REC
Solar, a national leader in commercial solar electric system design
and installation, today announced it has completed a 102 kilowatt array
for The
Hampton Inn & Suites Bakersfield North-Airport, a subsidiary of
Hilton Hotels (NYSE: HLT), in Bakersfield, California. The
carport-mounted installation will offset 44 percent of the electricity
costs for the 94-room hotel, saving up to $8,800 per month. The
installation reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to accelerating
solar deployment with hospitality customers.
“Solar never made sense for us in the past,” said Braxton Myers, Vice
President of Operations for Blackstone Hospitality Group Inc, which
provides property management for franchise hotels throughout the U.S.
such as The Hampton Inn. “But REC Solar delivered a price point that
convinced us to take another look. They walked us through a range of
financing options and designed a tailored carport system which offered
many benefits. REC Solar came highly recommended by their existing
customers, and have delivered on that sterling reputation throughout
this process.”
With temperatures regularly reaching 115 degrees, the Bakersfield hotel
faces steep cooling costs. Because hotels must maintain comfortable
temperatures for their guests at all times, they can be some of the
largest consumers of natural resources in hot communities like
Bakersfield.
The Hampton Inn had expressed concerns about installing a rooftop array
that would require closing the top floor of rooms and forfeiting
revenue. As a result, REC Solar worked with The Hampton Inn to design a
solar carport that did not require disruption to existing operations.
The carport not only generates clean electricity but will also provide
much-needed shade for 30 parked cars. REC Solar utilized HelioScope
software to design the system, reducing installation time and costs. In
addition to the solar array, Hampton Inn installed two electric vehicle
charging stations, with room for up to eight stations.
“Hotels can be ideal candidates for solar energy, but have traditionally
faced roadblocks ranging from high costs to concerns around customer
inconvenience,” said Mark Bettis, VP of Sales and Marketing for REC
Solar. “REC specializes in tailoring systems specifically for the needs
of these customers by cutting soft costs through our design software and
building solar carports to avoid impact on customers. In addition to
reducing costs, hotels are finding that sustainable initiatives such as
solar energy and EV charging stations are becoming increasingly
desirable amenities for their customers.”
The completion of both the solar array and the EV charging stations was
marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 30, 2014.
About REC Solar
REC Solar (REC Solar Commercial Corp.) is a national leader in solar
electric system development, design and installation. Focused on making
solar affordable and simple, REC Solar specializes in business,
government and utility projects. REC Solar is committed to delivering
high-quality systems while lowering the cost of solar power. REC Solar
has installed nearly 400 commercial systems nationwide representing 100
megawatts. For more, visit RECSolar.com or call (888) 657-6527.
Follow REC Solar on Twitter: @REC
Solar
Connect with REC Solar on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rec-solar
Copyright Business Wire 2014