An energy efficient Solar-Powered Inn

The enormous energy needs and heavy fossil fuel consumption of the Spring Lake Inn (Spring Lake, New Jersey) prompted the eco-friendly owners (Andy and Barbara Seaman) to install a solar power system to both cut down monthly electric bills and preserve our environment (by reducing fossil fuel usage). The well known Victorian inn boasts solid year round customer base, although occupancy peaks in the summer months.

Due to 365 day usage the inn must maintain warm temperatures in winter and cool temperatures in the summer.
With 12 foot dining room ceilings and 16 large guest rooms the power demands to maintain a temperate indoor climate are substantial. Could a solar power generation system meet the needs of the entire hotel? For Andy and Barbara, the owners of the Victorian inn, this was just one a few important questions.

Below: Based in New Jersey, this quaint Victorian style inn features 16 spacious guest rooms within walking distance of the beach.


The next concern Andy and Barbara needed to address was whether solar panels could be installed in a way that would not detract from the quaint 1888 Victorian exterior. The panels would need to be installed in a place that did not damage the aesthetically pleasing appearance of the hotel.

The Cost of Solar Power

The final, and possibly most important question, was whether the solar PV system could provide enough savings to justify the expense. The upfront cost to install solar power was $75,000, however state and federal tax credits and rebates substantially cut down the overall expense. Federal tax credits for the business included 30% of the installation cost (IRS Form 5695) and Geothermal and Solar tax credits (IRS Form 3468). State rebates were available from Customer On-Site Renewable Energy (Core), a new Jersey program. The final potential benefit was available if the system could provide excess energy, and feed power back into the grid. The credit would be received in the form of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates.

Picture: This photovoltaic array will provide 9kW of power to the Spring Lake inn cutting fossil fuel usage at the local power plant by converting radiant energy from the sun into electrical power for the inn.


Many of these benefits were only available during short time windows, so it is important to note, none of all of these benefits may exist by the time this article is read. Check with your local state or national government agencies to find what your current state and federal incentives for renewable energy may be.

The Solar Panel Installation

As a generic industry standard, one hundred square feet of roof space is required for 1kW of energy production. Over a period of two days, Fifty four photovoltaic solar panels were installed on the porch roof and main roof above the dormers to produce over 9kW of energy, the amount needed to power the Inn. The types of panels installed have no moving parts and would require virtually no maintenance.

The wafer thin crystalline silicon cells are called PV or photovoltaic cells because they convert light (photo) from the sun into electrical energy (voltaic). The light from the sun creates Direct Current (DC) energy which is then be converted to Alternating Current (AC) energy by two inverters, which were installed in the basement. AC is the type of energy used by residential homes to power lights, dishwashers and other appliances. The panels used were only a few inches thick and their color was very similar to the dark roofing shingles. The overall effect was surprisingly unobtrusive.

Image: One of the greatest concerns for the owners of the Spring Lake Inn was whether solar panels could be installed without defacing the aesthetic beauty of the property.


The panels are mounted on anodized aluminum and stainless steel racks a few inches above the roof surface to promote air flow. With no air flow at all the panels could reach dangerously high temperatures, which would actually interfere with electrical production, and potentially cause unnecessary wear and tear on the panels.

Virtually Unlimited Clean Power (Conclusion)

With a solar panel installation the sun provides clean, silent and unlimited energy which will reduce fossil fuel consumption (at the local power plant) and help alleviate smog, acid rain, and CO2 emissions which contribute to global warming.

Often, a battery system is used for power when the sun is not shining. There are times when a solar power system produces little or no energy, such as on cloudy days (reduced power generation), or during the night (no power generated). However, this was not practical for the Victorian Inn, so instead, energy is stored in the electrical grid for future use via a bi-directional electrical meter. When unused power is pushed into the grid (the local electrical distribution system) the meter spins backwards. Should a net positive amount of electrical energy be produced, the Spring Lake Inn receives a credit. This type of system is called ‘net metering’.

Aside from lower utility bills, the solar contractor (who performed the installation) estimates that the system installed will save over 619 barrels of oil during the next 30 years. During the same time frame, the solar panel installation will reduce acid rain emissions by over a ton and reduce 216 tons of greenhouse gases.

With a price tag of $74,000 in upfront costs for a nine killowatt system, I would guess the typical home system costs $30,000 to $40,000 upfront. Especially considering the average home requires 4-5 kilowatts of power (about half what the inn requires).