The Cliff House Resort & Spa has installed one of Maine’s largest solar thermal projects. Set in Ogunquit, Maine, the installation uses 2,100 tubes on 70 collectors-10 times the size of an average solar project.
The solar installation will save an estimated 11,000 gallons of propane annually, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 140,000 pounds per year. This solar energy will provide heat and hot water for the resort’s spa building, which includes 32 guestrooms and 10 treatment rooms. The resort estimates that this will reduce fossil fuel consumption in the building by 30 percent.
“The beauty of Maine’s natural environment is unparalleled,” says resort owner Kathryn Weare. “Keeping it that way is one of our highest priorities, and utilizing solar energy is the largest component of our sustainability initiatives to date.”
Cimino Construction Co. of Scarborough erected the structural steel framework that supports the solar collectors and supervised the project.
Other green initiatives at the resort include energy efficient lighting, natural cork flooring in the spa, organic fertilizers, and the use of local ingredients in its cuisine.
