Transforming Hotel Comfort: Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning Delivers Next-Gen HVAC Solutions for the Hospitality Sector
Brought to you by Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning
Key challenges in today’s hotel industry
The hospitality sector is undergoing a profound transformation. The past couple of years have brought about a shift in customer demographics and their expectations, with rising demand for accommodations tailored to digital nomads and long-stay business travellers. There is a spotlight on the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ), with state-of-the-art ventilation and filtration expected to ensure the health and well-being of guests and staff. At the same time, hotels face operational challenges like reduced staffing and high energy costs. These issues call for HVAC solutions that are efficient, easy to maintain, and aligned with strict sustainability goals and environmental regulations.
Hitachi’s blueprint for HVAC excellence
With its unwavering commitment to flexibility, sustainability, and guests’ health and well-being, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning offers a comprehensive range of HVAC solutions that are designed to support the evolving needs of the hotel industry.
Flexibility: Tailored HVAC systems offer flexible installation for all hotel spaces from guest rooms to kitchens, fitting seamlessly into new or retrofit projects:
• Space-saving designs like the 4-Way Cassette Compact (600mm x 600mm) allow for space-efficient and unobtrusive cooling of small, intimate spaces. Silent-Iconic, the 4-way cassette panel, is a perfect blend of premium climate-control technology and sleek aesthetics.
• Modular systems like air365 SideSmart™, the world’s first slim modular VRF unit, present fewer complications during delivery and installation and offer scalable capacity.
• Wide range of indoor unit options, including ducted, cassette, ceiling-suspended, enable seamless integration into the hotel designs.
Sustainability: Energy-efficient VRF systems together with other complete HVAC portfolios drive energy savings, reduce operational costs and support hotels’ business growth:
• The newly launched S series and VG series centrifugal chillers utilize eco-friendly refrigerants R1234ze (GWP<1) and R513a (GWP=573), ensuring high efficiency, safety, and stability. The upcoming non-flammable refrigerant R1233zd (GWP~1) reinforces Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning’s commitment to innovative technology for reducing carbon emissions.
• With high Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) ratings, Hitachi’s versatile VRF systems air365 Max Pro to balance efficiency, cost-effectiveness and comfort.
• IoT-enabled controls with design excellence such as airCloud Tap and airCloud Pro facilitate smart HVAC operation, maintenance and management for hotel professionals throughout the entire life cycle.
Health and well-being: Hitachi’s innovative “3R framework”—right temperature, right feeling, right purity—ensures safe and comfortable environments through:
• Advanced IAQ solutions with filtration neutralise pathogens and reduce the risk of secondary infections in the hotel rooms. The efficiency of ViroSense Z2 has been confirmed with virus inhibition by over 99.7% and bacteria removal by over 99%.1 The AQtiv-Ion Kit for VRF systems can easily convert the ducted indoor unit to air purifier.
• Hitachi’s PRIMAIRY Inverter AC ensure quiet operations and guaranteed comfort by reducing fan speed and the frequency of the compressor, resulting in a low operation noise, keeping the hotel stay peaceful and relaxed.
Efficiency meets comfort: A case study of Nippondaira Hotel
With expansive views of Mount Fuji and landscaping that meld with surrounding grasslands, Nippondaira Hotel in Japan selected Hitachi’s Scroll Chiller and SET FREE VRF system for their reconstruction. These systems complement the hotel’s nature-centric spatial experience, helping to reduce the hotel’s environmental footprint while maintaining a high level of guest comfort. The HVAC system not only addressed all stakeholder requirements, but exceeded expectations in line with the hotel’s mission:
• Achieve world-class rating in energy efficiency: Hitachi’s SET FREE VRF system allows for precise temperature control tailored to guests’ preferences and deploys heat recovery technology to reuse excess heat from cooled rooms. Centralised monitoring capabilities enable hotel management to efficiently oversee HVAC operations. Two sets of Inverter MATRIX chillers were installed in the hotel’s main public space with high ceiling and glass walls. The energy-efficient features helped the hotel to earn S Class rating from CASBEE, Japan’s Green building certification programme.
• Optimise for sustainability: The exclusively electric HVAC equipment significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to using fossil fuel sources. The combined system reduces energy consumption by 21 per cent.
• Uncompromised comfort: The CH-Box and expansion valves were installed remotely, and indoor air inlets are placed as far as possible from the guest beds and relaxation areas, helping maintain an exceptional level of quietness in guest rooms, meeting the NC25 noise criteria.
“Hitachi’s air conditioning system has enabled us to reduce a lot of our energy spending”, said Noriyoshi Ikegaya, Executive Director of Administration and Director of Engineering at Nippondaira Hotel. “It’s been six years and we have yet to experience any issues”.
Powering sustainable hospitality growth
By addressing the unique needs of the hotel industry, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning delivers solutions that promote operational excellence, support hotels’ business goals and enhance guest satisfaction. These time-tested and trusted solutions, acclaimed by both the industry and customers, exemplify Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning’s contribution and dedication to fostering a sustainable future.
To learn more about Hitachi’s hotel solutions, please click here to download the brochure.
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