There is a huge misconception out there in the hospitality industry and we are here today to set the record straight.

The idea that going green with your hotel stay will cost you more is fool’s gold.

Yep, fool’s gold. Here is why:

A True Look at the Numbers

With state and federal grants available to businesses looking to apply eco-friendly practices especially when it comes to big budget investment items the initial savings can be great. So yes, those solar panels are pricey overall, but not when it comes right down to your stay.

Let’s take a look at what the long term price differential would be and how it effects your vacation. Let’s use something guests and hoteliers can relate to: The Light Bulb.

Well, with over two thousand light bulbs hotel wide, investing in LED’s are not only more energy efficient for our Ogunquit hotel, they are also cost effective.  Take a look at these averages:

Incandescent                     CFL                         LED

Average Cost Per Bulb                $1.00                                $2.00                    $8.00

Average Life Span                     1200 hrs                              8,000 hrs             25,000 hrs

Average Cost per Hour              $0.083                                 $0.025                 $0.032

Doing the simple math, over the course of one year for a hotel where the lights are on often, we would actually spend thousands  more with Incandescent bulbs. Whoa.

And although CFL’s are the best cost option, as a hotel, we have to consider the hazard and risk of mercury inside one of those bulbs. For us it’s just not worth the risk.  We’ve upgrade to LED’s throughout the hotel to ensure a safe and eco-conscious experience for our guests. So factoring in the life span of LED’s one can easily see that there is as significant cost difference over time from the incandescent bulbs.

And that’s just light bulbs. If we factor in the solar electric and solar hot water our green Ogunquit hotel in is producing, going green helps keep your vacation more reasonable. We produce upwards of 50,000 KwH each year at an average cost of $0.15 per KwH  – That’s over $7,500 in savings annually and a big impact on the environment.

With Lightbulbs and Solar being just a small part of our Eco-Efforts, it’s pretty easy to see how going green can really pay off in savings for a hotel – and that helps us make a product of even better value to guests.  The best part is the savings from being an eco-hotel gets reinvested into your vacation with improvements like the Outdoor Pool and new WiFi system and stays in our community with year round jobs for our amazing team.

Bottom line —Be smart. Use logic when it comes to understanding the true cost of a hotel going green.  Understand you’ve always got to consider the long-term best interests. If a hotel is really walking the green walk, then that local business is making a difference locally and with your vacation.

If you’re planning a vacation to Ogunquit Maine and have thoughts about the environment and savings, give us a call directly. We love to welcome your family to Ogunquit for a great vacation now – and helps make the next one great too.