HENDERSONVILLE, N.C.—The Hampton Inn of Hendersonville, N.C., has installed 24 4’x10’ AET solar thermal collector panels on the roof of the hotel. These panels now provide approximately 1,200 gallons of hot water a day for the hotel’s hot water needs, including laundry and guest showers. The owners of the Hampton Inn have a long-standing commitment to operate their hotel in a manner that’s as environmentally-friendly as possible, and the installation of solar panels is representative of their continued desire to achieve that goal.
The solar panels work by harnessing thermal energy from the sun and using that energy to heat water. Solar thermal collectors have been mounted to the roof of the hotel at a favorable degree to the sun. The collectors contain a glycol fluid that collects the sun’s heat. The heated fluid is piped to the hotel’s hot water supply where the heat is transferred to heat the water. The solar panels are engineered, built, and operated by FLS Energy of Asheville, N.C. FLS Energy’s solar hot water system also includes a solar storage tank where sun heated water can be accessed even when the sun is not shining.
FLS Energy will own the system and sell the hotel the energy it needs to heat water at a lower rate than it currently pays for fossil fuels. The Hampton Inn now expects to save roughly 20 percent on its costs to heat water.
“The installation of solar thermal collector panels on the roof of our building greatly enhances our hotel’s sustainability efforts,” said Bruce Pope, the Hampton Inn’s general manager. “We already have programs in place for things like reducing our water usage, energy-efficient light bulbs, and using renewable resources in the manufacture of our disposable goods. This upgrade will be another way that we continue down the path of running a sustainable business.”
Pope said the hotel has received positive feedback from its guests regarding the installation of the solar panels. “Our guests know that we will only make the best decisions for them and for the environment,” he said. “They’re glad to know that their hotel will go above and beyond to make smart choices during an upgrade.”
Go to the Hampton Inn of Hendersonville, N.C.
