Limiting the use of air conditioning in vacation rentals: our eco-friendly solution

Does this sound familiar? A guest leaves for a day trip, and you discover afterwards that the AC ran 24/7 in every room... 😅

This is the daily reality for many vacation rental owners in Guadeloupe (and elsewhere!). At ZeWelcome, we manage over 160 villas, and this issue comes up very often in feedback from our partners.

Skyrocketing electricity bills, energy waste, environmental impact... We needed to find a solution.

We're sharing our experience here, the options we tested and ruled out, and the simple solution that works for us: a little UX "nudge" that's surprisingly effective!

Why AC management is critical in vacation rentals

Air conditioning is essential comfort in warm climates. But when left on continuously, it creates several major problems:

• 📈 Skyrocketing electricity costs: sometimes +€60 per person for a single week of rental. Several hundred euros for a large villa.
• ❄️ Premature equipment wear.
• ♻️ Environmental impact: in Guadeloupe, much electricity is generated from fossil fuels.
• 🚫 Friction with travelers when you try to regulate or limit usage.

The challenge: balance guest comfort, environmental respect, and cost control.

Overview of solutions tested (and their limitations)

We've tested or observed several options with other hosts:

1. Timers or time windows
   • Lets you set when AC can operate (e.g. 8pm-8am).
   • ❌ But prevents afternoon naps or daytime cooling.
2. Key system that shuts AC when guests leave
   • Based on a key linked to AC power supply.
   • ⚠️ Often generates negative reviews: home too hot on return, degraded experience.

Example: an Airbnb review from a villa with this system mentioned:
"You have to shut off all the AC when you leave... very hot and humid home each time you return."
Final rating: 2/5.

The key system that switches AC on/off

1. Billing guests for excess electricity consumption
   • Guests sign an agreement on arrival.
   • 📋 Adds stress from day one, gives a cold, unwelcoming image.
   • 🚨 Problematic on Airbnb: platform has transparency policies on fees.
2. Reminders via message if guests overstep
   • Only works if you live nearby and can hear the AC running outside.
   • ⏳ Requires time and discipline, feels a bit like "policing."

Our ZeWelcome solution: a simple and effective UX "nudge"

Rather than forcing compliance, we chose to encourage good behaviors. In UX design, this is called a nudge: a subtle, non-intrusive behavioral prompt.

🎨 We created eco-conscious posters (in French and English), beautifully designed, placed in strategic spots (near switches, in bedrooms, at entrances).

🤝 They don't shame anyone, they inform. And they work!

Since rolling them out across our 160 villas:

• 🔇 Fewer ACs left running continuously
• 🚫 Zero negative reviews on this topic
• ♻️ Real environmental and educational impact

Download our eco-conscious posters free of charge

We're happy to share them—it's a gift 🎁

Feel free to use them, adapt them, or just get inspired for your own properties.

Conclusion: encouraging responsibility without constraints is possible 😊

What we learned from our experience:

• ❌ Overly strict solutions degrade guest experience.
• ✅ Small, thoughtful reminders are often enough.
• 📊 A micro-action (a poster) can have major impact (on energy, the planet, and customer satisfaction).

At ZeWelcome, we believe in more responsible tourism without sacrificing comfort or hospitality.

Have you tested other tips? Feedback to share?
💬 We'd love to hear in the comments or via private message!