Conclusion Four options were considered for as farm of energy usage by a hotel named the haven in Dunmore east in Waterford. These energy options were CHP, PV, wind turbines and biomass boilers. Although hotels can be of different () and for various purposes, there are certain () factors any hotel owners would consider when it comes to important decision making for their hotels, and the owners of the haven are no different. Cost efficiencies would be a priority, and the need for renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly is also becoming increasingly important, through both choice for the business or even as a result of pressure from outside sources, such as government and pressure groups. In comparison to of her business, hotels like the haven would have unusually high heat and power needs. This is because there is a high level of central heating, lighting, air conditioning, television, and of her power and heat usages. The seasonal nature of hotels would also mean that power and heat needs would be significantly different at different times. The havens power usage was consistently high from 2010 to 2012, going from 102,865 to 110,086 and then 105,933 kwh being used, but this could be easily affected by customer demand and weather conditions in any following year. It is possible to suggest that cost efficiencies are possible for the four chosen forms of sustainable energy. Combined heat and power (CHP) avoids energy loss by using the heat produced. The statistics suggest energy () of between 20% and 40% for this farm of energy source. For the example of the haven combined heat and power was able to satisfy at least 40% of the annual electricity load. Although there could be significant initial outlay costs with solar panel usage continued. These efficiencies could even be increased by () the excess energy created. The increased worldwide production of wind turbines would mean that economies of scale in buying the produce is becoming increasingly cost efficient. The use of wood pellets for biomass boilers would be a further low cost option for the haven. There are good points to be made with all the four sustainable energy sources concerning their impact on the environment. The fact CHP reduces CO2 emissions by a minimum of 1000 tones energy year for 1MW of CHP is odiously a positive effect. There is no pollutant released into the atmosphere as a result of solar panel usage. Similarly, using wind turbines does not generate any greenhouse gases. There is also no production of carbon dioxide in the use of biomass boilers as their combustion of wood pellets mean they are carbon neutral. It might be of interest to the haven to examine which forms of grants or financial benefits they could receive from the government by using each of the four forms of sustainable energy investment in a biomass boiler could be offset against the government renewable heat incentive over 20 years, or investment in solar panels could mean that the haven would be paid through the governments feed-in-tariffs even if they used the electricity. On the opposite side, governments are increasingly introducing carbon taxes to deter the use of non-sustainable energies. Unfortunately, both solar panels and wind turbines use electricity only. This means that they both have to use boilers to get water. This is not the situations combined heat and power (CHP), which can obtain efficiencies of more than 85% as a result of it’s generation of both heat and power without energy loss in transmission. This should be of the greatest interest to the haven in making its selection the fact that CHP is ideally suited to the hotel industry means it might be the preferred option also. The haven would have a number of variables to consider in its selection of sustainable energy source. Government incentives and dis-incentives could effect its decisionsmaking. The impact of rising energy costs and energy needs is important. Its own
financial position in terms of its current cash flow position and its capacity to invest would need to be assessed. External social and political factors could also alter their decision-making. Given the clear four alternatives, the fact CHP simultaneously produces heat and power should make it the leading option.