Retrofitting for water efficiency: A hotel case study

Water efficiency in building makes good environmental, economic and social sense.There are improvements to water efficiency standards in new buildings – domestic andnon-domestic which is influenced by recent changes to building regulations, increase inenvironmental awareness, corporate social responsibility, delivering better lifetime valueto clients and customers etc. Retrofitting water efficiency in existing buildings however,can be more challenging due to uncertainties about the cost-benefits of certaintechnologies, existing building systems and products, existing and anticipated userresponse and engagement etc.This paper will present a retrofitting case study of a small to medium sized hotel inSussex, England. It will discuss the reason for the retrofit program from the hotel andwater company perspective. It will then discuss the methodological approach todetermining the potential and actual outcomes of the water efficiency retrofits, integratingthe client and user perspective where necessary. The paper will conclude with lessonslearned and recommendations to similar programmes on hotel sites.This project is carried out collaboratively by the Lodge at Winchelsea, ChandlersBuilding Supplies, Southern Water and the Water Efficiency Lab, University of Brighton.