As any facility manager will tell you, energy costs have become a major budget concern for those in the lodging industry, and as energy prices continue to climb, the future doesn't appear to offer much relief. And while energy-wise green building principles are quickly catching on for new construction, many managers are unaware of the basic opportunities for saving energy in their existing facilities.

How does one go about finding such opportunities? Often, the solutions begin with an audit of your facility's existing energy and water use. While such audits can come in many levels of detail, even a simple half-day walk-through by a qualified engineer, along with an analysis of your utility bills can reveal significant opportunities for savings.

The City of Boulder, Colo.,