Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the htpNRG solar and room trading program

Financial Questions

How much will my hotel save with solar energy?

Your savings depend on three primary factors: the size of your solar installation, your hotel's current electricity consumption, and your local utility rates. Most hotels see significant reductions in their monthly energy costs, with savings typically ranging from 30-70% on electricity bills.

During the initial consultation, we provide an estimated savings projection based on your property's characteristics. However, the most accurate savings analysis occurs during the mobilization phase, after our engineers complete a comprehensive site survey and energy audit.

This detailed assessment takes into account your specific energy usage patterns, peak demand periods, available roof or ground space, local solar irradiance levels, and current utility rate structure. The result is a customized projection that reflects the true financial benefit you can expect from your solar installation.

The amount a hotel can save with solar will depend on several factors, including the size of the solar system, the hotel's electricity consumption, and the local utility costs. The fact sheet agreement provides a close estimate of the potential savings. During the mobilization period, a more precise analysis will be conducted to hone in on custom savings specific to the hotel. This detailed assessment ensures that the expected savings are tailored to the hotel's unique energy needs and local conditions, providing a more accurate projection of the financial benefits associated with the solar installation.

Does installing solar increase my hotel's property value?

Yes, solar installations typically increase property value significantly. Commercial solar systems are considered valuable capital improvements that generate ongoing revenue through energy savings and reduce operational expenses.

To provide accurate valuation for your property, htpNRG works with Novogradac-affiliated appraisers who specialize in both commercial real estate and renewable energy assets. These specialized appraisers understand how to properly value solar installations within the context of hospitality properties.

The appraisal considers multiple value drivers: the system's energy production capacity, remaining warranty period, projected energy savings over the system's lifetime, and the reduction in operating expenses. This comprehensive approach ensures your property's enhanced value is properly documented for refinancing, sale, or portfolio valuations.

What is the mobilization fee and what does it cover?

The mobilization fee is a one-time payment that covers the essential upfront work required to design, engineer, and integrate your hotel into the htpNRG program. This fee ensures your solar system is properly customized and your property is fully prepared for the room trading agreement.

Technical Components: The fee covers a comprehensive technical site survey conducted by licensed engineers. This includes structural analysis of your roof or potential ground-mount areas, electrical system evaluation, utility interconnection planning, solar array design and engineering, equipment specifications, and permitting documentation. Our engineers create a custom system design optimized for your property's specific characteristics and energy needs.

Operational Components: The fee also covers your integration into the htpNRG booking platform. This includes onboarding your property management system, training your staff on the electronic voucher process, setting up your booking parameters and preferences, and configuring the reservation management system. This ensures smooth, automated handling of htpNRG guest reservations throughout the entire agreement period.

The mobilization fee serves multiple purposes within the htpnrg program:

  • Technical Site Survey and Design: A portion of the fee covers the expenses associated with conducting a technical site survey and designing the solar energy system. This ensures that the system is customized to fit the specific needs and characteristics of the hotel property.
  • Onboarding with htp Booking System: Another part of the fee is allocated to onboard the hotel with the htp booking system. This process is essential for the smooth placement of Electronic Vouchers (EVouchers) throughout the duration of the room trading agreement. Onboarding facilitates the integration of the hotel with htpnrg's booking infrastructure, streamlining the entire EVoucher placement process.

By allocating the mobilization fee to these crucial aspects, htpnrg ensures that the solar system is tailored to the hotel's requirements, and the booking process is seamless and efficient throughout the agreement period.

Operational Questions

WHAT IF THE HOTEL DOESN'T HAVE ROOMS AVAILABLE ON A BUSY NIGHT?

If a hotel doesn't have rooms available on a busy night, there are mechanisms in place to manage this situation:

  1. Blackout Dates: The hotel has the flexibility to designate up to 10 blackout dates per year. During these specified dates, htpnrg won't send Electronic Voucher (EVoucher) guests.
  2. Hotel's Booking Priority: If the hotel has already booked rooms for a particular night, htpnrg will refrain from sending any guests with EVouchers for that night.
  3. Booking Platform Control: The htpnrg booking platform operates similarly to other third-party booking platforms (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz). Once the hotel achieves a satisfactory level of occupancy, typically around 95%, the hotelier has the option to shut down external bookings. This allows the hotel to maintain control over its occupancy levels.
  4. Advance Booking Requirement: All htpnrg reservations require a minimum of 5-7 days advance booking. This advance notice provides the hotel with the necessary time to manage room availability and ensure a seamless experience for both htpnrg guests and the hotel itself.
  5. Subject to Availability: All rooms booked through htpnrg are subject to availability at any particular location. This ensures that the hotel can manage its inventory effectively and accommodate guests within its capacity.

HOW MANY ROOMS DO I CONTRIBUTE FOR MY SOLAR ARRAY?

The number of rooms required is carefully calculated based on your specific property and solar system size. This is determined through a comprehensive analysis conducted after your hotel is submitted to the program.

The calculation: Our analysis considers your property location, market demand in your area, seasonal occupancy patterns, total room inventory, and the size and value of your solar installation. The goal is to create a fair exchange where the value of rooms provided matches the value of the solar system over the agreement period.

Built-in protections: To ensure minimal impact on your operations, we implement a strict 7% cap on your nightly room inventory. This means no more than 7% of your total rooms can be used for htpNRG guests on any given night.

The number of rooms contributed for the solar array is determined through an analysis conducted by htpnrg after the hotel is submitted. This analysis takes into account the property's location, and it aims to assess how many rooms will be required. It's important to note that the contribution is limited, and there will be no more than 7% of the room inventory used per night. In practice, htpnrg typically sends 0-4 Electronic Voucher (EVoucher) guests per night, ensuring a balanced and sustainable utilization of hotel resources for the solar energy program.

Real-world impact: In practice, most properties receive between 0-4 electronic voucher guests per night. Many nights you may receive no htpNRG reservations at all. This low, predictable volume ensures the program supports rather than disrupts your regular business operations.

HOW BIG WILL THE SOLAR ARRAY BE?

Solar system sizing is customized for each property based on multiple factors. While we use 100kW as a baseline reference point during initial discussions, your actual system size is determined through detailed engineering analysis.

Engineering assessment: During the mobilization phase, our licensed engineers conduct a comprehensive site evaluation. This includes measuring available roof space or ground area, analyzing your building's structural capacity to support solar panels, evaluating solar exposure and shading throughout the day and across seasons, and reviewing your utility bills to understand your energy consumption patterns.

Optimization factors: The goal is to design a system that offsets as much of your electricity usage as possible without over-building. We consider your local utility's net metering policies, interconnection limits, available space, structural load limitations, and budget constraints. The result is a system sized to deliver maximum financial benefit.

The standard size for the solar array is set at 100kW. After engineers conduct the mobilization process, a more precise system size will be determined. This specific size will be tailored to offset as much of the hotel's electric bill as possible, taking into consideration the available area on the hotel property that can be utilized for the solar array. This approach ensures that the solar energy system is optimized to meet the energy needs of the hotel while utilizing the available space efficiently.

Typical range: Most hotel installations range from 75kW to 250kW, depending on property size and energy needs. A 100-room hotel might have a 100-150kW system, while a 200-room property could support 200kW or more. The engineering analysis ensures your specific system is sized correctly for your property.

Who maintains the solar system?

Solar system maintenance is managed entirely by htpNRG and our technical partner, Intelligen.energy. You have zero maintenance responsibilities or costs—this is a completely hands-off system for your property.

Proactive monitoring: Every htpNRG solar installation includes real-time monitoring equipment that transmits performance data continuously. Our technical team watches key metrics including power production, system efficiency, equipment status, and grid connection health. Advanced algorithms alert us to anomalies before they become problems.

Yes, the maintenance of your solar array is ensured through regular monitoring by the htpnrg and Intelligen.energy team. This proactive monitoring is conducted to guarantee that your solar system is operating at optimal levels, providing you with the best possible results in terms of energy efficiency and cost savings. Regular maintenance and monitoring contribute to the long-term performance and reliability of the solar array, ensuring that it continues to meet the energy needs of the hotel effectively.

Preventive maintenance: Solar systems require very little routine maintenance, but what's needed is scheduled and handled by our team. This includes periodic panel cleaning (if needed in your climate), annual electrical inspections, inverter firmware updates, and vegetation management around ground-mount systems. All of this is included with no additional cost to you.

Repairs and service: If any equipment needs repair or replacement, we coordinate and pay for everything. Our service agreements with equipment manufacturers ensure rapid response times and our network of certified installers can service systems nationwide.

WHAT IF THE SOLAR STOPS WORKING?

If your solar system experiences downtime, you are not obligated to honor htpNRG vouchers during the period the system is non-operational. However, system failures are extremely rare due to the robust nature of modern solar technology.

System reliability: Solar arrays are among the most reliable power generation systems available. With no moving parts, minimal components, and solid-state technology, there's very little that can fail. Commercial solar installations across the country consistently demonstrate uptime rates exceeding 99%.

Warranty coverage: Your solar system includes comprehensive manufacturer warranties on all major components—typically 25 years on panels, 10-15 years on inverters, and 10 years on racking systems. If equipment fails, it's replaced at no cost to you under these warranty terms.

If the solar system stops working, the hotelier is not obligated to honor vouchers during that period. However, it's important to note that the likelihood of the system being down for an extended period, or at all, is extremely low. Solar arrays across the country have demonstrated stability, and the system comes with a warranty and monitoring to ensure prompt detection and resolution of any issues. While the hotelier is not obliged to honor vouchers when the solar system is not operational, the overall reliability and performance of solar arrays contribute to minimizing the occurrence of such situations.

Proactive monitoring: The htpNRG and Intelligen.energy technical team monitors your system performance 24/7 through remote monitoring software. If production drops or any issues are detected, we're typically aware of the problem before you are and can dispatch service teams immediately. Most issues are resolved within 24-48 hours.

What is the expected lifespan of the solar equipment?

Commercial solar installations are designed as long-term infrastructure investments with exceptional durability. You can expect your system to produce energy reliably for 25-30+ years.

Panel longevity: Solar panels are warrantied for 25 years but typically continue producing power well beyond that. Modern panels are built to withstand extreme weather including hail, high winds, snow loads, and temperature extremes. Performance degradation is minimal—typically less than 0.5% per year. Even after 25 years, panels usually operate at 85-90% of their original capacity.

Inverter lifecycle: Inverters (which convert DC power from panels to AC power for your building) typically have 10-15 year warranties and are the component most likely to require replacement during the system's life. This is factored into system design and financial projections. Replacement inverters are covered under warranty or maintenance agreements.

Mounting systems: Racking and mounting hardware is built from aluminum or galvanized steel designed for 30+ year outdoor exposure. These structural components require essentially no maintenance and will outlast the electrical components of the system.

How does the solar system connect to my hotel's electrical system?

Your solar system integrates seamlessly with your existing electrical infrastructure through a process called grid-tied interconnection. This is completely transparent to your operations.

Grid-tied operation: The solar array connects to your hotel's main electrical panel through a dedicated connection. When the sun is shining, solar power flows directly to your building, reducing the amount of electricity you draw from the utility grid. You use solar power first, and utility power fills in any gap.

Net metering: In most locations, if your solar system produces more power than your hotel is using at any moment, the excess flows back to the utility grid and you receive credit on your electricity bill. At night or during cloudy periods when solar production is low, you draw power from the grid as normal. The credits and charges net out on your monthly utility bill.

No disruption: The installation and connection process is managed to minimize any disruption to your hotel operations. Most work happens on the roof or in outdoor equipment areas. The final electrical connection typically requires only a brief scheduled outage, usually just a few hours during low-occupancy periods.

Safety systems: Multiple safety systems ensure grid-tied solar never creates hazards. Rapid shutdown capability allows the system to be de-energized instantly in emergencies. Anti-islanding protection prevents the solar system from energizing grid lines during utility outages. All installations meet or exceed national electrical code requirements and local utility standards.

Will I be able to monitor my solar system's performance?

Yes, you'll have complete visibility into your solar system's performance through user-friendly monitoring portals accessible from any device.

Real-time dashboard: Your monitoring system provides live data on current power production, daily and monthly energy generation, total lifetime production, environmental impact metrics (CO2 offset, trees-planted equivalent), and system health status. You can check performance anytime from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Historical analysis: The system maintains detailed production history, allowing you to track performance trends, compare month-to-month or year-to-year production, correlate solar output with weather patterns, and verify that savings projections are being met.

Reporting tools: Generate reports for management reviews, sustainability reporting, LEED certification documentation, and owner/investor communications. The monitoring platform makes it easy to demonstrate the value of your solar investment to stakeholders.

Risk and Contract Questions

WHAT IF THE HOTEL SELLS:

In the event of a hotel sale, the most common option is for the room trading agreement to transfer to the new hotel owner. This seamless transfer ensures that the terms and benefits of the agreement remain in place for the new owner. However, in situations where there is a considerable change in guest occupancy, particularly if it increases significantly (though this is not common), the hotel has the option to buy out the remaining value of the room trading agreement. This flexibility allows for adjustments based on the evolving needs and circumstances of the hotel.

The htpNRG agreement is designed to be transferable and is typically viewed as a positive asset during a hotel sale. The structure provides flexibility for both you and potential buyers.

Most common scenario: The room trading agreement transfers seamlessly to the new owner along with the property. The solar system and its benefits continue operating under the same terms. This is usually the preferred option because the new owner inherits both the solar equipment (which reduces operating costs) and a clearly defined obligation with minimal impact (the 7% room inventory commitment).

Buyout option: In situations where there's a significant change in the business—such as a major repositioning, rebranding, or substantial increase in room rates that changes the value equation—the new owner has the option to buy out the remaining value of the room trading agreement. This is uncommon but provides an exit mechanism if needed.

Sale value: Because the solar system typically increases property value and the room commitment has minimal operational impact, most buyers view the htpNRG program as a positive asset. The reduced energy costs improve property NOI (Net Operating Income), which is the key metric buyers evaluate.

In the event of a hotel being sold, the current owner is required to inform htpNRG about the impending sale. The contract with htpNRG can then be transferred to the new owner, subject to approval. Importantly, htpnrg's Electronic Vouchers (EVouchers) will continue to be honored by the new owner until the conclusion of the contract, provided that maintenance of the solar panels is diligently upheld. This ensures a seamless transition for the new hotel owner, allowing them to continue benefiting from the terms and conditions of the agreement with htpNRG.

DOES THE OWNERS HAVE TO PROVIDE A PERSONAL GUARANTEE?

Yes, owners are required to provide a personal guarantee. The arrangement involves an off-books solution to fund the solar upgrade, and as part of this process, there will be a UCC-1 fixture filing on the solar equipment. This filing ensures that the solar equipment is considered collateral and can be transferred to the next hotel owner in the event of a sale. However, it's important to note that if the hotel defaults on honoring the rooms, the personal guarantee comes into effect. This adds a layer of assurance and commitment to the agreement, helping to mitigate risks associated with defaults on room commitments.

Yes, hotel owners are required to provide a personal guarantee as part of the htpNRG agreement. This is a standard practice for financing structures of this type and protects all parties involved.

Why it's required: The htpNRG program provides your hotel with a significant solar installation with no upfront capital cost. The room trading agreement serves as the payment mechanism. The personal guarantee ensures commitment to honoring the room availability terms throughout the agreement period.

When it matters: The personal guarantee only comes into effect if the hotel defaults on the room availability commitment. As long as rooms are provided according to the agreement terms (or blocked through legitimate mechanisms like blackout dates or occupancy thresholds), the guarantee remains inactive. It's a safety mechanism rather than an active obligation.

What are my obligations if I need to exit the program early?

While the htpNRG agreement is structured as a long-term arrangement (typically matching the life of the solar equipment), we understand that circumstances can change. Early exit options depend on your specific situation and how far into the agreement you are.

Property sale scenario: If you're selling your hotel, the agreement typically transfers to the new owner, as discussed above. This is the cleanest and most common transition.

Buyout option: If you need to exit the program while retaining ownership of the hotel, you can buy out the remaining value of the room trading agreement. The buyout amount is calculated based on the remaining term and the value of rooms yet to be provided.

Default scenario: If you stop honoring the room commitments without arranging a buyout or transfer, the personal guarantee would be enforced and the solar equipment (as collateral under the UCC-1 filing) could be subject to removal. This is an extreme scenario that we work hard to avoid through communication and flexible accommodation of legitimate business needs.

Guest Experience Questions

WILL THE ROOMS SOLD THROUGH THE VOUCHER PROGRAM WATER DOWN THE REGULAR RACK PRICES?

No, the rooms sold through the voucher program will not dilute the regular rack prices. These rooms are sold through htpnrg's exclusive membership-based room coin purchase, loyalty programs, and mileage programs. Participants in these programs pay for part or all of the voucher using points or miles, maintaining a separate and distinct transaction from regular room pricing.

No, the htpNRG voucher program operates completely separately from your standard rate structure and will not dilute or undermine your regular pricing. This is a critical feature designed to protect your revenue management strategy.

How the program works: htpNRG guests access rooms through an exclusive, membership-based system. They book using room coins (a proprietary currency), loyalty program points, or frequent flyer miles. These guests are not comparison shopping your rates against competitors—they're using alternative currencies within a closed booking ecosystem.

Furthermore, rooms are also sold in bulk to corporations with traveling company personnel. This practice caters to the specific needs of corporate clients and ensures that the voucher program does not impact the regular pricing structure for individual bookings.

Market positioning: Because htpNRG reservations don't appear on traditional OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) or meta-search sites, they have zero impact on your rate positioning in the market. Your pricing integrity across Expedia, Booking.com, and your own direct channels remains completely protected.

How do I explain the program to guests who ask about it?

Most htpNRG guests already understand they're part of a special booking program and won't require explanation. However, if guests express curiosity, you can share the positive story.

The simple explanation: "Our hotel has partnered with htpNRG to install solar panels that significantly reduce our energy costs and environmental impact. In exchange, we make a small number of rooms available through htpNRG's booking platform. It's a win-win partnership that helps us operate more sustainably."

Sustainability angle: Many guests react very positively to learning that their stay is supporting renewable energy. You can point out the solar installation (if visible) and share that their reservation helped make it possible. This creates a meaningful connection between the guest and your property's sustainability initiatives.

Marketing opportunity: Consider this a positive differentiator. Guests increasingly prefer hotels with strong environmental commitments. Your htpNRG partnership demonstrates concrete action on sustainability rather than just greenwashing rhetoric.

How are htpNRG guests different from regular guests?

htpNRG guests are treated exactly like your regular guests and should receive the same quality of service and amenities. From your operational perspective, they check in and out through your normal processes.

Guest profile: htpNRG guests typically fall into two categories: loyalty program members who are savvy travelers using alternative booking methods, and corporate travelers whose companies have partnered with htpNRG for employee accommodations. Both groups tend to be experienced travelers who understand hotel protocols.

Booking identification: Reservations are clearly marked in your system as htpNRG bookings, allowing you to track and account for them separately. However, these guests should not be treated differently during their stay—they deserve the same excellent service as all your guests.

Do htpNRG guests receive the same amenities as other guests?

Yes, absolutely. htpNRG guests should receive identical treatment, amenities, and service as any other guest who books through any channel.

Standard inclusions: htpNRG reservations include all standard amenities you provide to guests—Wi-Fi, breakfast (if included in your regular rate), pool and fitness center access, parking, in-room amenities, and any other features that are part of your normal guest experience.

Can htpNRG guests leave reviews, and where do those reviews appear?

Yes, htpNRG guests can leave reviews of their stay, though these reviews typically appear within the htpNRG platform rather than on public sites like TripAdvisor or Google.

Review ecosystem: The htpNRG platform includes a review system where guests rate their experience and provide feedback. These reviews help other htpNRG members make booking decisions and provide valuable feedback to your property about service quality.

Reputation management: While these reviews don't affect your scores on public platforms, they do matter for your reputation within the htpNRG network. Properties with consistently high ratings may receive preference in the booking algorithm, potentially leading to more even distribution of guests throughout low-occupancy periods.