Mt. Engadine installs generator to save power

Chris and Shari-Lyn Williams

KANANASKIS, AB—Mount Engadine Lodge has taken the next step in its ongoing efforts to be as environmentally aware as possible. Last month, they installed a battery bank in their generator shack, and along with a set of inverters, this allows the system to switch over to battery power at times when the lodge is not using peak power.

Located in Kananaskis Country, Alberta the boutique lodge can accommodate up to 24 guests.

“In the past, we needed to ‘feed’ the generators at night or in the off season in order to keep the load at a decent level so as to not work the generators as hard,” said Chris Williams, who runs Mt. Engadine with his wife, Shari-Lyn (shown with the generator above).

“That has now all changed and once the guests have retired to their rooms, we can now turn off all unnecessary lighting and revert to total battery power, not only saving us thousands of dollars on diesel costs, but more importantly lessening our footprint on this beautiful area we call home.”

The system cost approximately $60,000, including installation of appropriate lightbulbs and a new router.

“With respect to the payback, we anticipate annual savings in the $20-30,000 range depending on how efficiently we can get the lodge to run,” Williams said.
“It will be very important that all of our staff are aware of misuse of electricity and that all of us are vigilant of ways we can make the system more reliant on the batteries,” he added.

Other green initiatives at the lodge include a worm composter, cloth napkins, a recycling program, and a gift shop with bamboo t-shirts, coffee roasted locally, soaps from the Rocky Mountain Soap Company and ornaments hand painted in Canada.