The Beachmere Inn’s solar electric system generates 5-8% of the Inn’s power needs, and solar hot water has reduced oil use by more than a third!

The Maine Innkeepers Association highlighted The Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, a certified Maine Environmental Leader in Hospitality, in their most recent newsletter.

The Innkeepers Association also recognized that the inn has been independently family owned and operated for the past 72 years.

We featured The Beachmere Inn last May, when we noted how Beachmere took their green initiatives to the next level by installing 3 active solar hot water systems and a 5 kilowatt solar electric system

In the first two months of service, the solar hot water systems reduced oil consumption by 34%. Their solar hot water systems supply hot water for a 32-room main building and generate domestic hot water in employee housing buildings

The 5kW solar electric system covers 5-8% of the Inn’s total demand. According to their website, by mid 2009 more than 7,800 KW kilowatt hours of clean electricity have been produced by the solar array, eliminating 13,100 lbs of CO2.

Here’s a summary of the energy saving measures that The Beachmere Inn reports on their website:

• Solar Panels have been installed for Thermal Hot water for over 32 rooms as well as in our employee housing building.
• Solar Photovoltaic Panels have been installed for production of 5 – 8% of our energy needs.
• As of June 24, 2009 over 7,800 KW has been produced by solar power a savings of 13,100 Lbs. of Co2.
• Compact Fluorescent bulbs will be in used in all lighting
• Cold water laundry processes are being used to save electricity by eliminating the need to heat hot water for the laundry systems through Ozone technology.
• Energy star appliances are chosen first for any appliance replacement
• High efficiency heating & cooling units were installed in 2008 for Beachmere West
• Additional insulation was installed in the exterior walls and ceiling for better building envelope efficiency in Beachmere West.
• In 2007 we installed efficient, timed irrigation for the lawn and drip irrigation for our planting beds, in 2008 that effort has continued.
• High efficiency Low E Eagle windows are installed in Beachmere West (2008) and were used for all the window & door replacement at Beachmere South (2008) and in the Victorian (2000 – on going).
• Since 2000 we have been replacing old inefficient oil burners with Buderus boilers in the Victorian, South and West buildings.

In addition to their commitment to reducing energy and using energy from clean, renewable sources, The Beachmere Inn has a host of green administrative, cleaning, and building practices.

The Maine Environmental Leader in Hospitality distinction recognizes all of these efforts, and in fact, The Beachmere Inn has “one of the highest totals in certification scoring points.”

Sarah Diment, owner at The Beachmere Inn, feels, “It’s important to take steps towards environmental efficiencies as a smart business move. We know by becoming ‘greener’ we have a direct impact on bettering our environment. Our guests appreciate our efforts and implement some of what they see here in their homes.”

Visit the Maine DEP website to learn more about Maine’s Environmental Leader program, or call 1-800-789-9802.

Congratulations again, Beachmere!

Flat plate solar hot water collectors, like the eight shown here atop the Camden Riverhouse Hotel, offer superior summertime performance compared to evacuated tubes. This feature makes flat plates a better choice for seasonal businesses like hotels and restaurants.

David Dickey, owner of the Camden Riverhouse, knows a good investment when he sees one. When he saw ReVision Energy’s financial analysis and projected returns on a solar hot water system, he decided to have us design and install a system that will produce roughly 60% of the hotel’s domestic hot water.

The recently installed system takes advantage of a 30% federal tax credit, accelerated depreciation, $1,000 state rebate and low interest financing from Efficiency Maine.

The end result is a solar investment that Dickey anticipates will be cash flow positive based on annual oil savings of roughly 750 gallons. As a nice bonus, the system will also reduce the hotel’s ‘carbon footprint,’ eliminating roughly 21,000 lbs. of CO2 emissions per year.

The system consists of eight Chromagen flat plate solar hot water collectors that heat two Stiebel Eltron super-insulated solar storage tanks. The tanks have 3″ of rigid foam insulation, reducing overnight heat losses to less than .5 degree F per hour. This means that there will be plenty of piping hot water available for the tourists’ morning showers!

ReVision Energy team securing one of the 21 Chromagen solar hot water flat plate collectors

53 Danforth Street, a Maine State Housing complex recently constructed in Portland, is utilizing the sun to preheat the domestic hot water for all of its 47 units.

21 Chromagen solar hot water collectors sit on the roof and heat an 820 gallon thermal storage tank. The preheat system design moves cold water into the thermal storage tank before it enters the existing indirect hot water tanks. The system, backed by natural gas, is designed to produce over 190 million Btu’s of clean, renewable energy each year.

The building’s owner and developer is The Szanton Company of Portland. Wright-Ryan Architects were the general contractors working on the construction of the building. The mechanical contractor, who we worked for on this project, is Southern Maine Plumbing and Heating.

Maine State Housing requires all their developers to at least consider solar thermal as an option for new construction. Maine State Housing Authority has been a leader in the adoption of renewable energy; in 2006 ReVision Energy installed a 10kW grid tied solar electric system on their office building in Augusta.

Maine State Housing Authority finances the installation of solar hot water applications in multifamily housing, such as this one, and is using the anticipated revenue from the sale of carbon emission reductions to subsidize the lower interest rate of the solar loan.

Maine State Housing also offers a residential loan for energy efficient upgrades including the installation of solar hot water or solar electric systems. Their low interest loan program is called the Home Energy Loan Program, or HELP loan. View their website to learn more. www.mainehousing.org

More Photos from Our Gallery:

Kristen from the Center for Wildlife poses with non-releasable education falcon, Freyja, before the new solar hot water system at CFW’s main building.

The Center for Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation center based in Cape Neddick, Maine installed solar hot water collectors on their roof to supply the domestic hot water load of their main office building.

Two Chromagen flat plate solar hot water collectors are working to heat water in a 52 gallon solar storage tank. This tank acts to preheat their existing hot water tank. An electric component acts as a back up heat source for times when the solar is not able to meet the tank’s setpoint temperature. This ensures a consistent supply of hot water at the tap.

On a good sunny day, the solar system will produce a 60-80 degree temperature rise in both tanks, producing more than 14 million BTUs of clean renewable heat energy. By reducing the amount of electricity the Center will consume to heat water, over 4200 lbs of CO2 emissions will be eliminated on an annual basis.

The Center for Wildlife’s staff and volunteers provide medical care, safe sanctuary and humane treatment for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife until they can be released back into the wild. The Center has been established for 23 years and focuses on educating the general public and provides school programs to raise awareness of the many wonderful wild species that live among us.

Learn more by visiting www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org.

More Photos of the Solar Hot Water Installation:

The Country Inn in Camden, Maine is the first in the area to install solar panels

The Country Inn is the first hotel in Rockport to install solar panels and is one of only a few properties in the Camden-Rockport area to receive Maine’s Environmental Leader Certification.

Over the past few years The Country Inn has implemented a number of sustainable business practices, most recently the integration of solar power.

The 24 flat plate solar hot water collectors, pictured toe the right, provide approximately 60 percent of the Inn’s domestic hot water used on an annual basis.

More Photos from Our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

The Salt Water Grille, South Portland, Maine

In an effort to reduce fossil fuel energy costs and CO2 emissions, The Saltwater Grille in South Portland recently had a large solar hot water system installed.

The solar hot water system provides domestic hot water for dishwashing, cooking and hand-washing, thereby offsetting the need to burn propane to produce hot water.

According to owner Mark Loring, the restaurant serves roughly 2,500 meals per week. That means approximately 6,000 gallons of hot water is used each week to keep up with their busy pace.

The solar hot water system was designed and installed by ReVision Energy. System engineer Fortunat Mueller, P.E., estimates that the system will produces roughly 60 million BTUs of clean, renewable heat energy annually, or 200,000 BTUs per day.

The system is saving roughly 600 gallons of propane annually and reducing CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 lbs. each year.

More Photos from Our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

The Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, Maine uses solar hot water to decrease oil use, and a solar electric system provides 5-8% of energy use

The Beachmere Inn, a family owned and operated business in Ogunquit, is certified as an Environmental Leader due to its ambitious green initiatives.

Under the direction of owner Sarah Diment, the Beachmere is using compact fluorescent bulbs and environmentally safe cleaning products facility-wide.

In the summer of 2008, ReVision Energy installed 3 active solar hot water systems and a 5 kilowatt solar electric system. In the first two months of service, the solar hot water systems reduced oil consumption by 34%.

The solar hot water system pictured is for the 32-room main building. The other two systems generate domestic hot water in employee housing buildings.

The 5kW solar electric system covers 5-8% of the Inn’s total demand.

According to their website, more than 6,331 kilowatt hours of clean electricity have been produced by the solar array, eliminating 10,763 lbs of CO2 in the atmosphere.

UPDATE: The Beachmere Inn was recognized by The Maine Innkeeper’s Association in 2010 for their environmental efforts!

See: http://www.revisionenergy.com/blog/beachmere-inn-highlighted-as-environmental-leader-in-hospitality/

More Photos from Our Commercial Solar Photo Gallery:

For more installations, see our Solar Projects Map

Photo credit: lsk208

Maine summers thrive with tourists from all over the world seeking to experience the pristine coastal landscape, feast on the abundance of seafood, and enjoy the historic New England culture.

The hospitality industry is an essential part of Maine’s economy. According to the Maine Planning Office “the economic impact of tourism in Maine is huge. In 2006 it generated roughly $10 billion in sales of goods and services, 140,000 jobs, and $3 billion in earnings.”

To ensure a sustainable future for the hospitality industry, lodging and restaurant owners are starting to take measures to mitigate their energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Reduced Oil Use Means Obvious ROI

For example, it takes an average of 2.4 gallons of hot water to prepare each meal served in a restaurant. Michael Boland, owner of Rupununi’s Restaurant in Bar Harbor, is using a solar hot water system to reduce oil consumption. “Our oil bill has been dramatically reduced since we put in the system,” say Boland, who subsequently had solar hot water installed at his other restaurant, Guinness & Porcelli’s.

“From an investment standpoint, solar hot water is a very wise one for restaurant owners. Usually you buy equipment and hope it lasts 5-10 years, and hope that the new piece increases efficiency enough to sort of pay its way. But with these (solar) panels, the savings have been obvious.”

Green Initiatives are Great for Marketing

Green initiatives can be a powerful marketing tool to distinguish a lodging facility or restaurant from its competition. As consumers are more aware of how their purchasing power can enact change, they are demanding that businesses they support be mindful and supportive of their environment.

Scott Cowger, owner of Maple Hill Farm B&B in Hallowell, has invested heavily in renewable energy systems to make his facility one of the first to earn recognition as an Environmental Leader in Maine.

The state Environmental Leader program certifies businesses that meet a certain criteria, i.e. energy efficient upgrades, use of non-toxic cleaning products, and the implementation of renewable energy. The Innkeepers can use the state’s Environmental Leader logo for marketing purposes and consumers seem to be taking notice.

Cowger estimates that 20 percent of his customers choose Maple Hill Farm because of the inn’s green practices. Maple Hill Farm has solar hot water, solar power and a wind turbine, all installed by ReVision Energy.

The systems have saved more than $20,000 in power costs over the past 2 years and eliminated more than 40,000 lbs. of CO2 emissions. Read more about Maine’s Environmental Leader program.

The Case for Commercial Solar Power and Solar Hot Water

ReVision Energy has put together a financial analysis for commercial solar hot water, called How Solar Hot Water Can be a Great Investment – PDF.

If you are interested to learn about how solar can be a cash flow positive investment for your facility, contact us.