Air Filter Hotel De L’Europe
New air filter provides important contribution to sustainability for Hotel De L’Europe
In the centre of Amsterdam, looking out over the Amstel River, lies the 19th century Hotel De L’Europe. This five-star hotel with 88 rooms and suites is located at a walking distance of the many museums and tourist attractions home to our capital. In 2014, the restaurant of De L’Europe received its second Michelin star and, in the same year, Richard van Oostenbrugge was named Chef of the Year by Gault & Millau. Previously, the bar of the hotel, named after the Dutch beer brewer Freddy Heineken, already won the award “Holland’s Best Cocktail Bar.”
Jan Pastor, Head Technical Service at De L’Europe: “At the hotel, the guest experience is pivotal. Our indoor climate is an important aspect of this, it makes the guests feel good. Which is why it should be optimal. We also feel responsible for the outdoor climate. That is why, in 2004, the hotel signed a sustainability covenant with the municipality of Amsterdam and why we have received Green Key certification. Green Key is the international quality label for sustainable management. In 2006, we were the first hotel to receive the golden certificate. Despite luxury and comfort coming first, we make an effort to operate as sustainable as possible. Think of water saving and climate control.”
“We not only offer service at a very high level, but we are also leading with regards to sustainability. The hotel is equipped with advanced air conditioning that regulates the cooling and heating of the rooms. In striving for an optimal indoor climate, we try to burden the outdoor climate as little as possible.” – Jan Pastoor, Head Technical Service at De L’Europe
Improvements regarding power savings
Pastor: “Achieving a Green Key certificate does not mean you can start relaxing. You have to actively search for ways to further improve the management. That is why we draw up a sustainability plan each year. In this plan, we look for areas for improvement regarding sustainability. Sometimes these just come to you, such as AFPRO Filters. AFPRO pointed us at a new type of PM1 air filter for hotels. After attending a presentation, I was immediately enthusiastic. The new filters save a substantial amount of energy and so provide a lower CO2 emission and a cost reduction.”
20% energy reduction by new air filters
Thomas de Wit, account manager at AFPRO Filters: “I advised Hotel De L’Europe about switching to a new type of PM1 HQ filter (suited as air filter hotel). Big developments have taken place recently in the field of filter quality. The new HQ air filter has a lower starting resistance, which means the motor in the air treatment unit has to work less hard, which in turn leads to an energy reduction. My Life Cycle Costing calculation showed an expected energy reduction of no less than 20%.”
Longer service life air filter hotel
An additional benefit of the new air filter hotel is the longer service life. It is expected that they will have to be replaced less often. This means a decrease of material and labour costs as well as less waste. In other words: even more reductions and profit for the environment. Pastor: “The new air filters are a little more expensive to purchase, but we are convinced that all investments into sustainability will return to your wallet. You only need the guts to invest in it. Only looking at the price tag is not enough. Also think of the consequences of your investment.”