Company profile: Providence Marriott Downtown embarks on $4.2 million energy efficiency project

Farouk Rajab, Marriott hotel general manager, recently spoke at the launch of the City of Providence’s RePowerPVD program, committing to a 20 percent reduction in energy use by 2025. The RePowerPVD program is a voluntary energy challenge designed to help large buildings in the city conserve energy, save money and gain recognition for their leadership to make Providence carbon neutral by 2050.

Marriot is embarking on $4.2 million worth of energy efficiency improvements in 2019 as part of its overall re-imagination of its building.

Recent improvements include the installation of a series of high-efficiency boilers, replacing original units from 1974. New rapid recovery water heaters also provide a consistent supply of hot water.

But that is only the beginning. Planned improvements include a new variable refrigerant flow HVAC system for all 351 rooms in its four-building complex. Function rooms will receive a computerized HVAC management system to regulate temperatures during events and minimize energy use when the rooms are not in use. Additionally, Marriot is replacing many of its incandescent bumps with energy efficiency LEDs.

Planned kitchen upgrades include installing automated fan motors on refrigeration equipment to reduce constant electric draw and changing current kitchen hood controls to vary fan speed based on heat demand.

National Grid is partnering with the hotel to help with rebates on many of these energy efficiency upgrades.

Farouk estimates that after these energy efficiency improvements are complete, the hotel will be saving $250,000 per year.