Kalahari lets the sun shine on

Solar panels take a chunk out of heating bills

By Janine Anderson

The solar panels on the roof of the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells represent the company’s comasamitment to energy efficiency and lower heating bills. Photo courtesy of the Kalahari Resort

Bigger is better in Wisconsin Dells.

It calls itself the Waterpark Capital of the World, and the resorts that dot the city make their own claims to offering one-of-a-kind, biggest-ever tourist attractions. And the Kalahari Waterpark Resort Convention Center is no different, except one of its “biggest-ever” features isn’t obvious to the typical passer-by.

The Kalahari boasts the largest solar hot-water system in the state.

The 104 solar panels mounted on the resort’s roof generate enough power to heat roughly 65 percent of the hotwater used by the Kalahari’s laundry facility. The system will offset 400 tons of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere each year while saving the resort more than $100,000 in annual energy costs.

Bill Maurer, the Kalahari’s director of facilities, said that other than labor, utility bills represent a resort’s biggest expense.

“We’re talking millions of dollars a year for utilities,” he said. “If we can save 10 percent on a $3 million gas bill, we’re talking substantial money here.”

As company leaders realized the potential for savings, they looked around to see what was available.

The solar panels are the most recent of several green features, including low-flow showerheads, compact fluorescent light bulbs and the Entergize Control System, which sets guest room lights and climate to a guest’s preferences.

Those green elements are projected to reduce the resort’s utility bills by about $400,000 each year.

The solar panels carried a price tag of about $500,000, Maurer said. Focus on Energy gave the Kalahari a $50,000 grant to help pay for the panels, and they qualify the business for several tax incentives.

But the biggest benefit to the techno-logy is the cost reduction the resort is projecting.

“It’s a half-million now, but in four years the payback’s going to be all gravy,” Maurer said. “It’s a no-brainer, and (owner Todd Nelson) was just willing to step out there and do that.”

Maurer said Nelson’s commitment to energy efficiency comes with foresight.

“Todd has five kids,” Maurer said. “One of his things, and it may sound a little corny, but he wants to make sure there’s energy for his grandkids. You can’t have an omelet if you’re afraid to break an egg. He likes omelets.

“He’ll spend the money up front. He won’t do it foolishly, but he looks at it from all angles and if it makes sense, he’ll go ahead.”

Don Wichert, program director for Focus on Energy’s Renewable Energy Program, said the Kalahari’s entry into the solar-energy field represents a change in who is looking to go green.

“Awareness has heightened in many ways,” he said. “Over time, I think that message kept making it easier for the Kalahari to make this decision.”

Wichert said he hopes the Kalahari is evidence of a change in the public, possibly meaning more people and businesses are ready to look at alternative energy sources and increasing energy efficiency.

“I think it represents an entry into renewable energy with another class of customer,” he said. “It starts with innovators, which are about 1 percent of the population, the people who like to do gee-whiz kinds of things.

“The next 6 to 7 percent are early adopters, and then there’s the early majority, which is 25 to 30 percent of the population.”

Wichert and Maurer said the visibility of the panels is helping generate curiosity, and the calls they are getting about the system could lead to increased use of the technology. Maurer said he believes other similar businesses could benefit from installing solar panels.

“All hotels pretty much have the same structural things: A flat roof, a lot of wasted space,” he said.

For the Kalahari, hot water for laundry could be just the beginning.

“We’re looking at doing the same thing with our waterpark,” Maurer said.

“We’re getting roof load numbers.

“I would not be surprised if you see another couple hundred panels on our indoor water park. That’s how well they work.”