Alice Springs Motel paves the way for solar technology
18 August 2009
A unique solar heat pump system which provides hot water by drawing heat from the air, has been installed on an Alice Springs Motel - one of the first of its kind in the town.
It is part of a collection of energy efficiency upgrades that have taken place at the Mt Nancy Motel, with the help of a $35,000 incentive from Alice Solar City.
The Motel has also installed a 72 panel, 12KW solar power system on its roof which will soak up the sun to up to 20% of the annual electricity needs of the 29 room Motel complex.
“You cannot help but notice the solar power system on the roof of the Motel as you drive north along the Stuart Highway; it would be great to see more small businesses and tourist accommodation providers with solar on their roof before funding runs out on 31 December”, says Alice Solar City General Manager Brian Elmer.
“In addition to the solar energy component, we came up with a unique solution for their hot water generation – a combination of traditional solar hot water and a solar heat pump system.”
“Unlike conventional solar systems, heat pumps do not have solar panels. Instead, they work by transferring heat out of the ambient air to the water stored inside, through a heat exchange system.”
“Together, both systems will meet the hot water needs of the hotel which makes up around 25% of their annual energy costs.”
Director of the Mt Nancy Motel Robert Gwynne, who has also built 7 star properties in South Australia, says that he was keen to show Territorian businesses what can be achieved through property redevelopment.
“We are very committed to doing our best for the environment and are looking at other opportunities in the Territory – solar technology makes so much sense here with the sun shining almost every day here.”
“After our commercial energy survey, we worked with Alice Solar City to implement a range of other measures such as retrofitting wall and ceiling insulation, painting the roof white, installing door and window seals and fitting pelmets to our curtains.”
The energy consumption of each individual room at the Motel will be assessed using a separate smart meter and in-house display unit, showing occupants the current and historical electricity consumption.
The Directors at Mt Nancy Motel are also looking at an energy efficiency upgrade at their other Alice Springs property – the Stuart Caravan Park.
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For media enquiries please contact Laurelle Halford from Creative Territory on 0417 222 211 or (08) 8953 7919 or laurelle@creativeterritory.com.
About Alice Solar City
The Alice Springs Solar City Consortium is led by the Alice Springs Town Council and includes broad community support from the Northern Territory Government, Power and Water Corporation, Tangentyere Council, the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce, the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre and the Arid Lands Environment Centre. Funding sources include the Australian Government, the Northern Territory Government, Power and Water Corporation, and Alice Springs Town Council.
