San Marcos Hotel Invests in Solar Water Heating — Newly renovated Lakehouse Hotel & Resort using solar and saving money
In an industry where water heating makes up almost a third of total energy use, hotel managers know that every bath, shower, kitchen and laundry counts toward their ever-increasing utility bill. “For a hotel, solar makes so much sense given the amount of hot water needed,” says Lakehouse Hotel & Resort owner Brett Miller.
Initial estimates for the solar water heating system seemed pricey until rebates from the California Solar Initiative – Thermal Program cut costs almost in half and the project was eligible for a 30 percent federal investment tax credit for renewable energy and accelerated depreciation allowances.
Over the lifetime of the system, the natural gas savings is equivalent to carbon sequestered by 424 acres of forest over one year or GHG emissions reductions equivalent to removing 109 cars from the road.
Miller states, “Installing solar water heating is going to save us a lot of money over the long run, well beyond the payback – and we can feel better about reduced environmental impacts.”