Delivering reliable, on-demand domestic hot water (DHW) across Mandarin Oriental’s luxury guest rooms, suites, and world-class culinary venues requires a substantial energy load—traditionally met by burning natural gas.

In line with its commitment to environmental responsibility, Mandarin Oriental set out to transition this essential service to a cleaner, more energy-efficient solution—without disrupting day-to-day operations or compromising the architectural integrity of its landmark property.

Naked Energy, in partnership with installation expert SHEco, developed a custom VirtuHOT system designed to preheat water for the hotel’s DHW system—cutting natural gas consumption while maintaining the comfort and performance expected by discerning guests.

The system includes 120 VirtuHOT solar thermal collectors, producing approximately 133 million BTUs (equivalent to 39 MWh) of thermal energy annually, with a peak output of 163,000 BTU/h (48 kWₚₜₕ). A 264-gallon (1,000-liter) storage tank helps optimize performance and reliability. Over its 25-year lifespan, the system is expected to eliminate over 160 U.S. tons of CO₂ emissions—about 16,000 pounds annually.

The 970-square-foot (90 m²) rooftop installation required customized pipework—both rigid and flexible copper lines—to deliver heated water efficiently to the hotel’s central plant. All pipework was precisely manifolded to integrate seamlessly with existing systems.

VirtuHOT’s low-profile design sits nearly flush with the roofline, making it ideal for urban properties where aesthetics and space are at a premium.

SHEco oversaw the full installation, ensuring smooth delivery from planning to commissioning.