Wanderlust World Wanderlust World A variety of hotels across the United States are thinking sustainability and eco-friendliness by utilizing the sun as a source of electricity, also known as "solar power." According to SolarPower.org, solar power is a renewable energy that not only helps fight climate change, but by using it, businesses can also save money in energy costs.
The Joie de Vivre: Hotel Carlton is a 161-room hotel located in San Francisco with 105 solar panels covering 1,332 square feet of space on the hotel roof. The solar panels are estimated to reduce the hotel's energy costs by 12 percent and carbon released into the atmosphere by 33,000 lbs. each year. It's estimated that 4.5 acres of trees per year will be preserved with the hotel's eco-friendly initiatives. Nine percent of the hotel's electricity is powered by renewable solar energy. Guests are able to monitor the these energy savings and solar power generation via a monitor in the lobby.
Joie de Vivre: Hotel Carlton
530 Bush St., Ste. 501
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-835-0300
jdvhotels.com
The Hyatt Regency: New Brunswick hotel in New Jersey, along with SunPower Corporation, installed a 32,000-square-foot, 421-kilowatt solar system on the top floor of the hotel's garage. The hotel expects to save 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere over the next 30 years, while saving 749 barrels of oil annually. Approximately 40 to 50 percent of the hotel's energy is supplied by the solar panels. The panels are used to generate hot water and provide electricity to appliances in the hotel's lobby and guest rooms.
Hyatt Regency: New Brunswick
Two Albany St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-873-1234
newbrunswick.hyatt.com
The Crowne Plaza Cabana Palo Alto is another California hotel partially powered by solar energy as part of an eco-friendly hotel program designed to aid the environment. About 20 percent of the hotel's total energy is supplied by the solar panel system. Solar-powered amenities include its pool and whirlpool bath. The hotel has 194 rooms and is located close to Stanford University and other corporate businesses.
Crowne Plaza Cabana Palo Alto
4290 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-857-0787
ichotelsgroup.com