“It is smart business. It tells a great story and is the right thing to do moving forward. To be able to do this shows a commitment on the ownership and development side.” So said Loren Nalewanski, Vice President of Global Brand Management TownePlace Suites in describing the just launched 706kW solar photovoltaic installation located on four acres adjacent to the TownePlace Suites Clinton at Joint Base Andrews in Clinton, Md. Loren told me the $1.5 million investment has a 7.5-year ROI and is currently supplying most of the electricity needed by the 115-suite hotel—even though the solar panels will not be fully operational for a couple of months. During the day the hotel sells electricity to Pepco, the local power provider. Eventually, once additional investments are made in energy efficiency, the hotel will be 100 percent solar powered. The hotel already has LED lighting throughout the property.
The TownePlace Suites Clinton at Joint Base Andrews is one of about 50 Marriotts that now incorporate some type of solar system. Loren said the Clinton, Md. installation is easily the largest within Marriott. It is also one of the largest solar projects in hospitality in North America. It is appropriate that the Clinton hotel is the site of the approximately 2,800-panel solar array. The hotel has consistently demonstrated leadership and in 2012 was selected as the TownePlace Suites Hotel of the Year. The property is also a three-time TownePlace Suites Platinum Awards winner.
The TownePlace Suites Clinton at Joint Base Andrews opened in 2009. It is located across from Joint Base Andrews. A large segment of the hotel’s guest base is military personnel on temporary duty at Joint Base Andrews. Both as part of participating in the military’s mission of expanding the use of renewable energy, and as a way to cut costs and maintain affordable rates, the hotel’s owners started looking into a solar photovoltaic energy system last year.
A Way to Enhance Energy Security
“We thought that solar would enhance our ability to offer a great hotel value to all our guests, especially our military guests and their families,” said Dr. John Miller, one of the hotel’s Managing Partners (along with Mark Rothman, Esq.), in a press release about the solar installation. “Energy security is a big part of the military mission. We felt this was something we could do to enhance energy security and help the environment, while also giving us the ability to hold costs down. Mark and I discussed the potential of a solar photovoltaic electricity generation project and after analyzing the numbers we decided to go ahead with the project.”
To help educate guests and staff about the solar project, a TV monitor displaying information will be placed in the hotel’s lobby.
The TownePlace Suites Clinton at Joint Base Andrews is just one of a group of very green TownePlace Suites properties. One other has earned LEED Gold, another has earned LEED Silver, and four others are pursuing LEED certification.
The solar installation at the TownePlace Suites Clinton at Joint Base Andrews, Lorne said, has helped increase the value of the hotel by more than $2 million.
You cannot argue with Loren’s description of the solar installation at the Clinton hotel being “smart business.” It has enhanced the value of the hotel and will continue to do so—especially after the solar installation has been paid for. It has almost entirely eliminated the amount paid for electricity each month. The publicity surrounding the installation is bound to bring in new business. The solar panels have also become an educational tool—not only for guests and staff but also for other developers interested in incorporating renewable energy technology in the plans for their buildings.
Are you aware of a hotel project that will incorporate solar, wind, geothermal or hydro power in 2015? I would love to learn about it. I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com, or by phone at (813) 510-3868.
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