Green Scope Solutions Founders on How Hotels Can Cut Energy Waste Without Compromising Guest Experience

When guests check into a hotel, they're usually thinking about comfort, convenience, and maybe how fluffy the pillows are, not the energy footprint of their stay. But the reality is, the global hotel industry is a massive consumer of energy and water. According to a report, U.S. hotels spend an average of $2,196 per available room each year on energy alone, making it the second-highest operating cost after labor. In general, hotels account for roughly 32% of energy use in the commercial sector, and given that most operate 24/7, 365 days a year, the environmental toll is significant.

From lights that never go off, to air conditioners blasting in empty rooms, to laundry machines running endlessly to provide crisp linens daily, hotels are inherently energy-hungry. But Green Scope Solutions, an energy efficiency services company, is on a mission to educate. It doesn't have to be that way. Led by Brian Mavraganes and Adam Morris, the company is helping hotels reduce their energy burden through smart, scalable, guest-friendly solutions. "You can't blame the guest, but you can lead by example," affirms Morris.

"Let's face it," says Mavraganes, "guests behave differently when they're not footing the bill for utilities. They crank the AC, take longer hot showers, and never think twice about leaving the lights on." But instead of pointing fingers, Green Scope helps hotels take ownership of their environmental impact and use it as a point of pride and even guest engagement.

"It's really powerful when guests see that the hotel is making an effort," Morris adds. "If you're putting signs up about recycling, giving people the option to skip daily towel or linen service, or highlighting the hotel's use of LED lighting and smart thermostats, then it's a shared experience. You're inviting them to participate in something bigger."

That shared experience must come with balance, though. "You can't cut corners on comfort," Mavraganes insists. "The solutions we bring to hotels are designed to be invisible to the guest, but impactful to the bottom line."

Among the top areas Green Scope targets for savings are HVAC systems, lighting, water conservation, building automation, energy procurement, and increasingly EV charging infrastructure. "Room automation is a game-changer," says Mavraganes. "With occupancy sensors and smart thermostats, rooms can automatically adjust settings when guests leave, saving enormous amounts of energy without anyone noticing. Coupling energy efficiency projects with strategic procurement provides better outcomes, because both are dependent on each other."

Lighting retrofits are still shockingly relevant, even in 2025. "I'm still amazed we're doing LED conversions after 15 years," says Mavraganes. "But some hotels haven't taken that step, even though the ROI is often achieved in under two years. After that, it's pure savings."

Water savings can be achieved by simple policy shifts, like only changing bed linens on request or optimizing laundry systems. "Do you change your sheets every day at home?" Morris asks. "Probably not. So why do it at a hotel, especially when the environmental impact is so large?"

Looking ahead, Green Scope is exploring the integration of on-site generation and storage to help hotels further reduce reliance on the grid. "With peak capacity costs skyrocketing in some regions," Morris explains, "being able to self-generate and store energy could allow hotels to reduce demand during expensive peak periods and control their costs more strategically."

It's an area where technology is evolving fast and with that evolution comes a natural question: how often do you reinvest? "That's always the tricky part," says Mavraganes. "Say a hotel invests $200,000 in energy-saving tech with a two-year return on investment. Great. But what if new tech comes out three years later that's even better? You want to avoid tech fatigue while still staying ahead."

Ultimately, Green Scope's mission goes beyond cost savings. It's about setting a new standard for responsibility in hospitality. "When a hotel is visibly making an effort, it encourages guests to be more mindful, even when they go home," says Morris. "That ripple effect matters."

Mavraganes echoes the sentiment: "We've done projects in major flag hotels and iconic buildings that waited over a decade to implement LED or automation upgrades. Once we show them the numbers, they can't believe they waited that long."

In a world increasingly defined by climate-conscious decision-making, the hotel industry's energy reckoning is long overdue. And thanks to firms like Green Scope, it doesn't have to come at the cost of a great night's stay.