Hyatt Maui Installs One of State’s Largest PV Systems

(Left to right: Gary Bulson, director of engineering, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa; Mike Sejman, corporate director of engineering and sustainability, Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Maui Mayor Alan; Rick Werber, senior vice president of engineering and sustainability, Host Hotels and Resorts; Allan Farwell, general manager, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa; and Jeff Bedard, managing partner, Resort Energy Ventures.

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa on Kā‘anapali Beach continues its environmental sustainability efforts with the installation of one of the largest rooftop photovoltaic systems in Hawai‘i.

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, the Hyatt Regency Maui held a “Power Up Dedication” reception to celebrate the installation of the system and to recognize all partners that helped achieve the sustainable initiative.

Resort Energy Ventures recognized Hyatt Regency Maui’s completion of this project with an honorary plaque presented by Jeffrey Bedard, managing partner of Resort Energy Ventures.

Mayor Alan Arakawa spoke at the event, along with hotel representatives.

“The management here has done a lot of great things to try and work from a common sense parameter to be able to allow the business to be a much more efficient and much more cost effective business while at the same time protecting the environment that we have,” said Mayor Arakawa. “I just want to thank everybody that physically put in the time, energy, put in the effort and the thought and had the courage to make the investments to do what is happening here at this property.”

“By leading the industry in that direction, Hyatt is doing the community a great service,” said the mayor.

Hyatt Regency Maui’s sustainability initiatives are led by Gary Bulson, senior engineer at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, and the resort’s Green Team, a group of resort employees involved in sustainability initiatives.

Hyatt panels, courtesy photo.

“Our efforts here at the Hyatt Regency Maui have created greater awareness of environmental sustainability among the community and our resort guests,” said Bulson, “We are currently in the process of introducing a sustainability tour around our property that will increase awareness of the different areas that we are making environmental advancements, including water efficiency, ocean and reef protection, minimizing food waste, recycling, solar energy, air quality and green cleaning.”

“Gary [Bulson] is one of the most talented, respected and visionary hotel engineers in our industry,” said Rick Werber, senior vice president of engineering and sustainability, Host Hotels and Resorts. “He is highly regarded and he is certainly one of the cream of the crop when it comes to our profession.”

This project may not have been the largest or most extensive, but it is one of the most impactful for climate change, added Werber.

Mike Sejman, corporate director of engineering and sustainability, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, said the Hyatt understands that we are all guests on this planet and that the Hyatt is fortunate to have employees that are passionate about environmental sustainability. The Hyatt Regency Maui has been one of the few Hyatt properties to already reach the corporate 2020 goal, he added.

Hyatt awards, courtesy photo.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has a long-term strategic approach to environmental sustainability built on three focus areas—”Use Resources Thoughtfully, Build Smart, and Innovate and Inspire.”

“About a year ago at this same spot, we celebrated our LEED EBOM Certification, and now we have the privilege to announce another sustainability advancement—our newly installed photovoltaic system, ” said Allan Farwell, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. “The system of solar panels has already exceeded our forecasted 6% in energy reduction.”

In 2014, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa became the state’s first LEED EBOM Silver resort, after completing significant sustainability upgrades.

This new solar panel system produces more than 6% of the resort’s annual electricity needs. The power it produces is equivalent to the amount used by 158 homes.

Additionally, by decreasing its reliance on Maui’s electric grid, the resort is reducing its overall carbon footprint. The use of solar power reduces CO2 emissions by offsetting diesel generation, one of the dirtiest methods of electricity production.

Hyatt courtesy photo.

The amount of CO2 emissions that has been reduced is equal to the removal of 111 passenger cars driven for one year.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation Vice President of Engineering and Sustainability – Americas Hakan Akgun and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa General Manager Allan Farwell also attended the ceremony.

The installation project was in partnership with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Host Hotels and Resorts, Maui Electric Company, Resort Energy Ventures as the designer and project manager, and HNU Energy as the contractor.

More information on Hyatt Regency Maui’s sustainability efforts can be found here

The Hyatt Regency Maui embraces Hyatt Thrive, a long-term strategic approach to environmental sustainability built on three focus areas: use resources thoughtfully, build smart, and innovate and inspire.

Hyatt Regency Maui PV system. Courtesy photo.

For more information about Hyatt Thrive, go online.

The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is located at  200 Nohea Kai Drive in Lahaina.

For more information regarding Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, call the resort at (808) 661-1234 or go online.