GOLDEN, COLO.—Novan Solar Inc. of Golden, Colo., has installed one of the nation’s largest solar hot water systems ever built for a hotel at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Novan solar thermal system will provide domestic hot water for guestrooms, the main laundry services room and all the restaurants at the 492-room resort.
The 27-acre Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa has complete resort facilities, including a 2.5 acre “water playground,” 27 holes of championship golf, world-class tennis, Spa Avania and the Native American and Environmental Learning Center as a part of the 560-acre Gainey Ranch resort and residential development in Scottsdale.
The 172-collector Novan solar system is part of an energy-reduction project designed by the Hartman Co., an engineering and design firm in Austin, Texas, which will eventually reduce the resort’s energy use by approximately half. The solar system has a 20,000-gallon storage tank, larger than currently required, which will enable a possible phase two of the project—doubling the current system size.
A Major Water Infrastructure Redesign
“This solar project is not simply an add-on system,” Tom Hartman, president of The Hartman Company stated. “It represents a component of a major redesign of the resort’s hot water infra-structure and modifies how the resort produces and utilizes hot water resources.”
Due to substantial energy savings, state utility incentives, and the federal Investment Tax Credit for renewable energy, the system will pay for itself in approximately three years. The solar water heating system from Novan will generate nearly 31,600 therms (316 million BTUs) of energy yearly. More than 156 metric tons of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases) will be offset by the system each year. This is the equivalent to carbon sequestered by 133 acres of forest per year or more than 360 barrels of oil being consumed yearly.
Arizona Pubic Service (APS), the local power utility, partnered on the project through their Renewable Energy Incentive Program. This partnership will help the Hyatt to achieve the approximate three-year payback on their investment by having APS purchase the Renewable Energy Certificates generated by the commercial DHW system.
“This project is in accordance with Hyatt Corporation’s global initiative of environmental consciousness and sustainability,” said Jennifer Schaff, director of engineering for the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa. “This initiative encompasses building, designing and managing innovative and sustainable hotels, while protecting the natural environment and local communities in which we operate around the world.”
Spectrum Commercial Controller Featured
The Hyatt system will also feature the new Novan Spectrum Commercial Controller, the solar industry’s first controller designed for commercial thermal applications that integrates directly with existing building management systems (LON and BacNet compatible). The Novan controller also offers a remote Web server for monitoring and control, 100 percent control of pumps and valves, expandability for unlimited data points, and interfaces with Fat Spaniel hosting services.
“Novan was chosen because of the stringent timeline and complexity of this project, and we are proud to be part of this ground-breaking project for the hotel industry,” said Novan founder and president, Jacob Futro. “Our new Spectrum Controller is perfect for this type of project to maximize the solar performance.”
Novan also recently designed and completed a 73-panel domestic hot water system for the newly renovated Andaluz Hotel (formerly La Posada) in Albuquerque, N.M. The 107-room Andaluz was developed by Goodman Realty and will be operated by Gemstone Hotels and Resorts.
Go to Novan.
