keep their rooms cool, devices charging, and comforts intact while they were out. Hotels seemed to notice, and many have started abandoning the effort altogether.
The Shift: Hotels Giving In
On a recent trip to Southeast Asia, we noticed a fascinating trend: hotels preloaded key cards in the power slots for us.
At the Hyatt Regency Danang, the card was already in place when we entered. The same happened at our hotel in Hanoi. By the time we reached Changi Airport in Singapore, it was clear this was no coincidence—it’s a new standard.
This made perfect sense for where we were:
- The climate? Hot and humid (even in February).
- The accommodations? Premium properties where guests expect comfort.
When someone pays top dollar for a hotel, they don’t want to return to a room that feels like a sauna. After years of guests overriding these systems, hotels have likely realized the battle isn’t worth fighting.
Smart Energy-Saving Initiatives That Work
Rather than forcing frustrating systems on guests, hotels can embrace energy-saving ideas that enhance comfort and still reduce waste:
- Opt-Out Housekeeping: Many hotels now allow guests to skip daily housekeeping, cutting energy use from vacuuming, laundry, and cleaning. It’s a win-win for eco-conscious travelers and the hotel’s bottom line.
- Water-Saving Fixtures: Upgrading to low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets reduces water heating costs while providing guests with a pleasant experience.
- Subtle Signage: Encouraging guests to reuse towels or turn off lights is a simple, non-intrusive way to nudge greener habits without compromising comfort.
- Energy Star Appliances: Outfitting rooms with energy-efficient refrigerators and coffee makers helps reduce energy use without guests noticing.
Hotels can also take sustainability one step further with behind-the-scenes efforts like regular HVAC maintenance or automated lighting in common areas, leaving the guest experience untouched while reaping significant energy savings.
Final Thoughts
Energy conservation is important, and I’m all for reasonable efforts to reduce waste. I even have a programmable thermostat at home that adjusts temperatures throughout the day. But let’s be honest—shutting off the power entirely while guests are out isn’t practical, and motion sensors that turn off the AC while people are sleeping are downright infuriating.
I’ll admit it: I’ve always cheated the system. Returning to a boiling hot room after a long day isn’t acceptable, and I had no shame using an old AAA card to keep the power running.
It seems hotels are finally catching on. Guests want comfort, and these half-hearted attempts to force energy savings only lead to frustration. If hotels want to strike the perfect balance, guest-friendly green initiatives are the way forward. After all, the happier the guest, the better the review—and that’s worth more than a few kilowatt-hours saved.
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7 comments
I agree with your sentiment, but what I don’t understand is that most of the warm climate hotels I stay in preset their room temperatures in the mid 60s. It has to be bad for their bottom lines, it’s bad for the environment, and I find it uncomfortably freezing.
Ditto.
Tell the house keepers not to turn the thermostats way low in hotels in hot climates. Every time I check into a hotel in Vegas, the thermostat in the room is set to the low to mid 60s (F).
Also, if hotels are going to use occupancy detectors on their thermostats to detect room occupation, put the sensor so it can detect people who are sleeping in the room. Many times I’ve found that the AC stops working in the night because the sensor doesn’t see me in the bed and I wake up because I’m too hot to sleep. Fortunately, there are many posts online on how to override the sensors in a wide range of hotel thermostats.
Glad that the internet came up with a “hack” for avoiding the tragedy of dealing with 2 minutes of uncomfort while the AC turns back on
Key slot cards now have a chip.
System will not operate without the chip embedded card in the slot
The reduction in housekeeping literally bugs me …. Since hotels started reducing housekeeping, the number of bugs and other insects have increased. I have noticed this more at resort properties. And once cockroaches and other insects establish themselves, it is very difficult and costly to eliminate them.
Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, turning on the light, and finding your are not alone in your room …. gives me the “heebie-jeebies” ………. in the morning I end up dumping my luggage and checking for stow aways . I am not bringing them home with me 🙂
Now if hotels would put a nitestand (with a light) on each side of the bed, as well as a couple of USB outlets on each nitestand. While we’re at it, ditch the tub and just have walk-in showers.