ASHEVILLE, N.C.—Biltmore Farms SM Hotels announced that it will install a large-scale solar water heating system atop its new Hilton Hotel in Biltmore Park Town Square. The system will provide the 165-room hotel with more than 2,000 gallons of hot water a day, and it’s expected that the system will save approximately $10,000 annually in fossil fuel costs at current rates.
The hot water system is one of the many environmentally friendly measures the community developer and its partner, Crosland, LLC, are undertaking at Biltmore Park Town Square to promote a healthy environment, reduce energy costs, and help it achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. A few additional green features planned for the hotel include an energy optimization program, the use of recycled, nontoxic and local materials, and the installation of Low-E materials throughout the entire hotel.
Expected to open in summer 2009, the Hilton Asheville will be one of the first major hotels in the United States to have solar water heating, and its system will be the largest solar hot water installation to date in the Western North Carolina region.
“Biltmore Farms is proud to be a part of Western North Carolina’s transition to clean energy,” says Jack Cecil, CEO of Biltmore Farms. “The Hilton Asheville will be a wonderful place to stay because of its many amenities [and will have a] design that contributes to the natural beauty and sustainability of our region. Our commitment to sustainability is both good for business and the environment.”
Part of a 42-Acre Development
This commitment to solar hot water is just one example of how Biltmore Park Town Square is blazing new trails in Asheville. The 42-acre Town Square stands as Asheville’s first urban village—the largest mixed-use district outside of the city’s downtown. Once it is complete, Town Square will have the region’s first movie theater with stadium-style seating as well as a variety of national stores and restaurants new to the area.
FLS Energy has been contracted to design and install the solar hot water system. The Black Mountain, N.C.-based company has committed to supporting the shift to clean energy by improving access to solar technologies, especially for the commercial and industrial sectors.
“Solar hot water heating is one of the most cost-effective ways available to meet our energy needs,” says FLS Energy president Michael Shore. “We applaud Biltmore Farms for moving forward in procuring sustainable energy for this hotel and setting an example for Western North Carolina and, indeed, the rest of the country.”
Solar hot water systems capture the sun’s heat and put it to direct use, such as for heating water or spaces. Large hot-water users, such as hotels, hospitals, restaurants, swimming pools and homeowners are well-suited to reap the benefits of this technology.
Go to Biltmore Farms.
