Résumé

This study examines the potential for rainwater harvesting in an existing 3 - star hotel in Switzerland with the purpose of illustrating, to what extent the usage of a rainwater harvesting system could reduce cost and potable water consumption in a hotel. The paper comprises methods used by previous research in rai nwater harvesting and applies them to the hotel industry with a specific example. The assessment is based on the identification of the reduction in water consumption, optimal tank size, system efficiencies, and payback periods. For this purpose, a single - c ase study approach was selected. Results confirm high potential for rainwater harvesting at the case study subject, especially when the water is used only for laundry washing. The economic analysis yielded low savings due to an exceptional low water price, soft water and local regulations for sewage charges, rendering the system financially not feasible. Nevertheless, rainwater harvesting was still found to be a viable solution for hotels due to high water savings. It could ev en be come interesting from a fi nancial point of view in areas of Switzerland where the water hardness and price are relatively high. This paper’s approach to assess the potential of such sustainable systems in the Swiss hotel industry is a unique addition to the existent literature on r ainwater harvesting studies and contributes to their understanding in hotels.

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