INNCOM e⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat Energizes Hotels' Cost-Saving Initiatives

June 26, 2001

Properties report payback on investment in 18 months with guestroom energy savings averaging 50% or more

Old Lyme, Conn. —June 26, 2001— INNCOM International, Inc., a global leader in guestroom control systems, is showcasing at HITEC 2001 in Orlando its e⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat that is saving some hotels hundreds of thousand of dollars annually in energy costs.

INNCOM is exhibiting its entire line of smart-room technologies June 26-28 at the Hospitality Industry Technology Conference & Exposition, in Booth 701 of Orlando’s Orange Country Convention Center.

Sold directly through Old Lyme-based INNCOM, as well as through a new exclusive OEM private-label agreement with eRoomSystem Technologies, Inc., the increasingly popular e⁴Smart Digital Thermostat has helped the 392-room Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel more than offset today’s skyrocketing energy costs.

“Our savings in energy consumption has almost completely offset today’s skyrocketing energy cost,” said General Manager Francis Parkinson. “Many of our competitors are crippled by energy expenses 50 percent higher than ours and have lost business trying to recoup rising costs with surcharges. Thanks to INNCOM’s bundled solutions, our energy consumption has been cut by more than one-third.

“Today, we have a leg up on our competition in critical areas such as guest service, room rates and operational costs, and the gap is growing wider every day,” he said. “INNCOM promises personalized service and immediate and sustained payback – and they deliver on all of it. They pay as much attention to us as their systems allow us to pay to our guests and bottom line.”

Duane Buckingham, INNCOM President and CEO, said that recent unprecedented energy price hikes overnight have made digital thermostats a “must have” for hotel properties looking to control costs and stay competitive.

“Our e⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat with central control has always provided unmatched payback, and with today’s energy crisis the solution is selling itself more so than ever before,” Buckingham said. “Hoteliers have long known it’s not a question of whether to invest in energy-saving room control technologies such as our e⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat. It’s always been just a question of when and in which system to invest.

“I don’t think we have to convince anyone that NOW is the time to invest in energy management systems,” he said. “And our growing base of hotel clients – who have tested the competition and selected us time and again – are a testimony to the unparalleled energy savings, and ease of installation, use and control, provided by our proven e⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat.”

Buckingham said INNCOM’s e⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat key features include:

• The product is designed to control virtually any fan coil unit or packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) found in hotel guestrooms;
• It comes standard with an illuminated Digital Display, selectable Fahrenheit/Celsius control, on-touch temperature selection, and off/auto, fan and display buttons;
• Customer-programmable parameters and precision DDC temperature control make this both a cost-cutting tool and guest service amenity; and
• Additional features include five relays, optional onboard infrared (IR) transceiver and passive infrared occupancy sensor (PIR).

When coupled with INNCOM’s wireless magnetic door switch, thee⁴ becomes the brain of a low-cost, highly effective guestroom energy management system. When connected to INNCOM’s network with a pair of low-voltage wires, an even more powerful centrally controlled energy management system is created. Additionally, the e⁴ is readily expandable to include functionality such as humidity control, outside temperature display, minibar access reporting, occupancy reporting to housekeeping, and automatic control of lights, drapes, the TV and telephone.

Circus, Circus in Reno, NV., this year is installing INNCOM’se⁴ Smart Digital Thermostat in 680 guestrooms, and will deploy the energy-saving technology in its remaining about 900 guestrooms early next year, said Chief Engineer Mike Miller.

“Energy costs here have risen more than 30 percent in the past year, but the e⁴ more than offsets this with energy consumption savings holding steady at 50 percent less kilowatts per room,” Miller said. “We are on target to save $200,000 a year by installing the e⁴ in 680 rooms – and that’s if energy prices stay stable, which we all know is a big ‘if’. After we install e⁴ in the rest of our guestrooms, our energy savings should top $500,000 – and that’s a conservative estimate on annual dollars that go straight to our bottom line.

“Just as important, unlike some of the other thermostats out there that we tested, the e⁴ quells, not spurs, guest service complaints,” he said. “The e⁴truly is both a guest and operator driven energy management solution. It’s been a pleasure to work with all of the folks at INNCOM because of their unique products, competitive pricing an professional service that can’t be beat.”

Based in Old Lyme, Conn., INNCOM International, Inc., is a global leader in guestroom control systems. Since 1986, INNCOM has pioneered the development of systems that integrate energy management with the control of electronic locks, lighting, drapes, TV’s, telephones, and other guestroom appliances. Many of these systems are based on the company’s patented infrared technology and link operating systems such as the PBX, PMS, and POS to management and support staff and the outside world – helping hotels capture additional operating efficiencies and deliver superior guest experiences. For additional information on INNCOM and its unique solutions and services.

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