The Surf & Sand Hotel in Pensacola Beach, Florida, has commissioned a 330-panel rooftop solar array designed to offset nearly half of the beachfront hotel’s energy use.
The solar installation also should reduce its carbon footprint by half. It is the first solar-powered hotel on Pensacola Beach, according to a statement released by the hotel’s owner.
The array is grid tied, allowing the hotel to take advantage of Florida Power and Light’s net metering policies. The system does not include battery energy storage, so the hotel will use grid power overnight and during adverse weather conditions when the solar panels can’t meet demand.
It is expected that the solar system will produce 235 MWh per year, nearly half of the hotel’s typical consumption of 490 MWh, saving the hotel around $48,000 in annual energy costs.
With award-winning beaches and historic charm, Pensacola Beach, on the Gulf Coast of Florida, is a top vacation destination.
The property, which has 100 rooms and is located across the street from the famed Pensacola Pier, is owned by Innisfree Hotels, one of the largest beachfront hotel owner-operators on the Gulf Coast.
“By transitioning away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, this project is reducing carbon emissions, contributing to improved air quality and demonstrating that Innisfree is a leader in sustainability,” said Bethanne Edwards, director of sustainability at Innisfree Hotels.
Innisfree owns or manages more than two dozen properties in Florida and the southeastern U.S. This is the first solar installation the company has completed, and Innisfree said in a statement that it represents a major milestone in achieving the company’s sustainability goals.
The company is evaluating similar projects for its other properties.
“The solar project helps us deliver on our triple bottom line commitment where success is determined by how well we protect the planet while serving people and communities,” said Edwards.
Sustainable hospitality
The hospitality industry is increasingly investing in sustainability initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint and meet guest demands. While Innisfree has opted to invest in just solar at the Surf & Sand, other chains are adding energy storage and microgrid controls.
Hilton and Marriott have both opted to install microgrids at select locations. For example, Hilton invested in a grid-tied microgrid that includes a solar carport and energy storage at its Hotel Marcel in Connecticut.
In Costa Rica, Marriott built a 250-kW solar-powered microgrid that includes battery storage and a backup generator at its Hacienda Belen property.
At New York’s JFK Airport, the former TWA terminal was transformed into a 512-room hotel that is powered by an off-grid microgrid.
