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Wind of change?
crown hotel wind turbine.jpg
A SCARBOROUGH hotel has unveiled plans to install 16 wind turbines on its roof.
The four-star Crown Spa Hotel in Esplanade says the “elegant and pleasing to the eye” units would help it reduce its running costs, while decreasing its energy consumption and CO2 output.
The hotel has previously won awards for its green initiatives, claiming a National Award for Excellence in sustainability in 2010 and an 87 per cent Gold rating at the Green Tourism Business Awards this year.
Administration director David Frank said: “During the last six years The Crown Spa Hotel Green Team has continually reappraised each area of our environment policy. Our main strategy is to investigate and implement new technology or practices to reduce CO2 produced directly and indirectly from fossil fuels and to agree as a management team ongoing best practice.
“The ever increasing cost of fuel for heat and power is a major risk to our business. If we as a business are to continue to prosper and compete as a leading independent leisure business in the region, we must attempt to ‘hedge our exposure’ to this risk.
“A requirement for further power generation can only be met by wind power as there is not enough space within the confines of the property for solar PV.”
Mr Frank added: “The total scheme will produce around 35,200 KWh per year, roughly around five per cent of our electrical consumption - equivalent to the electrical energy used by 7.5 average UK houses or 18 tonnes of CO2.
“This will result in the company reducing total running costs of the business by roughly £17,500 per annum and a payback period of 2.5 years and a reduced reliance on the volatile energy market.
“The choice of design of wind power units have been ones which will look both elegant and pleasing to the eye, with minimum noise.”
In the plans, submitted to Scarborough Council, chartered architect Barry Denton said: “The proposal is to site 16 wind turbines, on the central flat roof area of the modern mansard roof, adjacent to an array of existing solar panels. The strategic aim of the Crown Spa Hotel is to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 output from fossil derived energy by 2015. This can only be achieved by investment in further power generation schemes and enhanced technology to manage energy consumption. As there is insufficient space at the hotel for solar PV, the necessary power generation can only be achieved by wind power.
“This is a renewed opportunity for Scarborough Borough Council to demonstrate that they are understanding of the pressures and needs of sustainability and realistic to the changing world.”
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 11 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
tekuk
Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 11:30 AMInteresting to read.... however this will be the way forward in years to come; power for the future. Fantastic! People simply do not like change, but imagine if all of a sudden we had no electric or gas and had to find methods of power ourselves to power our homes and businesses, using Solar, Wind or if your lucky enough to live beside a river Hydro.... but yet it is the people who do not like change who would be the first to kick off with those above about having no power.... Hey it is a sign of the times, but yet it should be compulsory that no planning permission should be required for Solar or Wind power on their own properties. It is a crying shame that people want to stop the progression of others powering the future, harvesting natural resources and in turn making a difference.
JohnSouthCliff
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 09:32 PMThe business icase for putting these things in is very weak as it is and is completely silent (unlike the wind turbines) on one important point, namely that this is a Grade 2 star listed building. I thought it was now generally accepted that wind turbines were a no no in urban areas because of the tremendous down side in terms of their appearance and the noise they make compared to the very modest amount of power which is generated, so I am surprised to see them being suggested for this location.. The solar panels on the roof of the Crown Hotel already disfigure this fine building and can be seen over a wide area of town and from the train when one enters and leave the town, but I guess that we will have to learn to accept them. However, to place wind turbines on the roof in addition would be completely unacceptable.
guesticulate
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 12:03 AMMy place is very close to the Crown and I shall be objecting very strongly if the Crown attempts to go through with this.
ISeeEverything
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 07:40 PM47p or thereabouts per kWh feed in tarrif isn't it, paid for by you and me.
andyw1208
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 04:29 PMI live next door to the Crown and on the Top floor where the noise from the dam seagulls and wind is bad enough but certainly wont be happy with these things droning on all night. I will certainly objecting to them and hope others nearby will to. bet Mr Franks wouldn't want them next to his bedroom window either.
Mindy Mortal
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 04:26 PMHope they don't weigh too much, that extra floor the've added together with the weight of the Wind turbines could see the esplanade move a little bit closer to the Spa. Also I heard the big Wind Farm off Whitby is definitely going ahead - currently recruiting- two ships crews already recruited, one still looking for crew.
SteveHurrell
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 03:36 PMi always new franksy was full of wind ,he will keep them turning , he he he
UT
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 03:01 PMI live within a few hundred yds of the crown and my partner indeed used to be an admired member of staff there, after the reports Ive heard 1st hand on the running of the place and the things in general that the average person doesn't get to see I think anyone that believes these reports in any way must have the brains of one of the seagulls whos perpetual noise is enough to put anyone off the area without constant drone of wind turbines. Its easy to make things appear good when you have the amount of money at your desposal that the crown spa has. I as im sure do many others think this is just another publicity stunt that is unlikely to meet the proposed estimates again !!!
Bluebird One
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 02:38 PMIt's a big con, Wind turbines only work when there is wind and last year in the coldest part of the winter when power was needed to heat homes they were at a standstill due to no wind ,and electricity had to be put through the turbines to stop them freezing up. The world needs power I agree, but what is the "carbon footprint" on making these turbines what ever the size, and further more it will not reduce bills that is a joke in itself?.Finally there will be noise and the residents in the area will notice the sound from all 16 wind turbines... not good.
dogcapp
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 02:30 PMCome on. We didnt all come in on the last banana boat. CO2 my ass. Its all down to saving money, so why not just say so. We wont mention the cash back scheme either. I am sticking to fossil fuels and goin to av a great big blooming Barby. MMM Bangers and Burgers, mmmmm niyce. Glad i dont live near it.
joe kerr
Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 12:45 PMgood luck to the resident's? listening to an aircon unit or the kitchen fans is bad enough? £17 grand is less than the profit from one room over the year so they could soon be in the red with upset residents walking out
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