Hotel · Domestic hot water
Domestic hot water in hotel: what the SRI measures
Domestic hot water covers the boiler or storage tank: is water heated on a fixed schedule or based on use, can the system use cheap electricity or solar heat, and is the circulation pump controlled smartly.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator assesses the hot water domain in a hotel.
- 2Hot water carries full weight here, with a weighting factor of 3 out of 3, because morning peak shower use requires substantial energy.
- 3The score depends on how intelligently the hot water tank is charged, how heat generators are controlled, and whether guests can view performance data.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control of DHW storage charging (with direct electric heating or integrated electric heat pump) DHW-1a · A · 3 levels | Automatic control on / off | Automatic on/off control, scheduled charging enable and demand-based supply temperature control or multi-sensor storage management | highest level |
| Control of DHW storage charging DHW-1b · A · 3 levels | None | Automatic charging control based on local availability of renewables or information from electricity grid (DR, DSM) | highest level |
| Control of DHW storage charging (with solar collector and supplementary heat generation) DHW-1d · 4 levels | Manual selected control of solar energy or heat generation | Automatic control of solar storage charge (Prio. 1) and supplementary storage charge, demand-oriented supply and return temperature control and multi-sensor storage management | – |
| Sequencing in case of different DHW generators DHW-2b · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running time | Control according to dynamic priority list (based on current AND predicted load, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, capacity of generators AND external signals from grid) | – |
| Report information regarding domestic hot water performance DHW-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | highest level |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 8 percentage points (from 31 to 39 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does hot water count so heavily in a hotel?
In a hotel, occupancy varies by room and by hour. Demand for hot water peaks especially in the morning, when many guests shower in quick succession.
Therefore, the hot water domain (DHW) receives maximum weight here: 3 out of 3. An intelligently controlled system can handle that peak better than a system that operates on fixed schedules.
What does the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) measure in this domain?
The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) examines multiple smart-ready services within the hot water domain. Each service has functionality levels from 0 to 4, where a higher level means more automation and coordination.
Service DHW-1a assesses control of hot water tank charging with direct electric heating or an integrated heat pump. The highest level combines time-based charge release with demand-driven temperature control.
DHW-1b examines whether tank charging accounts for local availability of renewable energy or electricity grid signals, also called demand response. DHW-1d goes further and assesses systems with a solar collector, where solar energy takes priority over additional heat generation.
How is priority determined between heat sources?
Many hotels use multiple heat generators simultaneously, for example solar energy alongside a gas boiler. Service DHW-2b assesses the priority sequencing between these generators.
At the lowest level, only operating hours determine sequence. At the highest level, level 4, the system accounts for current and predicted load, efficiency, CO2 emissions, generator capacity, and external electricity grid signals.
What do guests notice from these functions?
Guests expect individual room control linked to check-in and occupancy. This requires coordination between the reservation system and the hot water installation.
Service DHW-3 assesses whether the building reports on hot water performance. This can range from simple current values to predictive management with fault detection at level 4.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As a hotel owner, it pays to link the hot water installation to the reservation system, so charging times align with actual occupancy. This raises not only the functionality level within the Smart Readiness Indicator, but can also reduce energy consumption during morning peaks.
- Tenant
- As a guest, you notice little of the technology behind hot water, except that sufficient hot water is available even during busy mornings. A well-tuned system prevents waiting times without your needing to know anything about it.
- Advisor
- When assessing, focus on the combination of services DHW-1a, DHW-1b, and DHW-1d, since the available generation type (electric, renewable, or solar) determines which service applies. Also verify that priority sequencing between generators (DHW-2b) and the reporting function (DHW-3) are actually implemented, not merely technically possible.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?