EMBRACE THE SOLAR REVOLUTION
Vinil Sood is a man on a mission to lead the Okanagan hospitality industry in sustainability. In his role as the Business Development Manager for the Quality Inn and Suites Vernon, he has started several initiatives to “green” the hotel and is active in supporting other businesses to do the same.
This fall, the Quality Inn and Suites Vernon added 17 kW of solar panels to meet their sustainability goals. “ We are proud to be the first hotel in Vernon to have solar panels installed on site. I monitor our production daily. We have already reduced our CO2 emissions by 166kg. ” Overall, they are decreasing total electricity consumption by 6% and contributing to environmental conservation.
Growing up in the hospitality industry – his parents had a hotel in Quesnel before moving to Vernon eleven years ago – he has experienced all facets of the business from laundry service, maintenance and pool cleaning. After attending University, where he studied economics and hospitality management, he focused on marketing and strategy for the hotel.
This led him to identify opportunities to enhance the hotel’s energy efficiency and sustainability. As a result, the Quality Inn Vernon became the first hotel in the Okanagan to receive the Biosphere Certification for Destinations. This certification is a global designation and recognizes that sustainable practices are in place.
Quality Inn and Suites Vernon has demonstrated its sustainability efforts in more than 100 different ways including; prioritizing the use of green and more renewable energy sources, responsible consumption and production, and promoting health and well-being. The solar array was featured in a news story by Castanet News (link)
As part of the Biosphere Certification it is required to raise awareness of the use of energy in the business. “I want to be involved in the community and make an impact,” Sood stated. To that end, he was a director of the Vernon Chamber of Commerce and has since started the North Okanagan Hotel Association “to be a local resource for hoteliers in the area”.
As a small business on BC Hydro, adding solar now was a smart choice. They qualified for the self generation rebate ($17,000) and will apply for the Federal Investment Tax Credit in 2025 (30%), bringing the overall investment payback below 8 years.
“I would love to see every hotel in Vernon with solar panels. Visitors notice. I think this will improve the way people see our community,” Sood said.
