INDIAN SHORES, FLA.—Certified B Corporation Legacy Vacation Resorts continues on the path toward a more regenerative future in tourism and has debuted their newest solar energy project atop their Indian Shores resort. The new array will produce 78 percent of the property’s electricity (355,817 kWh of solar power per year), equivalent to powering over 65,000 U.S. homes annually. This push toward the utilization of clean energy is nothing new for the values-driven company that also boasts programs such as carbon offsetting for guests and corporate team travel/commuting, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), complimentary EV charging, auto setback thermostat systems, and more.
The Indian Shores solar project represents the highest percentage of coverage and efficiency across all eight resort locations in the company’s portfolio. The full array consists of 466 rooftop solar panels on two buildings, totaling 193.3 kW. The project was completed by Orlando, Fla.-based Optimus Energy Solutions, a fellow values-aligned business on their way to B Corp Certification and financed by Pending B Corp Climate First Bank. This commitment to maintaining a purpose-driven supply chain is part of the B Corp mission to ensure every element of a project aligns with a more responsible approach to business, benefiting all stakeholders.
“The integration of renewable energy is just another step on the way towards our goal of creating a more sustainable and regenerative travel ecosystem,” said Alex Smith, COO of Legacy Vacation Resorts. “We are proud to not only introduce this technology to reduce our carbon impact on the planet, but also to help travelers plan a vacation that aligns with their own values. By sourcing solar energy to power our resort, we are providing them with an option that is both regenerative and restorative to the local community and beautiful intracoastal setting we find ourselves in.”
Ambitious 2030 Goal
With the addition of the Indian Shores array to their ongoing solar projects as well as the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) purchased for their Brigantine Beach location in New Jersey, Legacy Vacation Resorts is striving to secure 40 percent of their company-wide electricity from renewable energy by the end of 2023—the equivalent of planting 42,674 trees or powering 702,725 U.S. homes for one year. Despite this impressive stat, the company is relentless in their pursuit to create a 100 percent renewable energy portfolio by 2030.
More attention is being paid now than ever before to the kinds of practices and policies hoteliers and tourism operators adopt. The strides LVR has made in their Climate Action Plan goals stem from the growing desire from today’s travelers to explore more sustainably and support businesses that have a regenerative approach towards local environments and communities. They are pushing for more than unwashed hung towels and the absence of plastic straws and craving tangible positive impact for people and the planet. LVR has taken this shift in sentiment and applied it company-wide with the adoption of clean energy sources and other restorative programs and initiatives. Leadership also hopes that by showcasing the more conscious ways in which they operate, they can enlighten travelers on their own carbon footprint and how they can travel and live more responsibly.
