Energy efficiency project at Grand Hotel Terminus

The main building of the hotel has seven floors and covers around 10,000 square meters. Also on the property is Villa Terminus, an 18th-century protected villa with 18 hotel rooms. The villa has served as a backstage area for famous Norwegian artists during outdoor concerts. Kjetil Smørås purchased the hotel in 2006 and led extensive renovations.

Photo: Vebjørn Løvås

Grand Hotel Terminus has a total of 149 rooms, including the villa. When the extension is completed, it will have a total of 175 rooms. The main building is a masonry structure with a sloping roof with a cold attic and large double-glazed windows. The old boiler room was built in several stages, and will be more efficient with the upgrade.

Eight energy wells, each 300 meters deep, are being drilled on the lawn between Villa Terminus and the hotel. The boiler room is also being updated with a new heat pump. Any excess energy will be used for cooling in the summer.

Kjetil Smørås and hotel director Tomas Johannesen are present at the location where the drilling machine is about to start operation.

– We are excited to adopt the efficient energy system as part of modernizing this historic hotel, Smørås states.

– It has been important to preserve the original expression of the hotel during the renovation. There is a lot of history in the walls, and we want guests to experience the luxurious and elaborate craftsmanship that characterizes the interior. At the same time, we also want to contribute with energy-saving measures by modernizing the heating and cooling of the hotel, says Kjetil Smørås.

– Our owner values holistic thinking and proper preservation of expression, which our guests also appreciate. Tomas Johannesen, hotel director of Grand Hotel Terminus since 2018, observes this recognition among guests.

Reduces energy consumption with 26 percent

The average energy consumption for buildings like Terminus is 240 kWh/m². Before implementing energy-saving measures, Hotel Terminus consumed 225 kWh/m², which dropped to 166 kWh/m² afterwards. This 26% reduction is particularly beneficial given rising energy prices.

NVE projects that the average electricity price in 2030 will be 80 øre per kWh. Given these electricity rates, many commercial buildings and older hotels are expected to see significant benefits from implementing energy efficiency measures, resulting in shorter payback periods than previously anticipated.

Project manager at AF Energi, Johanna Olsen, notes that hotels can save 25-30% on energy by installing heat pumps and applying smart heat management.