Oct. 18, 2007 Motel 6 has announced it will install energy-saving retrofits in 7,530 rooms at 66 properties in northern and central California.

The motel chain has signed on to participate in PG&E's Cool Control Plus program, geared toward promoting energy efficiency in the lodging industry. Program partner Honeywell will perform the retrofits, installing occupancy sensors and thermostats that turn air-conditioning and heating units off when rooms are empty.

PG&E estimates that these measures cut energy use by an average of 1,100 kilowatt-hours per room, saving hotel owners up to $140 per room. Motel 6 calculates that its retrofits will also save 10 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year.

As part of a separate initiative, Motel 6 has already installed at 49 other California properties. The new retrofits bring its total number of retrofitted motel rooms in the state to 13,440.