Standing tall behind the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in New Hampshire’s White Mountains is a 121-foot wind turbine that meets about 15 percent of the resort’s electricity needs. Up on the roof of the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville, N.C., is a 12-panel solar thermal system that helps heat the water used by guests and staff. The new Hilton Garden Inn Springfield in Missouri has a geothermal HVAC system. The Algonquin Eco-Lodge in Markham, Ont., has a micro-hydro system that generates all of the electricity the lodge needs.
Why am I mentioning these properties and installations? I am compiling a list of the lodging properties that incorporate renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric. These properties will soon appear on a “Renewable Energy All Stars” page on the Green Lodging News website. I need your help with this project, as I am aware of only some of the eligible properties. Please write to editor@greenlodgingnews.com and mention the property or properties you would like to appear on the list. Briefly explain the type and size of the renewable energy system in place. Feel free to mention your own property. Vendors are welcome to send me lists of projects they have done.
By listing properties that incorporate renewable energy technologies, I hope to do several things: honor those properties that have taken a leadership position with their support of clean energy; encourage lodging developers to consider investing in technologies that have been proven to work; and facilitate interaction between those with systems in place and those considering investing in them. Links from the Renewable Energy All Stars page will direct site visitors to the websites and contact information of those that have already invested in renewable energy. Speaking with those with “lessons learned” is smart before spending your first dollar.
Solar, wind and geothermal are becoming more common than you would think. This project will help our industry get a better handle on just how common these technologies are. Again, in order to make this project successful, I need your help. I will look forward to hearing from you.
A Record Month for Green Lodging News
During the month of March, Green Lodging News experienced its busiest month yet from a total visits and page views perspective. The website generated 90,914 total visits and 359,604 page views. Thank you to all of you for faithfully reading Green Lodging News.
See You at HD Expo & Green Day?
I will be attending HD Expo and its opening Green Day from May 17 to May 20. The events will be held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Click here for details on the events.
GLN Adds Endurance Wind Power Case Study to Website
Green Lodging News has added a case study to its Vendor Case Studies section that focuses on Madison, Wis.-based Fountain Prairie Inn & Farms’ selection of a 50 kW wind turbine from Endurance Wind Power and the turbine’s benefits. The turbine was installed on a 140-foot lattice tower and commissioned on September 24, 2010. In the second month of operation it produced 11,398 kWh, peaking with a production of 1,396 kWh in one 24-hour period. It produces 50 percent more power than the farm uses, and all of the power is sold back to the local power company at a wholesale rate. For more information on Endurance Wind Power, call (800) 440-4451, or go to www.endurancewindpower.com. Click here to access the case study.
Advertising Opportunities
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots in 2011. Several new slots have opened up on the Green Lodging News website—two skyscraper ad spots on the right hand side of the site, and the Featured Product ad spot in the weekly newsletter and in the lower center area of the home page. Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (440) 243-2055, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com if you are interested in these ad spots. There are also many Green Supplier Spotlight dates available, and other spots on the website and in the weekly e-newsletter. The 2011 media kit is available by request or by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Green Lodging News Blog & Twitter
Be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also now on Twitter. To follow my postings, go to http://twitter.com/greenlodging. Be sure to add Green Lodging News to those tweets that you follow. Green Lodging News now has 746 Twitter followers.
As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
