Our route to fossil fuel independence
Step 1: Start with the right products.
The two companies spearheading the solar movement, are Solar City and Tesla. Under the control of Elon Musk, these 2 companies are known for producing the highest quality products in that industry.
We've partnered with Solar City and Tesla to supply the resort with the first installation of it's type in the Caribbean.
Step 2: Build smart.
Throughout our entire build, we knew we were striving for independence from fossil fuels. This is the reason we opted for a completely insulated building, which is rather unheard of in the Caribbean. Every concrete wall on the property, carries insulating foam inside and out.
The insulation works well for noise reduction, as well as keeping the interior of the units cool, with very minimal energy needed to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Step 3: Generate as much Solar Energy as possible
To do this, we've put panels on every available space suitable.
By opting for quality product from Solar City, America's most reputable name in the business, we are likely to see a usable service life in the 30 - 40 year range.
Step 4: Store any unused electricity.
The battery system in Tesla's new Powerpack, is truly revolutionary. Previously, solar users had one of 2 choices. A) Cover your roof with 2x as many panels as needed, to accommodate for the peak usage times, letting the unused electricity from off-peak times go to waste. Or B), invest in low efficiency, lead battery storage systems. The battery packs needed to be changed out often, were very expensive, and terrible for the environment.
The new storage systems from Tesla are very efficient, and come with an expected life service of 25-35 years. They are being adopted worldwide by large scale power grids and municipalities.
Step 5: Minimize the demand
The buildings have Smart Technology incorporated throughout, to help make them more environmentally friendly.
The sliding doors are equipped with safety switches which prevent the A/C units from running if the sliding doors or windows are left open. All lights are energy efficient LED. Also, the air conditioning system is the most energy efficient, inverter system offered by Daikin, the most respected name in the business.
Step 6: Have a backup, and then have another backup.
Of course we'd like to rely 100% on solar energy, but that is not always practical. What if an extreme heatwave, coincides with a time when the resort has a very high occupancy rate, it could be too much of a draw on our system. For those VERY few times, we have a backup diesel generating system, which can top the batteries up much quicker than our PV panels can.
Also, the local power authority is our 3rd supply of power. So between our solar panels, our diesel generator, and the local power grid, we can offer triple redundancy, ensuring there will never be a time you're without current.