CEFC and Pro-Invest reach for the stars with first clean energy investment in the hotels sector

A new Melbourne hotel will set new design standards in energy efficiency to help cut as much as 25 per cent of its energy consumption, drawing on a $39 million investment commitment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

The Holiday Inn Express at Southbank in Melbourne is being developed by the Pro-invest Group, one of the largest hotel investment platforms in Australasia.

In its first investment in the hotels sector, the CEFC is driving Pro-invest Group to achieve a 5-star energy rating for the project, under the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS).

As part of the CEFC finance, Pro-invest Group will lift the design standard for the project, ensuring the latest clean energy technologies are included from the construction stage.

CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said: “These design changes will result in a 25 per cent drop in the hotel’senergy use, delivering a substantial energy saving that will provide ongoing benefits for the hotel, carbon-conscious guests and for the environment.

“Hotels are traditionally high energy consumers, with significant requirements for air conditioning, refrigeration and hot water services. We congratulate Pro-invest on taking the initiative to incorporate energy saving initiatives right from the design phase for this prominent hotel. Together, we are delivering a new standard in hotel energy efficiency, which we encourage other developers to adopt.”

The CEFC is providing a $39 million construction and term debt facility as part of a co-financing package for the $125 million Southbank project.

The Pro-invest Group already operates Holiday Inn Express hotels in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. It expects to develop another six hotels across Australia and New Zealand, including the Southbank project.

Pro-invest Group CEO Ronald Barrott said: “We are committed in ensuring all our assets achieve high-ranking NABERS Energy and Water ratings. Together with CEFC guidance, we will incorporate a range of initiatives into the Southbank project to improve the NABERS Rating outcome to 5 stars.

“This will include high performance glazing, high efficiency air-cooled chillers and condensing boilers and solar photovoltaic systems on the hotel’s roof.

“Other initiatives include regenerative lift drives rather than standard lift motors, which will enable the hotel to recycle energy. Integrated building management and guestroom energy management systems will also mean we can both monitor and drive optimum building energy performance.”

The Southbank project is a 22-storey mixed-use development, featuring a 345-room hotel, extensive commercial and retail space and car parking. The hotel is expected to be operational by the end of 2019.

CEFC Property Lead Chris Wade added: “Our goal is to work across the entire property sector to deliver lower carbon emissions. Through our investments we are providing real life examples to property developers of how and where new technologies can deliver the most value.