Fairmont Kea Lani PV Project Nears Completion

Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea, Maui. Photo courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

Fairmont Kea Lani’s commitment to responsible tourism practices and sustainable hotel management takes another leap forward, with June 2016 set as the completion date for its rooftop photovoltaic project.

The latest sustainability project for the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea includes the installation of 1,528 rooftop photovoltaic solar panels. The 500-kilowatt solar installation is expected to offset over 10% of the resort’s current energy demand and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 457 metric tons annually—the equivalent of 96 passenger cars or 138 homes.

“At the Fairmont Kea Lani, we are committed to being socially responsible and taking care of one of our greatest resources—the environment in which we live and work,” said Fairmont Kea Lani General Manager Charles Head. “Our location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean keeps us keenly aware of our impact on the environment and the ongoing need to be good stewards of the land. The completion of our photovoltaic project allows us to take a major step towards reducing the overall footprint of Fairmont Kea Lani by harnessing renewable energy and reducing our carbon emissions.”

Fairmont Kea Lani’s photovoltaic installation project is in partnership with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Host Hotels and Resorts, Maui Electric Company, Resort Energy Ventures as the designer and project manager and HNU Energy as the contractor.

In an ongoing effort to proactively “green” operations and cultivate an enduring connection to the land and community, Fairmont Kea Lani has over 50 environmental initiatives in place at the resort.

Recent initiatives include replacement of aged laundry equipment to reduce gas, electricity and water consumption, and new kitchen hood systems with sensor based fan systems to reduce electricity.

Fairmont Kea Lani’s Sustainability Team has partnered with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Land and Natural Resources for the Endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle Dawn Patrol Volunteer Program to “adopt” a neighboring beach as part of an effort to support the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle.

For more information, visit fairmont.com/kea-lani-maui.