Regular maintenance evaluations at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort indicated that the primary boilers used for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) were underutilized and the gas boilers used to heat domestic water were due for replacement. In response, engineers introduced a heat exchanger in lieu of a new water heater. As a result, extra heat generated by the HVAC boiler became available to heat the domestic water. The new system delivered an initial 13 percent reduction in natural gas usage, so six additional heat exchangers were implemented to provide hot water in Guest rooms and kitchens. Expanding upon this successful program, engineers at Disney’s Pop Century Resort are now evaluating how to reclaim waste heat from air-conditioning chillers for use in heating water.

Recent advances in lighting technology have introduced very efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with a decreased power demand as compared to traditional incandescent lighting. At Pleasure Island, new LED cluster lights installed in outdoor signage will save 18,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. The lights also last longer, thereby reducing maintenance costs. Inside Pleasure Island, stage lights were also replaced with LED fixtures that use one-tenth of the power consumed by traditional incandescent fixtures. On surrounding streets within property, LED technology is being used in traffic lights, creating the same light output with 20 percent less power consumption. Other applications of this technology include solar-powered menu signs utilized at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival this year.