This article appeared on NJ.com. The subject of the article shows the type of project that we have been promoting for several years now for Hammonton. We talk about being "green" at council meetings, etc., but we need to be really serious with projects like this one.
Vineland Ramada Inn saves with solar
By Jason Laday
March 05, 2010, 11:28PM
By Jason Laday jladay@sjnewsco.com VINELAND The Vineland Ramada Inn on Friday unveiled its completed solar project to harvest the sun toward 80 percent of the hotels electricity needs. In a press event before the vast field of solar arrays behind the Landis Avenue Ramada, co-owner John Scipione stated the $2.6 million project saves the business $8,000 to $10,000 per month in energy costs. But it will pay for itself sooner than those numbers imply, said Scipione, flanked by his wife and hotel co-owner Annette, following the press conference. There are federal tax credits that reimburse 30 percent of the costs of the project. Its just something we wanted to do to save money and also become part of the states green economy. This is the first member of the Wyndam Hotel family to use solar power. Scipione stated the solar panels will pay for themselves in just under three years. According to officials with the hotel, the solar array system behind the hotel will generate 620,620 kW hours of electricity per year enough to power 50 households. The system overproduces electricity, the energy will be stored, and not put back into the electrical grid, to make up for instances when the system under produces. In addition to opening the solar field, the Scipiones, who purchased the hotel in May 2009, have been outfitting the building with more energy-saving electrical devices. Weve gone through and switched out 1,400 incandescent bulbs for fluorescent bulbs, said Scipione. Were also going to be doing a state energy audit, and try reduce our gas bills. Ditching the incandescent bulbs will save the hotel $2,500 per month in energy costs, according to the owners. They spent 95 cents per fluorescent bulb. Officials from the Paterson, N.J,-based company that install the solar panels, Pfister, stated they were proud to be part of the project. This is what we do, said Pfister Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Lee. Were excited that more people and companies are turning toward solar energy as a less expensive way to power their homes and business.
