REEEP

Interview with Arnfinn Oines, Environment Coordinator for Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa

Phuket, 25.03.2008 - written by: Peter Richards

The resort is situated on 64 acres of tropical parkland facing the Adaman Sea and has 260 rooms.

Question: What is the hotel's current position on climate change and carbon dioxide emissions? Do you have a climate or emissions policy?

Oines: Our position on climate change is to minimize energy consumption through energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources. Energy efficiency is the number one priority to reduce carbon dioxide emissions followed by use of renewable energy. Awareness and education is also important. Once we are confident that we have done what we can to become energy efficient, carbon offsetting will be considered. We do not have a direct climate/emissions policy, but it is covered through our Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy.
 
Question: What is Thailand doing to support renewable energy or energy efficiency?
 
Oines: In general there is not much governmental support for renewable energy or energy efficiency. There is quite a bit of talk, but little action. One area where Thailand is quite good is bio-fuels. Gasohol E10 has been available quite some time and this year gasohol E20 was introduced as well as bio-diesel B5. Through a lot of sugar cane waste much of the ethanol for gasohol is produced. Around 70% of grid electricity is produced by natural gas, which is better than coal. Unfortunately, not much is being done in terms of solar thermal hot water production.
 
Question: What is the current source of energy for your resorts? (oil, gas, solar, diesel generator) and have you taken any actions to move your energy consumption from fossil fuels over to renewable energy? If yes or no, why?
 
Oines: The main source of energy is grid electricity (produced from natural gas). Furthermore, we use LPG gas, petrol (gasohol E20) and diesel. We also use solar thermal to heat water as well as a quantum heat recovery pumps. Much of the water is distributed using gravity due to our hill location and we utilize natural ventilation and natural lighting. Recently we have installed a bio-diesel plant to recycle used cooking oil into bio-diesel. We are currently building a new receiving store and storage for goods. The 20 ton AC required for this building will be powered by garden waste through a biomass absorption chiller – first one of its kind in Thailand. So we are using and trying to use more renewable energy sources, however, it must be said since we are on the grid it will be of limited amounts.
 
Question: What percentage of the hotel's operating costs are energy, and what is the hotel doing to lower energy consumption? Have energy costs been rising in Thailand? What is the hotel's attitude towards energy independence?
 
Oines: The resort has implemented several projects to upgrade systems to reduce our energy usage and to use renewable energy, which includes:
  • Energy monitoring system achieved 10% savings through changing timers and settings for lighting, pumps and other systems to reduce “peak demand”.
  • Resort’s hill location used to distribute water by gravity eliminating almost all water pumps.
  • Solar Thermal Hot Water Plant combined with Quantum Heat Recovery ensures hot water supply by renewable energy. Quantum Heat Recovery pumps are 30-40% more efficient than conventional hot water pumps.
  • Innovative design used to improve energy efficiency, e.g. water pond and water fall used to create insulation as well as iconic view of resort.
  • Medium Voltage (6.6kV) underground electrical cables replaced low voltage energy loss above ground electrical cables. The reduction in thermal and amperage loss and accumulative has resulted in a reduced power peak load. Fairly common in the western world, but is unique in Thailand and was a huge challenge to implement in an existing resort.
  • Centralized  water supply mini-chiller system reduced energy consumption by 140,000 kWh or USD 11,000 annually.
  • 700 garden light bulbs changed to energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs; PAR “megaman” 38 20 watt saving 200,000 kWh or USD 17,000 annually.
  • Passive cooling.
  • Natural ventilation in lobby and all restaurants.
  • Back-up power diesel generator on low RPM ensures less pollution during power cuts compared to other diesel generators.
  • Four stroke engine speed boats.
The energy efficiency of the resort is best illustrated through exceeding by 59% the Green Globe 21 Best Practice for Energy Consumption, which is a benchmarking standard comparing resorts worldwide (please see attached Green Globe Benchmarking Assessment Report). The resort has already reduced energy consumption considerably and we are now in the planning stages of making the resort carbon neutral by offsetting the reminding carbon emissions with Six Senses Carbon Offset Programme through Converging World, which builds wind farms in India.
 
Energy costs have risen in Thailand, particularly gas prices as they used to be subsidised by the government. Energy independence would be ideal, but not really financially viable due to being grid connected with easy access to electricity. Our sister property in Maldives, Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, who currently get their electricity from their own diesel generators is aiming to be energy independent and a zero carbon emissions resort by 2010. For them energy independence makes more financial sense given the rise in crude oil prices.
 
Question: Your hotel is located in a hot climate, has the hotel been built in a particular way to reduce heat gain and lower air conditioning & cooling needs? Can you provide an example of a construction technique you used and the benefit gained.
 
Oines: Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa is in many ways an excellent example of sustainability in that the entire resort was developed in the shell of an existing building, perhaps the ultimate recycling experience for such a property. Typically the manufacture, transportation and installation of construction materials represent a huge proportion of the total energy consumption of a building. Using innovative design and construction Evason Phuket has been built into an existing shell which immediately delivered an enormous saving of energy and resources. A policy of not cutting down any existing trees has left many large trees, which create excellent shading. In addition to this, a large number of local plants and trees have been added to improve the natural habitat of the resort. As a result shading from noise and sun has been created and the foliage has attracted more wildlife, especially migratory birds.
 
As the resort was developed in an existing shell (not very energy efficient) there were limitations to the design, however, by using innovative design the use of natural ventilation has been an important feature towards reduced air conditioning needs. Another interesting feature is the lobby pond, which not only has given the resort its iconic view but also serves as insulation for the conference room below. A water fall at the family pool provides stunning aesthetic value as well as insulation for Just Kids! Club. Advantage of the resort’s hill location was taken to distribute water by gravity eliminating almost all water pumps.
 
Question: Are hotel guests requesting solar water heating or biogas production from food waste, or other forms of renewable energy? Or is the move to sustainability the initiative of the hotel?
 
Oines: A solar thermal plant as well as bio-diesel plant have been installed as mentioned earlier. Furthermore a biomass absorption chiller is being installed and solar PV and biogas production are being considered. These are not requests from guests rather initiatives from the hotel to improve its sustainability.
 
Question: Have you ever considered offsetting carbon emissions? What types of offsetting programmes have you investigated? Which ones did you like & why?
 
Our general attitude towards carbon offsetting is that it is wrong and just a way of buying your self a good conscience. The first goal is to reduce energy consumption, however, once that is done carbon offsets can be considered. We have for several years encouraged guests to offset their flights as this is impossible to avoid. Previously we have used projects involving tree planting, but have now changed to renewable energy as this is seen as more sustainable.
 
The Six Senses Carbon Offset Programme through the Converging World has been set up, where a wind farm in India will be built. Guests can offset their flights with Converging World and we are in process of charging guests to offset their stay with a fee of USD 1 per night to make their stay carbon neutral. Many carbon offset companies have been considered. The nice thing about the Converging World model is that not only do they offset carbon, but green electricity produced will be sold at half price of regular electricity giving locals clean and cheap electricity. Furthermore, part of income from the wind farms will go to local community projects and part of the income will go towards investments in new wind farms creating multiple benefits.