The Austrian magazine for the hotel sector, catering and large-scale catering sector "HGV Praxis" on the ****S Hotel Leitlhof in Innkirchen (South Tyrol). This spa hotel, which is located at 1,100 metres above sea level, was marked by the climate partner as a best-practice hotel regarding climate neutrality.
In 2013, the Mühlmann family added 18 rooms to their hotel so that they now have 55. Furthermore, the hotel has dedicated over 2000 m² to its spa area, with several saunas and a 100 m² outdoor pool that is also heated to 31°C in winter.
At the same time they were able to reduce carbon emissions from 396 t in 2012 to 262 t in 2013. - A peak result that has been achieved by no other hotel in this category in South Tyrol.
The key to this success lies in the use of state-of-the-art energy technology. The Mühlmann family runs two wood gas-powered combined heat and power units built by the German plant manufacturer Spanner Re². The system has the means for a total of 230 kW thermal output and 90 kW electrical output. Last year each unit ran for 7150 hours.
The effective heat use in the hotel was over one million kilowatt-hours. Parallel to this, the national grid was supplied with 630,000 kWh of electrical energy. Der Leitlhof can provide almost all of its own heat and electricity itself with the wood gas power system.
However, the electricity will be fed into the national grid for many years to come. That brings in a six-figure sum every year which the energy supplier transfers to the Mühlmann family, so the system pays for itself.
Stephan Mühlmann is satisfied: "For us the time and money investment is paying off – not least because of the legally guaranteed compensation for electricity fed into the grid.
"We're proud of our energy concept and that our guests can spend a climate neutral holiday in our hotel," professes Stephan Mühlmann, the hotel's junior manager, and adds, "That way our guests can enjoy the luxury we offer, and feel good about it as well."
Click here for the website of "Der Leitlhof" in South Tyrol.